Co-vocational Ministry with Second Major, B.C.M.

In the twenty-first century, many ministers encounter the need to be “tent-makers” like the Apostle Paul. The co-vocational ministry major helps the student called to serve in smaller congregations, specialized ministries, or lower socio-economic settings by providing a secondary skill base to enhance personal finances while serving in these settings. The secondary skill set is developed through completion of a either a second undergraduate major outside the School of Christian Studies or the completion of a specialization in one of the following fields: exercise and sport science (grades EC-12), general business, middle school language arts (grades 4-8), middle school mathematics (grades 4-8), middle school science (grades 4-8), middle school social studies (grades 4-8), or personal training.

Bachelor of Christian Ministry Degree Specific General Education Core Course Requirements - 44 hrs

The Bachelor of Christian Ministry Degree (B.C.M.) is a minimum 124-credit hour degree designed to afford both academic and professional depth for individuals who express a call to ministry. The degree integrates university degree requirements with appropriate experience. A minimum of 36 credit hours must be upper-level credit (courses numbered 3000 and above). Components of the Bachelor of Christian Ministry degree include:

English - 6 hrs:
ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric 3 hrs ¹ and ENGL 1302 - Composition and Reading 3 hrs¹
History - 6 hrs from:
HIST 1301 - Western Civilization to 1648 3 hrs or HIST 1303 - World Civilization to 1500 3 hrs AND HIST 1302 - Western Civilization since 1648 3 hrs or HIST 1304 - World Civilization since 1500 3 hrs; -OR- HIST 2301 - United States History to 1877 3 hrs and HIST 2302 - United States History since 1877 3 hrs
Mathematics - 3 hrs:
MATH 1303 - Mathematics for Liberal Arts 3 hrs - OR - higher
Exercise and Sport Science - 3 hrs:
EXSS courses²
Religion - 6 hrs:
RLGN 1301 - Old Testament History 3 hrs and RLGN 1302 - New Testament History 3 hrs³
Science - 3 hrs:
Science course 3 hrs
Political Science - 3 hrs:
POLS 2301 - American Government 3 hrs
Communication - 3 hrs from:
COMS 1301 - Speech Communication 3 hrs , COMS 1303 - Professional Communication 3 hrs, COMS 2302 - Communication in the Classroom 3 hrs, or COMS 2303 - Public Speaking 3 hrs
Computer Applications - 3 hrs:
COSC 2311 - Computer Applications 3 hrs ⁴
Additional Requirements - 8 hrs:
Math/Science/Language⁵ 3 hrs
Math/Science/Language⁵ 3 hrs
BASC 1200 - Best Achievement Strategies for College 2 hrs -OR- BASC 1201 - Best Achievement Strategies for College 2 hrs
GRAD 0001 - Senior Seminar 0 hrs
NOTATIONS:
1. ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302 should be taken within first year of enrollment.
2. Students who have served two or more years in the Armed Forces are exempt from the EXSS requirement with DD-214 from basic training.
3. Wayland Baptist University will not accept RLGN 1301 - Old Testament History or RLGN 1302 - New Testament History , or their equivalents, from any institution except other Baptist institutions to meet the core requirement in any Wayland degree. If a student has taken RLGN 1301 - Old Testament History and/or RLGN 1302 - New Testament History , or their equivalents, at any institution except other Baptist institutions, then the student has two options to meet the core requirement: (1) take RLGN 1301 and/or RLGN 1302 at Wayland or (2) take THST 4310 , THST 4311 , THST 4312 , THST 4313 , or THST 4320 in lieu of RLGN 1301 ; and/or take THST 4320 , THST 4321 , THST 4322 , or THST 4323 in lieu of RLGN 1302 . THST 4320 may be an option for either RLGN 1301 or RLGN 1302 as stated above, but may not count for both on the same degree plan. No other THST/MNST courses may substitute for either RLGN 1301 or RLGN 1302 . The Dean of the School of Christian Studies must approve any exception to this policy. RLGN 1301 - Old Testament History or RLGN 1302 - New Testament History , or their equivalents, taken at non-Baptist institutions, may be transferred as elective credit with approval of the Dean of the School of Christian Studies and the Registrar.
4. Students may opt to test out of COSC 2311 ; see course description.
5. Developmental courses may not be used to fulfill the mathematics requirement. Equivalents to MATH 1300 may be used.

Academic Major

Students seeking the B.C.M. degree will complete the appropriate major requirements as outlined in the School of Christian Studies section.

Professional Development

The Professional Development component of the B.C.M. consists of 36 credit hours selected to provide depth or breadth to the major and to provide substantive developmental knowledge for the student’s career or personal goals. Depth and breadth can be met through a major, a specialization, a minor, or ministry-related courses. Student completing Christian ministry or theological studies majors will complete a minor or second major as a portion of the professional development hours unless the student enters the university with substantial ministry-related transfer credit, as determined by the dean of the School of Christian Studies, or they are accepted into an accelerated program that does not require a minor. Students in the co-vocational ministry major will complete a second major or a specialization as part of a composite major in lieu of a separate professional development component. Co-vocational ministry specializations may require additional hours beyond the 36 credit hours, in which case hours will be reduced from the electives block or added to the degree. Students not pursuing a minor or second major must ensure all upper-level academic and cumulative hours are met for the degree.

Up to 12 credit hours of experiential professional development may satisfy this requirement. Experiential learning must be evaluated and approved by the university. Students who have work experience in full-time, part-time or co-vocational ministry positions may have the work experience evaluated if the ministry position is a paid staff position with formal job requirements. Practicums and internships may be placed in this area if they do not relate to the major.

Electives

Students may complete the minimum of 124 credit hours required for the degree with courses which complement or extend career preparation or pursue subject fields which hold special appeal. However, before using elective credit hours, students should check with their advisor to ensure that the hours are indeed elective and that upper-level credit hour requirements for graduation are being met.

Co-vocational Ministry - 36 hrs

The co-vocational ministry major requires a minimum of 36 credit hours from the following courses:

Christian Studies Common Core - 18 hrs

The School of Christian Studies seeks a holistic approach to ministerial training, preparing the head (knowledge), the heart (devotion), and the hands (service). This holistic approach begins with a common core for all Christian Studies majors.

MNST 3300 - Introduction to Ministry 3 hrs
THST 3300 - Biblical Interpretation 3 hrs
THST 4302 - Christian Theology 3 hrs
MNST 3301 - Spiritual Formation 3 hrs or THST 3301 - Christian Spirituality 3 hrs
MNST 3302 - Principles of Biblical Teaching 3 hrs or MNST 4303 - Preaching 3 hrs
MNST 3260 - Practicum 2 hrs
MNST 4100 - Senior Ministry Capstone 1 hrs

Co-vocational Ministry - 18 hrs

MNST 4321 - Issues in Co-vocational Ministry 3 hrs
MNST 3311 - Family Ministry in the Church 3 hrs or MNST 4330 - Principles of Pastoral Counseling 3 hrs
MNST 4320 - Christian Leadership 3 hrs
THST 4330 - Christian Ethics 3 hrs
THST 4350 - Church History 3 hrs
Upper-Level Bible Elective - 3 hrs

Second Major

The secondary skill set is developed through completion of a either a second undergraduate major outside the School of Christian Studies. See the Academic Programs Profile for a complete list of major options.