Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I obtain a student ID card? What about a spouse ID?
Student ID and Spouse ID cards are processed in the Registrar’s Office. The student and spouse must request this in person. Student pictures will be taken at that time.

2. I have lost my student ID. How can I replace it?
Replacement cards are available in the Registrar’s Office. A fee of $5 (cash or check) will be charged to the student at that time.

3. I’ve lost my password. How can I get a new one?
Passwords are given to all students in their acceptance email. If it is misplaced, a request may be made in person, by phone or by email (registrar@dts.edu) to the Registrar’s Office to have it sent to the email address on file. This information cannot be given out over the phone. (Section 1.1, Student Handbook)

4. How can I update my personal information such as address, phone number, or e-mail?
Personal information can be updated in CampusNet, the student web site, or by filling out a Student Address Change form in the Registrar’s Office. (Section 1.2, Student Handbook)

5. How can I change my degree plan?
Degree plan changes, or reclassifications, are handled through the Registrar's Office. The initial meeting should be with an Academic Adviser or the Assistant Registrar, and after that a meeting will be held with the Assistant Director of Enrollment Services to approve or deny the request. A $50 fee will be charged for each reclassification.

6. How can I change my track or concentration?
Track or concentration changes may be made by filling out a Declaration of Th.M. Track form in the Registrar’s Office or found on CampusNet, the student web site, under Forms and Information.

7. How can I make schedule changes such as dropping or adding a course?
Schedule changes can be made online at no charge prior to the payment deadline for each session. After the payment deadline, there will be a $10 schedule change fee assessed for each course dropped. The fee will be waived for added courses. Courses dropped after they have started will be subject to the tuition refund schedule as posted in the Student Handbook, Section 3.

8. How can I register for an Independent Study course?
There are two ways to register for independent studies:

• Pick up and complete an Independent Study Form located on your student web site under Forms and Information or in the Registrar’s Office. (It is necessary to obtain permission from – and the signature of – the professor who teaches the course.) The completed form is returned to the Registrar’s Office and is used to register you for the course.
• Fill out a form in the Registrar’s Office to register for an ITS (Institute of Theological Studies) independent study by the course number, all of which are listed in the catalog under Special Programs.

All independent studies must be registered through the Registrar’s Office, and not on-line. Students may complete a portion of the following graduate-level programs by independent study:

• Th.M.—up to 18 hours of elective credit
• M.A.—up to 12 hours of elective credit
• C.G.S. and S.T.M.—up to 6 hours of elective credit.

Required courses may not be done by independent study. For more information, contact the Registrar's Office. (Section 1.2, Student Handbook)

9. How can I audit a course?
A course may be audited only by students who have officially registered to audit the course subject to class availability. Audits are normally not allowed in the following cases:

• in courses that are required courses in a student’s degree program,
• by students planning on taking them later for credit, or
• in courses in which the professor does not allow audits.

A course cannot be changed from credit to audit at a time when a student is subject to the grade of F or WF. Audit course registration occurs online at the same time as regular registration. See the Student Handbook, Section 1.3.2, for further details.

10. How can my spouse register to audit a course?
Spouse audit registration begins in the Registrar’s Office on the first day of the semester. This gives priority to regularly enrolled students. The spouse does not need to be present in the office to be enrolled, however, payment must be made on the day of enrollment. The cost is $30 per course and is limited to three courses per semester. Openings are filled on a first come first serve basis. (Section 1.3.3)

11. How does the Tuition-free Classes program (a.k.a. “Th.M. free class”) program work?
Th.M. students may take up to five additional courses beyond the 120 hours required for their degree while still enrolled in the program. There is a modest fee of $30 per course to cover the cost of materials. Students may register for a maximum of one tuition-free course per semester. Registration is based on space available in the class and will begin the first day of the semester. These courses may be taken for credit or for audit and do not count toward the student’s degree, but will be included in the grade point average if it is taken for credit. Registration for these classes can only be done by filling out a form in the Registrar’s Office. See the Student Handbook, Section 1.3.5, for further details.

12. I’m taking a semester off from classes. Do I need to notify anybody?
Yes. It is very important that the Registrar’s Office be notified when the student takes a semester off. This may be done by phone or in person by filling out a Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Form. A form is also located on your student web site under Forms and Information. Print, complete and either mail or fax (214-841-3728) the form into the Registrar’s Office. Failure to notify the Registrar’s Office will cause the student’s general deposit to be forfeited. Please see the Student Handbook, Section 1.13, for further details.

If you plan to take more than a year off from classes, it will be necessary to withdraw from DTS. To do this, you must fill out the same Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office along with the Nonenrolled Student Survey. The information gained from this survey helps us to evaluate and improve our service to students. Failure to notify the Registrar’s Office will cause the students general deposit to be forfeited. Please see the Student Handbook, Section 1.13.1, for further details.

13. When I look at my courses on the CampusNet web site, they do not match up with the ministry track and/or concentration in my degree program. What should I do?
If the student has never formally declared a ministry track and/or concentration, courses taken in their track/concentration will appear as open electives in the degree audit. Officially declaring a ministry track and/or concentration can be done by completing the appropriate form at the Registrar’s Office. Once that information is updated, the student will be able to see how they are progressing towards completion of track/concentration requirements. Please note that the degree audit is an unofficial record, intended for tentative planning purposes. The catalog for your entry year lists the official requirements for each degree program.

If the student has recently reclassified to a different degree program, changes to the online system do not take effect until the next semester in which they are registered for classes. If at that time the online degree audit does not reflect the current degree program, the student should notify the Registrar’s Office.

14. When can I register?
An easy way to find out when it’s your time and day to register is to log onto to your web site using your username/student ID# and password. Check the upper right hand corner making sure you are in the correct session and year. The system will not allow early registration but will give the correct time for registration.

15. How long do I have to complete my degree?
The Th.M. must be completed in 8 years, all M.A. degrees in 7 years, and the C.G.S. in 5 years. S.T.M. students must take at least 3 semesters with a maximum of 3 years. Ph.D. must take at least 3 years with a maximum of 8 years. D.Min. must also take at least 3 years with a maximum of 6 years. Graduation within the time limit is not possible when taking only one class per semester. An average of 9 credit hours must be taken each year in order to complete a degree. Leave of Absence does not extend the time limit. (Section 1.14, Student Handbook)