This school is an intensive Christian discipleship course beginning with an 11 or 12-week lecture/teaching phase followed by an 8-12 week practical field assignment. It is a prerequisite for all other courses in the University of the Nations, and also serves to orient and prepare all new Youth With A Mission (YWAM) staff.

The DTS is designed to encourage students in personal character development, cultivating their relationship with God and identifying their unique gifts and callings. Cross-cultural exposure and global awareness are special emphases throughout the course, preparing the students to evangelize and disciple current and future generations, answering the call to "Go into all the world and teach (make disciples of) all nations." (Matthew 28:19).

The curriculum is in the following six major categories: God's nature and character; God's intention for individuals, peoples and nations; seeing all of life from God's perspective; redemption, sin, and the Cross; God's family - the Church; God's world - His call and commission; the ministries of YWAM.

Focused DTS's: In some locations the DTS is offered with a particular focus, such as the Crossroads DTS, Operation Year DTS, University DTS, Sports DTS, Arts DTS, etc.

Credit will be given for this course with satisfactory completion of DSP 212.