Southwestern Seminary and DBU Announce Partnership to Support International Students Through Intensive English Program

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dallas Baptist University (DBU) have announced a new collaboration that will allow Southwestern students to participate in DBU's Intensive English Program (IEP) to strengthen their English language skills.

Stephanie Litton, Director of Southwestern's International Student Services and Student Success, said the institution recognized a need among international students whose English proficiency was not yet at the level required to successfully complete coursework taught in English. While looking for a way to provide that training and faithfully pursue Southwestern's core value of being student-focused, Litton said the partnership with DBU began to develop.

"Through our new partnership with DBU and their IEP, Southwestern Seminary's goal is to be able to better serve international students before they begin courses and join us on campus," Litton said. "This collaboration allows students to strengthen their English proficiency, become familiar with the American classroom structure and learning system, and acclimate to life in the United States within an environment designed to help them thrive academically, spiritually, and personally."

In collaboration with DBU, new students will complete the Southwestern application process and receive probationary acceptance. Those documents will then be shared with DBU, and upon acceptance into the IEP, students will receive acceptance letters from both institutions and gain access to resources and services available at each campus. After successfully completing the IEP, students will receive full acceptance to Southwestern.

"The Intensive English Program of Dallas Baptist University teaches international students English through a Christian perspective," said Philip Homer, Director of DBU's IEP. Homer noted that Southwestern students in need of additional English language support will be automatically accepted into the program. "We are excited about our partnership with SWBTS."

The IEP offers English language instruction through in-person classes and online courses, providing basic, intermediate, and advanced English levels. Participants take a placement test that determines their starting proficiency level and helps estimate the length of time needed to reach the English proficiency required for their degree studies.

The program, which is set to launch for the fall 2026 semester, features five 8-week terms each year—two in the fall, two in the spring, and one during the summer. Students entering at a lower intermediate proficiency level may require additional terms to complete the program, while those with more advanced English skills may need only one term.

Students in the program will have a full-time schedule with courses in Conversation, Reading, Writing Composition, Grammar, and Academic Skills. Southwestern students will be residents of the Southwestern campus but have full access to the DBU campus, services, and amenities, including the MyDBU technology portal, DBU Health Services, Fitness Center, and more. Additionally, students in the advanced levels have the opportunity to simultaneously take one course in their academic program, so they can earn academic credit while improving their English skills.

After completing DBU's Intensive English Program, students will enter their academic program on a full-time basis at Southwestern. Litton said she believes this partnership will not only support new students but also assist current students who may be at risk of having their studies suspended because their English proficiency is not yet sufficient for academic success.

"Rather than them being sent home and having to stop their studies or study online, we'll be able to send them to the IEP, let them get the training that they need to succeed, and then actually come back to us," Litton said.

Full-time study in the Intensive English Program costs $4,100 per term. DBU also offers a matching scholarship for students who are sponsored by their church. For added flexibility, part-time study is available worldwide through live online classes, with each online course costing $500. More information about the program can be found on DBU's Intensive English Program website.