Why Houston Theological Seminary?

Study with the Authors

Our faculty are constantly writing for the church and the academy. We’ve published dozens and dozens of books, commentaries, essays, and journal articles.

Get a Biblical Foundation

We value the Bible here, as evidenced by the fact that we have one of the largest New Testament faculties among seminaries in the United States.

Personal, Seminar-Focused Classes

To foster personal relationships we cap our students per class at 20 so our average class only has 10-15 students. This allows you to really get to know other students and our professors. At the same time, we focus on integrating a seminar-style of education in these classes. We don’t simply lecture; rather, we assign interesting reading and hold discussions that train you to think for yourself. When you leave the program, you can then be confident in your own critical thinking skills as you study the Bible and train others to be disciples of Jesus.

Flexible and Accessible

Our programs are designed with the student in mind. While we have formal stipulations, we always invite students to propose substitutions so the degree program best fits their needs. Also, our we offer our classes residentially and online to fit the needs and pace of those who maintain active work, family, and church schedules. Most of our residential classes meet one night a week, though we have a full rotation of traditional day-time classes. With most programs fully online, non-residential students have access to the full range of coursework, and residential students can supplement with online classes at any time.

Spiritual Formation

Theological study is not just a pursuit of ideas but is built upon your personal relationship with God and his body, the Church. As a formal part of the MDiv, SF classes are also electives for other programs. In those four semesters, students share life with faculty and other students while focusing on the classical spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study, community, etc. These courses are designed so that you have a holistic spirituality that informs and grounds your ministry.

Ministry Formation and Internships

Our ministry formation is guided by those actively in ministry and not just those who study these ideas theoretically. In particular, we have an innovative relationship with Second Baptist Houston so that their ministers provide the backbone for our ministry training classes. We also integrate case studies and other ministerial practice formation in our more traditional academic classes to keep them grounded in the life of the church. Also, we encourage students to participate in internships throughout your program so academics is never separated from practice.

Obtain Graduate Certificates

We have a number of Graduate Certificates in theological areas so you can gain specific competencies. Since we are embedded in the university, you also have the opportunity to draw from certificates from across the university campus that will let you focus in key areas for your ministry electives—e.g., Entrepreneurial Leadership (for church planting), Marriage and Family Studies (for pastoral ministry), and about 20 more.

Community Classes

Our goal is to make our teaching as accessible to the church as we can. As a result, we open most of our classes for anyone to take, even if they are not a seminary student. Check out the list of community theology courses you can audit/survey.