Exploring the Ministry Degree Programs Offered at Perkins School of Theology

At Perkins School of Theology, we are a diverse community that welcomes all Christian voices. We honor your unique worth, and strive to prepare you with the theological study needed to emphasize and bring your gifts and talents to life. 

Education at Perkins is about discerning who you are and who you want to become. We welcome you to explore and discern which degree program and concentration best fits your future goals and calling.

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Do you feel called to proclaim God’s love? Our M.Div. Program is designed primarily for students who plan to be ordained clergy and serve in Word, Sacrament, Service and Order. It may also equip a person for other specialized ministries.

The M.Div. Program consists of 73 hours of academic credit, including a paid internship. You will also:

• Interpret scripture effectively and practically
• Develop a greater understanding of the life and thought of the Christian community in its historical expressions and of the interrelations between Christianity and global culture
• Engage in constructive theological and ethical reflection 
• Strengthen your preaching potential through worship practicums and homiletic courses 
• Choose a concentration to direct your study, or tailor your elective coursework to match your personal interests
• Enhance your gifts for ministry with seminary peer partners and professional persons in the field during a nine-month, paid internship

Some of the courses you will be taking in the M.Div. Program are:

• Basic Theological Studies
• History of Christianity
• Basic Ministerial Studies
• Contextual Studies

You may go on to lead congregations as an Ordained Elder or Deacon in the United Methodist Church or can be ordained in other Christian denominations.

“I am forever grateful for my Perkins education. It provided me with the foundation and tools for a lifetime of ministry.”

- Adam Hamilton, 1988 Perkins M.Div. Graduate

Master of Arts in Ministry (M.A.M.)

The M.A.M. Program prepares students for specialized faith-based ministry for their community and congregation. The M.A.M. Program also increases students' knowledge about the heritage of the Christian faith, the church and its ministries. 

This degree is 37 academic credit hours, including a paid internship. The Program allows for:

• Developing a greater understanding of the life and thought of the Christian community in its historical expressions and of the interrelations between Christianity and global culture
• Engaging in constructive theological and ethical reflection
• Choosing a concentration to direct your study and tailor your elective coursework to match personal interests
• Continuing your path in ministry as supervisors, faculty, and seminary peers partner with you in developing your leadership during a six-month, paid internship

Some of the courses you will be taking in the M.A.M. Program are:

• Interpretation of the Christian Message
• Interpretation of the Old and New Testaments
• Christian Heritage 
• The Church in Its Social Context
• Spiritual Formation

With this degree, students will be prepared to serve as an Ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church or can be ordained in other Christian denominations. Other staff positions in the church, such as a church coordinator, manager of missionary outreaches, youth leader, a chaplain or more will also greatly benefit from our Master of Arts in Ministry Program.

“I have been the executive director for the Agape Clinic for eight years, and I felt that the focus of [the M.A.M.] Program would make me a better leader.”

- Stephanie Bohan, 2020 Perkins M.A.M. Graduate

Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)

Are you looking to enrich your theological knowledge? Our M.T.S. Program is designed to provide a basic understanding of theological disciplines as a foundation for further graduate study, for enhancement of lay leadership roles or for personal enrichment.

The Program comprises 48 academic credit hours. Key elements of the Program are:

• Distinctive design according to your own interests and goals and highly flexible in its choice of study
• Constructive theological and ethical reflection 
• Thesis or Summative Project that is supervised by a leader in the field, exclusively for the enrichment of your understanding of a particular subject, and can be used as a writing sample for certain doctoral programs

Some of the courses you will be taking in the M.T.S. Program are:

• Basic Ministerial Studies
• Church and Music Colloquium
• Elective courses in the Meadows School of the Arts

The M.T.S. Program is designed as a foundation for enhancement of lay leadership roles or for personal enrichment. This degree may be earned for someone wanting to teach theology, further their insight in their workplace or community, as well preparing for future doctoral study.

“When I first came to Perkins, it was for my own, personal enrichment. I never anticipated how much it would enrich my work.”

- Dodee Frost Crocket, 2003 Perkins M.T.S. Graduate 

Master of Sacred Music (M.S.M.)

Do you have a passion for music and faith? The M.S.M. Program prepares​​ students for professional music and arts leadership in the church, such as congregational singing and conductor of various ensembles in both the church and community. Music courses, practicum, worship leadership opportunities and other work are offered, providing opportunities to learn a wide range of literature, performance practices and skills.

Offered jointly through the Division of Music of the Meadows School of the Arts and Perkins School of Theology, the M.S.M. Program consists of 48 academic credit hours. Features of the Program are:

• Preparing for professional music leadership in the church 
• Can be ordained as deacon
• Located in Dallas, Texas, home to a diverse and vibrant worship life, including a wealth of artistic opportunities. Performance venues for symphony, opera and choral music, as well as space for dance, theater and other artistic expressions make this one of the major hubs for the arts in the United States
• Musical skills are greatly enhanced by the opportunities available in applied area concentrations 
• The understanding of sacred music will be stretched within a larger theological and cultural framework

Some of the different concentrations and respective courses are:

• Choral Conducting
• Composition and Arranging
• Keyboards
• Organ
• Music Education
• Worship Arts
• Liturgical Musicology

The M.S.M. Program is designed to train professional musicians for leadership roles in Christian congregations as an Ordained Deacon, performer or teacher. This degree can be applied to both academic and church settings and can also prepare for doctoral study.

Master of Theology (Th.M.)

Our Th.M. Program is designed to enhance the practice of ministry through advanced study of a particular theological or pastoral discipline, scholarly examination of a specific aspect of the Christian religion/traditions or function of Christian ministry or preparation for more advanced study at the doctoral level.

The Th.M. Program allows students to pursue advanced theological study for 24 academic credit hours, and offers opportunities, such as:

• Working closely with an expert in the desired area of specialization
• Return to theological education to specialize in a topic of your interest
• Hone in on research skills and produce a thesis or portfolio

Students may choose to focus within one of the following broad divisions:

• The Biblical Witness
• The Heritage & Context of Christianity
• The Interpretation of the Christian Witness
• The Theology & Practice of Ministry

Through the practice of ministry through advanced study, students in the Th.M. Program can benefit from this degree through personal enrichment, by working as a missionary, a teacher, a social worker or elsewhere or prepare for study at the doctoral level.

“For me, seminary was about exploration of my calling. Perkins and its academic rigor and diversity in thought are essential in uncovering real depth and abandoning myself to God; Perkins gives me the chance to do this.”

- Dr. Herman J. Felton, Jr., Perkins Graduate

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

The D.Min. Program provides the opportunity for advanced study in the areas of vocational and leadership formation and community building. Integrating theological reflection and ministerial practice with these areas of study, Christian leaders build their theological knowledge and gain skills to effectively engage in ministerial work in contexts of change and transition.

The goals of the degree are to:

1. Seek vocational depth and direction
2. Gain theological knowledge and understanding of vocational and leadership identity in tandem with developing skills for relevant practices of ministry that build communities in context
3. Acquire knowledge, critical insights and skills to exercise leadership grounded in Christian vocation in contexts of transition and change within the Church and the community

D.Min. students are to complete 30 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0 or higher within 3 years. The courses that are taken in the D.Min. Program are:

• Vocation, Leadership & Community
• The Person and Role of a Leader in Ministry
• Leadership and Vocation in Church and Community: A Theological/Historical Exploration
• Models of Leadership, Social Institutions and Community Engagements
• Vocation, Leadership and the Bible in Contexts
• Ecclesiology, Community and Models of Leadership
• Contextual Analysis
• Integrative Seminar and Strategic Planning in Contexts of Change and Transitions
• Directed Study (with assigned advisor)
• Writing Project Seminar

With a specific focus and skill-oriented curriculum, the D.Min. Program draws on faculty strengths from Perkins while addressing the current needs in Christian ministry in and outside of Christian churches and communities.

Doctor of Pastoral Music (D.P.M.)

Church musicians serve congregations faithfully throughout the United States and beyond. Few programs exist for church musicians that allow them to re-tune their vocation in the context of the changing demands of the music ministry. 

The Doctor of Pastoral Music (D.P.M.) is designed for experienced church musicians who have achieved a Master of Sacred Music degree or its equivalent and who are devoted to increasing their effectiveness in broadening their vision of the pastoral dimensions of music ministry into the larger community. 

The goals of the D.P.M. degree are:

1. Identify critical issues of vocation and leadership in pastoral ministry related to worship and church music and implement holistic strategies for improvement in relationships and performance
2. Evaluate research that integrates various musical traditions with recent developments in liturgy, culture and worship, ritual studies and hymnody
3. Demonstrate refined skills in an applied area
4. Apply methodologies and performance skills in the context of their social location with strategies for outreach through music and the arts into the surrounding community

The D.P.M. requires 39 hours as a graduation requirement. Some for the courses offered and required are:

• Vocation, Leadership and Community
• Music and Arts in Missional Ministry
• Applied Studies in Church Music
• Issues in Liturgical Theology and Practice 
• Issues in Pastoral Music
• Music in Worship and Renewal

The D.P.M. Program offers an advanced study in liturgy, congregational song, worship leadership, performance skills, deeper theological understanding of church music, vocational renewal, incorporation of worship arts, current church music trends and music in the community and a variety of cultural contexts.

Other Academic Programs

Basic Graduate Theological Studies (BGTS) 

The basic graduate theological studies required for those seeking ordination as deacons in the United Methodist Church include courses in the areas of Old Testament, New Testament, church history, theology, mission, worship, evangelism and United Methodist history, doctrine and polity. These courses are offered regularly on the Perkins Dallas campus and in the Houston/Galveston Program.

The following courses satisfy these requirements:

• Interpretation of the Old Testament I and II
• New Testament
• Church History
• Theology
• Worship
• Mission
• Evangelism
• United Methodist History
• United Methodist Polity
• United Methodist Doctrine

Non-Degree Programs

Those who have a B.A. or equivalent degree and who wish to take courses for credit but who do not wish to enter a degree program may seek admission to Perkins as a non-degree student. 

The student must submit a completed application form along with official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate academic work, two letters of reference and an explanation of the proposed plan of study indicating the courses desired.

1 Peter 4:10 “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (NRSV)