Grace School of Theology

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Updated August 6, 2020

Grace School of Theology Beulah Heights University appears in the ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Ministry Degrees Online.

Grace School of Theology, established in early 2002, is a non-denominational, private institution of higher learning. Grace School of Theology, located in the Houston, TX metropolitan area, was founded on a free grace tradition that is based upon biblical principles as well as the conviction that everyone has a freedom of conscience before humankind and God. At the advice and encouragement of Dr. Charles Ryrie, the school started as Houston Theological Seminary as the result of the visionary work and planning of the seven men who made up the initial Board of Trustees. Since its founding, Grace has grown to include additional teaching sites in areas near Houston and as far as San Antonio and Midland. Current international teaching sites include the Philippines, Panama, Mexico, and Honduras.

Grace School of Theology Accreditation Details

Grace School of Theology belongs to the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), having been reaffirmed as a Category IV institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission. TRACS is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE), and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Grace School of Theology is also accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), including its Master of Ministry, Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Ministry programs. Finally, Grace School of Theology is financially accredited as a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, an organization that provides accreditation to leading nonprofit Christian institutions that faithfully demonstrate compliance with established standards for board governance, fundraising, transparency, and financial accountability.

Grace School of Theology Application Requirements

Students seeking admittance into the online Doctor of Ministry program at Grace School of Theology must first agree with the school's doctrinal statement. This affirmation is required for admission as well as graduation from Grace. Applicants must hold a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from an ATS-, Regional-, or TRACS-approved program, including at least 90 semester credit hours and one year each of Hebrew and Greek. Applicants must also have at least three years of ministry experience after earning the MDiv degree and show that they are able to complete an advanced-level program. Ongoing engagement in ministry is required for continuance in the Doctor of Ministry program. In addition to submitting an online application, students must also submit a 10-page research paper that explains the Biblical position on a topic such as the philosophy of leadership, homosexuality, prosperity theology, or openness theology. Students must also pay a $55 nonrefundable application fee, send official transcripts from all schools attended, and include one spousal statement, one pastoral/church recommendation, and one personal recommendation.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students pursuing the online Doctor of Ministry from Grace School of Theology will pay $400 per credit hour for their degree. Students considering this program should also budget for additional fees, including a $20 transcript fee, $145 graduation fee, $80 technology fee per semester, $40 administration fee per course, and $55 one-time application fee. Grace School of Theology has been approved to offer financial aid to eligible students, and applicants must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to begin the process of applying. Students may be eligible for scholarships, grants, loans, and other forms of aid to help offset the cost of tuition, books, and supplies. Veterans benefits are also available for eligible Grace students, including military tuition assistance as well as programs and benefits for spouses and dependents.

Online Doctor of Ministry Degree Available

The online Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree at Grace School of Theology is designed to prepare students who are currently in vocational ministry with the highest level of expertise in the theological and Biblical application of God's truth. The 30-credit-hour program allows students to stay in the location where they are ministering, but students are required to attend intensive courses. Each course builds on ministry endeavors and experience to integrate learning with the student's present ministry as well as his or her goals for the future.

The Doctor of Ministry is an advanced professional degree that broadens students' visions of ministry, enhances their ministry skills, and deepens their theological foundation for ministry. Courses are planned to enrich and challenge the student both professionally and personally. This is accomplished by prompting them to interact with outstanding adjunct and resident faculty mentors with track records in ministry, help them to develop camaraderie with ministry peers, expose them to contemporary resources designed to help keep their ministry culturally relevant and biblically accurate, and involve them in practical ministry projects.

Although any student with a graduate degree in ministry may earn the DMin degree from Grace, pastors, including associate, lead, and senior pastors who are currently involved in Christian ministry would benefit the most from this degree. In addition, para-church ministry personnel such as missionaries, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Young Life students will also find that the Doctor of Ministry program will enhance their ministry perspective and skills. As Grace School of Theology is a global educational institution, the school anticipates that international students may also benefit as they serve in their own countries and prepare to become leaders within their Christian communities.

All courses offered by Grace School of Theology are available in intensive block formats, and each course consists of three parts: a three-month pre-residency component with preliminary reading, a one-week to 10-day residency component with intensive classroom interaction, and a three-month post-residency component that includes a final course assignment in which students must apply what they have learned to their life and ministry. Students will take 10 credit hours of core DMin classes in areas such as effective Biblical leadership, contemporary theological issues, and issues in Grace Theology and Praxis. The DMin Project component consists of eight credit hours and begins when coursework is completed. This component is designed to synthesize ministry knowledge in a doctoral-level practical ministry project. Students earning their Doctor of Ministry degree from Grace School of Theology are also required to choose 12 credit hours of electives or four courses from one of the following tracks: interdisciplinary track, counseling track, practical theology track, leadership track, or a ministry and missions track.

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