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n the past decade, the advanced degree programs at Southeastern have become more attractive due to flexible degree options while maintaining academic rigor. The total number of students in the D.Min., Ed.D., Th.M., and Ph.D. programs has more than tripled, increasing from 144 to 448 students. Bruce Ashford, provost of Southeastern, said, “Southeastern Seminary possesses a world-class faculty, a fact which is increasingly being recognized not only in the United States and among Baptists, but worldwide and among other denominations. This recognition is reflected in the rapid growth of our doctoral programs. Although the majority of our doctoral students are Southern Baptists who reside in the United States, an increasing number are international students and Americans who live abroad.” Southeastern continues to strive for academic excellence and increasing accessibility in advanced degree tracks.
Ph.D. Over the past 10 years, the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program at Southeastern has grown in scope and student enrollment. Ninety-one students were enrolled in the program in 2003-2004, while 146 students were enrolled in 2013-2014. The Ph.D. program trains pastor-theologians to teach and minister in North America and the majority world context. With its strong academic reputation, the Ph.D. program encourages engagement with the academy. The works of Southeastern students appear in some of the top publications in the world including works published by B&H, T & T Clark, Baker Academic and InterVarsity Press. Southeastern also has had a strong placement record in colleges and universities throughout North America in the past 10 years. Heath Thomas, the director of Ph.D. studies, said, “Dr. Akin has given us the freedom to allow the program to grow. He has established positive, influential relationships with other institutions to expand student placement and increased collegiality with like-minded
institutions around the world.” In Akin’s tenure as president, the Ph.D. program has expanded to include nine areas of study in both residential and modified residential format. In the fall of 2015, Southeastern will launch six new areas of study in its Ph.D. program including apologetics and culture, theology and worship, systematic theology, historical theology, philosophy of religion and Christian leadership. Chuck Lawless, dean of graduate students at SEBTS, said, “Not only will we offer the highest level of academic rigor, but we will offer these studies to students who remain in their place of ministry. That combination — deep study with practical relevance — is what seminary ought to be.” “Dr. Akin recognizes the value of finding effective modes of delivery to train people around the world for the sake of the Great Commission,” Lawless added. The one and two week intensive format provides an opportunity for students and professors to have lunches and dinners together daily and to remain in face-toface conversation with one another during that period. The program brings stories and experiences of relevant ministries around the world to campus. “We talk about what it is like to lead a church in the 21st century and lead a ministry in an increasingly difficult world,” Lawless said. “It is a cohort model of education as students get to know, pray, support and push each other toward their best work.” “These new areas of study add to an already exciting and growing program,” Thomas said. “We invite qualified students to make application so that together we can work to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and fulfill the Great Commission.”
Ed.D. The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) is a 60 credit hour, terminal research degree that focuses both on the theory and the praxis of education, leadership and administration. In the fall of 2006, the first cohort entered
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