Frequently Asked Questions
Why Dallas Baptist University?
Why should I choose Dallas Baptist University for my Masters in Education degree?
Dallas Baptist University is a uniquely Christian university that encourages all students to become servant leaders in their chosen fields. Being an educator is a true calling. Faculty and staff at DBU understand and seek to help students achieve their goals while also nurturing them in their spiritual development.
DBU Mission Statement
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Do I have to be a Baptist to attend Dallas Baptist University?
No. Students from all faiths and creeds attend, learn, and benefit from their experiences at DBU. Everyone is welcome into the DBU Family!
Does Dallas Baptist University have more than one campus?
There are three locations to serve you.
- DBU main campus at 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas
- DBU Hurst-Colleyville-Tarrant at 5611 Colleyville Blvd, Suite 240, Colleyville, Texas
- DBU Frisco at 3211 Internet Blvd, Suite 100, Frisco, Texas
Application Procedures
How do I apply to the Graduate Programs at Dallas Baptist University?
- You may apply to DBU online.
- You may request a paper copy of our application be sent to you by calling 214.333.5242.
What is a Statement of Purpose?
The Statement of Purpose consists of several questions which help you put your goals into words and to explain why you wish to come to DBU. It also serves as your writing sample for the admissions process.
Who can I ask to do my Letters of Recommendation?
You can ask anyone other than a family member. Applicants often ask coworkers, supervisors, professors, pastors, community leaders, or anyone else they feel knows their work habits well.
What transcripts must I provide?
You must supply all your previous transcripts. If you ever took a single course at a college, you must provide an official transcript from that college. For example, if you took a course at a community college prior to the university from which you obtained your undergraduate degree, DBU requires official transcripts from both.
What is the minimum undergraduate GPA that Dallas Baptist University will accept?
Students applying to DBU are encouraged to have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Do I have to take the GRE?
Yes. Continuance in the program beyond the first six hours requires satisfactory scores on the Verbal and Quantitative or Analytical Writing sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
What is the minimum GRE score required?
Applicants are encouraged to obtain
- A minimum Verbal score of 400 combined with a minimum 4.0 Analytical Writing.
or
- A minimum Verbal score of 400 combined with the Quantitative score to total 850 or higher.
Will any single requirement keep me from being admitted to the Graduate Programs at DBU?
No. Student applications are looked at from a holistic perspective to give applicants their best possible opportunity for success at DBU.
Will DBU accept my "unofficial" GRE scores pending the receipt of my official ones?
Yes. Applicants taking the GRE online will receive their "unofficial" score immediately. DBU will temporarily accept this "unofficial" score for admissions decisions prior to receiving your official score. It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks for your official scores to reach the university.
Where should I send my application materials?
Application materials should be sent to the Dallas Baptist University Office of Graduate Programs.
Is there a deadline for applying per semester?
DBU utilizes a rolling admissions policy. The MDAC meets regularly throughout each semester.
Financial Aid
DBU is a private university. Isn't it much more expensive than a state university?
Since the Texas Legislature deregulated state tuition, universities have raised their tuition rates significantly. Graduate students, particularly, should exercise a "shop before you buy" mentality. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find!
Tuition Costs
Can I apply for Financial Aid as a graduate student?
Yes! We strongly encourage all students to apply for Financial Aid through our university Financial Aid Department, (214).333.5363. The College of Education does not handle financial aid.
Transfer Students
Can I transfer graduate credits from another university?
Usually. You will need to submit transcripts to your Program Director for review and evaluation within the first semester of enrollment.
What is the maximum number of graduate credits I can transfer from another university?
12 semester credit hours of acceptable course work are the limit that most universities, including DBU, will accept as transfer credit towards a Masters degree.
How would I find out if credits I have taken at another university will be accepted at Dallas Baptist University?
You should make an appointment with your Program Director for advising and bring official transcripts for review and evaluation. This should occur during your first semester at DBU.
How old can my previous graduate credit be?
We prefer graduate credits not be over 6 years old. All students who wish to transfer credits into DBU should make an appointment to discuss this with their Program Director during their first semester at DBU.
Admissions Procedures and Notification
How can I verify that all my admissions documents have been received by the Office of Graduate Programs?
You may contact the Office of Graduate Programs to verify they have received all your documents. If everything has not been received, they will be able to tell you what is lacking.
Once I have submitted everything required, how will I know if I am accepted?
Once the Master's Degrees Admission Committee has met and reviewed your application, you will be notified by either the Office of Graduate Programs, your Program Director, or, often, both!
What is the Master's Degrees Admission Committee (MDAC)?
The Master's Degrees Admission Committee consists of faculty from across the university who meet regularly to review applications from perspective students. They make the decision if a student is admitted, admitted provisionally, deferred, or denied.
Registration Procedures
Upon admission how do I proceed to register?
Upon admission you will contact your Program Director who will advise you and help you get registered.
Why is there such importance placed on student advising at DBU? Why can't I just register on my own?
At Dallas Baptist University great importance is placed on the relationship between the student and their Program Director. This individual attention and mentoring helps the student obtain correct information, assures that things occur in a proper manner, and guarantees that every student has someone who knows them by name, understands their individual situations, and prays for them. The strong emphasis on student advising at DBU is one of our greatest strengths.
Can I register online?
As a newly admitted student, you cannot register online. It is particularly important that as a new student you receive individual attention from your Program Director. After your initial registration you will be able to register online, if desired, after personal or virtual advising from your Program Director and your first semester grades are posted.
If I am already a student at DBU can I register online after my first registration?
After your initial registration you will be able to register online, if desired, after personal or virtual advising from your Program Director and your first semester grades are posted.
I am uncomfortable with online registration. Are there other ways for me to register?
Of course! All students have the option of coming to any DBU location for registering in person. Also, to assist working students, many chose to conduct their advising with the College of Education via telephone or e-mail. Once appropriate advising has taken place, often the student can chose to complete their registration process via faxing.
Online Programs
Do you have any completely online programs?
A student can obtain their entire Masters of Education in Educational Leadership online.
When are the courses offered?
Multiple online courses are offered every semester including summers.
Are there Residency Requirements for completely online students?
There are no Residency Requirements for students who take all of their classes online.
Are the online courses hard to get into?
The online and hybrid courses are very popular. Interested students are strongly encouraged to register as early as possible each semester to guarantee themselves a spot.
Will you be adding additional online programs in the future?
Yes! Dallas Baptist University is proud to be a front-runner in proactive, learner-centered, online education. We are regularly adding additional courses and programs.
Flexible Scheduling
In what ways can I take Masters in Education classes at Dallas Baptist University?
Students at DBU have multiple opportunities to take advantage of unique and flexible scheduling to meet the needs of working adults. These include regularly scheduled night classes, Weekend Professional classes, mini-term courses, online, and hybrid courses.
What is a hybrid class?
A hybrid class is the marriage of a regular class and an online class. Students meet on campus for some of their class meetings. The rest is done online.
How are the Weekend Professional classes structured?
Weekend Professional classes are structured in various ways.
What is a Mini Semester?
DBU offers multiple "mini" semesters that last for one to two weeks. Students can obtain 3 hours credit in a short period of time . College of Education students particularly enjoy mini semesters in January, May, August, and December.
Can I take various types of these classes in the same semester?
As a DBU student you can put together many combinations of courses to accommodate your schedule.
How can I find out about online, hybrid, Weekend Professional, mini-term, and other unique scheduling opportunities for a specific semester at DBU?
Each semester the university publishes schedules of all our offerings. These are also posted online. In addition, sometimes classes are added and others can fill up quickly. Online and hybrid courses fill particularly quickly so always register early for those.
Is there a tentative course rotation schedule to assist me in planning for future semesters?
Cohort Programs
What is a cohort?
A cohort is a group of students who progress through their program together. DBU cohorts usually meet in district or other school sites in their local area instead of the DBU main or extension campuses.
Do the cohorts take all of their classes in their districts?
All cohort students must obtain at least 6 hours either on the main or other DBU campuses. The choice of when to do this occurs as a mutual decision between the cohort itself and the Program Director. These 6 hours are referred to as the Residency Requirement.
What are the pros of being in a cohort?
- Students participating in a cohort experience a built-in support system due to sharing the same courses and scheduling throughout their program. They get to know each other in an in-depth manner and share life experiences. They continue to support each other in the work place long after graduation.
Cohort students, with advice from their Program Director, decide what they wish to take as a group each semester as well as the time, duration, and location of classes.
- Students in a cohort have the opportunity of having classes delivered to them in their districts rather than on campus. This saves both gasoline and valuable traveling time. DBU professors deliver instruction at selected school sites within the students' districts.
- Students in a cohort receive a university scholarship which amounts to 1/3 of their tuition per semester for courses they take with the cohort.
What are the cons of being in a cohort?
- In some instances a student may have transferred a course that the cohort wants to take during a certain semester. That could leave this student either without something to take or stepping out of the cohort to take a class in the regular program. The cohort scholarship does not apply to courses taken outside the cohort.
- You cannot "pick and chose" which courses you want to take each semester on your own. You must make a mutual decision with your cohort. In other words, you lose some independence in your course selection.
Are their financial advantages to being in a cohort?
Definitely! All cohort students receive a university scholarship which amounts to 1/3 of their tuition per semester.
Where does DBU currently have cohort programs?
DBU currently has collaborative Educational Leadership cohort groups meeting in the Fort Worth, Birdville, Irving, Lewisville, and Wylie ISDs. In addition, we have a cohort that meets in the North Dallas area, currently at DBU - North in Frisco. We also have a cohort at Life Charter School.
Can there ever be additional cohorts?
Without a doubt! We are experiencing very rapid growth. Discussions are underway at this time regarding potential new cohort groups which could begin soon.
Can I join a cohort already in existence?
In some cases.
- The Life Charter cohort is restricted to its employees with administrative approval.
- Other cohorts do allow new members.
- The North Dallas cohort is an eclectic group of students who live or work in the North Dallas area. It is not sponsored by a specific school district and is open to new members each semester. It currently meets at DBU - North in Frisco.
Additional cohorts will be forming. As they do, they will be added to this web site with appropriate information.
Does the College of Education have other cohort programs in addition to the ones in Educational Leadership - Principalship?
The College of Education has both School Counseling and Master of Arts in Teaching cohorts going at this time. For information on the Master of Education in School Counseling contact Dr. Bonnie Hinkle, Program Director. For the Master of Arts in Teaching program, contact Dara Owen, Interim Program Director.
Masters in Education Program Requirements
In addition to my coursework, are there additional requirements which I must fulfill to obtain my Masters degree in Education from Dallas Baptist University?
All graduate students within the College of Education are required to prepare and present a portfolio to the Educator Preparation Board prior to graduation.
What if I am a totally online student and live a prohibitive distance from Dallas?
Students who complete all their coursework online and who live unreasonable distances away, will prepare an electronic portfolio and submit it to their Program Director.
What is a portfolio?
This portfolio is an organized set of artifacts that reflects a snapshot of your total graduate experience within Dallas Baptist University. It will reflect your educational philosophy and connect the things your have learned in theory to actual practice for enhanced teaching, leading, and practice.
What is the Educator Preparation Board (EPB)?
The Educator Preparation Board is a group of experienced and widely successful educators from both inside and outside the university. Practicing teachers, administrators, consultants, and Educational Region Service Center personnel as well as DBU professors and administrators from inside and outside the College of Education volunteer their time for this highly selective process. It is an honor to be asked to serve on the Educator Preparation Board.
How will I know how to prepare my portfolio? Will there be anyone to assist me?
Yes. Each semester a date is publicized for a Portfolio Workshop. Professors attend, review a handbook on how to prepare a portfolio, discuss what is required, and show examples. Questions and answers are encouraged.
Portfolio Handbook
Students in the Educational Leadership program also work on their portfolios under the formative direction of their professor for EDAD 6389, Administrative Internship.
TExES Examinations for Principalship, Reading Specialist, and Master Reading Teacher
Will I be required to take a TExES examination for state certification in the principalship?
Yes. State certification requirements require that persons successfully take and pass TExES Exam number 68, Principal.
DBU students receive integrated coursework designed to prepare them for this exam in all their coursework.
Specific preparation is targeted in EDAD 6389, Administrative Internship.
Students must take the Practice Examination for the principalship during their internship. They must receive a minimum score of 85 to receive a bar code and be allowed to register for the state examination.
Individual counseling in relation to the TExES examination is provided in student advising.
Will I be required to take a TExES examination for state certification as a Master Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist?
Yes. Students seeking to obtain the Master Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist state certifications must take specified TExES exams.
DBU students seeking these state certifications receive individual attention and preparation through required Seminars.
Students must take the Practice Examination and receive a minimum score of 85 to receive a bar code and be allowed to register for the state examination(s).
Individual advising in relation to the TExES examination is provided.
Other Graduate Programs
Business Administration (MBA)
Management (MAM)
Curriculum and Instruction (M Ed.)
Early Childhood Education (M.Ed.)
Educational Leadership (M Ed.)
Kinesiology (M.Ed.)
Reading and English as a Second Language (M Ed.)
School Counseling (M Ed.)
Teaching (MAT)
Counseling (MAC)
Liberal Arts (MLA)
Professional Development (MAPD)
Programs available through the Gary Cook Graduate School of Leadership
Christian Education (MACE)
Christian Education: Childhood Ministry (MACH)
Christian Education: Student Ministry (MAST)
Global Leadership (MAGL)
Worship Leadership (MAWL)
Higher Education (M Ed.)
Dual Degree Programs
Master of Arts in Christian Education/Master of Business Administration (MACE/MBA)
Master of Arts in Christian Education: Student Ministry/Master of Arts in Global Leadership (MAST/MAGL)
Master of Arts in Christian Education: Student Ministry/Master of Arts in Management (MAST/MAM)
Master of Arts in Global Leadership/Master of Business Administration (MAGL/MBA)
Contact the Education Program:
214.333.5413
Contact the office of Graduate Programs:
214.333.5242 or
1.800.460.1328
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