Applicants in Christian education, Christian leadership, biblical exposition, or evangelism who hold the Doctor of Educational Ministry or Doctor of Ministry degree from an institution accredited by the Association of Theological Schools or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and/or a regional accrediting agency (such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) may be eligible for advanced standing in the PhD program. To be considered for advanced standing, applicants must fulfill all PhD admission requirements for their major area of study with the exception that GRE scores are waived. At least one academic personal reference must be from a professional doctoral program administrator from the degree-granting institution.

Advanced Standing must be requested by submitting a Transfer of Credit Request from Professional Doctoral Degree form with the application to the PhD program. Upon recommendation of the division of study to admit and allow transfer and the approval of the Doctoral Admissions Committee, maximum credit of two seminars and one supervised reading colloquium could be approved for transfer after successful completion of the Qualifying Examination. A seminar could apply as the elective or as a concentration seminar in the Christian education major or a minor seminar in biblical exposition, Christian leadership, and evangelism majors. 

Students with advanced standing would be required to take a minimum of six seminars, three supervised reading colloquia, the three RDOC workshop courses, the qualifying and oral comprehensive examinations, and dissertation writing and defense in the PhD program.