Southern Baptist theological seminary in Fort Worth training Christian leaders since 1908.
Southwestern offers graduate and doctoral degrees across six schools, with specializations in theology, biblical languages, apologetics, church history, preaching, pastoral ministry, Christian education, biblical counseling, missiology, Islamic studies, and music. The seminary has graduated over 44,000 students since 1908 and serves a student body representing 46 states and 45 countries. The School of Theology, established in 1908, remains the core academic unit, while specialized schools address music, educational ministries, and evangelism. The seminary publishes the Southwestern Journal of Theology, established in 1958.
The main campus occupies 200 acres on Seminary Hill in Fort Worth, one of the highest natural elevations in Tarrant County. The seminary also operates extension programs, including a Master of Arts in Theology program in Bonn, Germany, and a campus at the Darrington Unit prison in Brazoria County, Texas, which has significantly reduced violence rates. The seminary's academic journal and various cultural engagement initiatives support student intellectual and spiritual development.
The seminary is governed by a 40-member board of trustees serving staggered terms, elected by the Southern Baptist Convention. David S. Dockery serves as president (since 2023), with O. S. Hawkins as chancellor. Financial support derives from the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program, endowment earnings, gifts, and student fees. The institution has faced significant governance and financial challenges, including a $140.1 million deficit accumulated from 2002 to 2022.
The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and the National Association of Schools of Music. In June 2023, SACSCOC placed the institution on 'Warning' status due to non-compliance with standards for institutional governance and financial resources. In June 2025, the seminary was placed on 'Probation for Good Cause,' the most serious sanction short of accreditation revocation.