Advanced Degree

The ThM offers students the opportunity for advanced, guided research in a particular area of study. Students choose this degree program to further prepare for ministry and/or future PhD studies.

1. A completed set of application forms, including the Church Recommendation form, Personal Statement, Spouse’s Personal Statement, Divorce form, Medical History, Immunization Record and ThM Application form (and application fee). Applicants must also sign a copy of the Southeastern Covenant.
2. A transcript showing the satisfactory completion of the Master of Divinity degree or graduate theological degree with equivalent theological background. A minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for all master’s level work is required for admission into the ThM program.
3. Official transcripts are required from all graduate and undergraduate studies. Note that Southeastern students should already have these transcripts on file.
4. Transcript or other evidence of satisfactory completion of all language requirements (6 hours of coursework in both Greek and Hebrew).
5. Five references (non-family): 1 pastor; 2 personal character references; 2 academic (at least one from the field of desired specialization, but not from a prospective major professor).
6. A graded research paper from the MDiv program or an equivalent demonstration of research skills and scholarly writing ability.
7. Students for whom English is a second language and have not obtained a degree from an academic institution within the United States should have a minimum TOEFL score of 100 (for the internet-based TOEFL) or 600 (for the paper based TOEFL). TOEFL scores must be less than 24 months old to be considered valid by the seminary.
8. Applicants must complete a Major Professor Request form and essay (500-750 words) in which they designate a possible major professor and summarize their interest in the field concentration and their scholarly preparation for their desired specialization. Applicants will be approved only if there is a major professor available who agrees to work with the student in the desired discipline of major concentration. Applicants are required to meet with the desired major professor in order to discuss the student’s academic interests and planned course of study before completing the form.
9. Applicants must have a Major Professor Evaluation form completed and submitted by the major professor that agrees to work with the student.

Major Professor Request Form

Major Professor Evaluation Form

• Biblical Studies
  • Old Testament
  • New Testament
• Theological Studies
  • Theology
  • Philosophy
  • Historical Theology
  • Christian Ethics
• Applied Theology
  • Preaching
  • Evangelism
  • Missions
  • Biblical Counseling
  • Christian Leadership
  • Women’s Studies

ThM students have the option to enroll in up to four PhD seminars while completing the ThM program. If a student continues into a PhD program at Southeastern, seminars taken during the completion of the ThM are eligible to be considered for credit toward the PhD degree. In order to be considered for this option, students must be graduates of Southeastern and earn no less than an “A-“ in the seminars. Seminars must also fit the student’s program of study. Additional information about PhD studies may be found here or by calling them at 919-761-2451.

12 of the 24 hours in the ThM program are reading and research oriented classes that do not require traditional classroom meetings. Although it is contingent upon course offerings, the remaining 12 hours in the ThM program can possibly be completed in a modified residency format. This would include enrolling in hybrid classes, inter-term classes, extension center classes, and/or online classes (note that up to 6 hours in the ThM program may be taken in online classes). Since the availability of modified residency courses varies across academic disciplines, students interested in completing the ThM program as non-residents are strongly encouraged to speak with their prospective major professor about this possibility before enrolling in the ThM program. Southeastern does not guarantee the possibility of completing the ThM degree in a modified or non-residential format.