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Dec 23, 2024
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Academic Catalog 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Theological Studies, B.C.M.
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 Return to: Undergraduate Curriculum
The theological studies major focuses the student’s ministerial training on exploration of the world of the Bible, deepening his or her understanding of Christian doctrine, ethics, and church history. To complement the major, the student will complete a minor or second major as a portion of the professional development hours in the degree unless the student enters the university with substantial ministry-related transfer credit, as determined by the dean of the school. Students have the opportunity to apply to an accelerated program as described below.
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Bachelor of Christian Ministry Degree Requirements
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).
No additional degree specific general education courses are required for this degree. Students pursuing the B.C.M. degree will complete the Unified General Education Core requirements.
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.
Theological Studies - 36 hrs
The theological studies major requires a minimum of 36 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.
Theological Studies - 18 hrs
Accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies to M.A. Theological Studies
To help students to be good stewards of their financial resources, the School of Christian Studies is proud to offer an accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies to M.A. Theological Studies for students who apply as undergraduates. The accelerated program can reduce the financial cost for the student by reducing the time required to complete a master’s degree.
The accelerated bachelor’s to master’s degree program reduces the total hours for the two degree from 166 hour to 148 hours for the non-thesis track and from 190 hours to 154 hours for the thesis track. Student must apply and be admitted to this program.
- Full-time students transition from bachelor-level coursework to master-level coursework in years three to four and complete both degrees simultaneously in years five to six (depending on hours taken)
- A minor is not required in the professional development block for the thesis track.
- Graduate coursework taken as an upper-classman cross-lists on the baccalaureate degree plan:
- 6 hours for non-thesis track
- 18 hours for thesis track
- No more than 6 hours (or 18 hours for thesis track) can be cross-listed, though graduate courses can be taken concurrently if needed in the last term of the B.C.M. for financial aid.
- Cross-listed courses in the major are 6 hours from the following:
- Cross-listed courses for the thesis track are 18 hours from those listed above or the following:
- Graduate Greek or Hebrew courses for electives in the professional development
- THST electives (in consultation with faculty mentor) for electives in professional development
- MNST 3260 - Practicum and MNST 4100 - Senior Ministry Capstone are replaced with a 3 hour THST or MNST undergraduate elective.
- Students in the thesis track must take GREK 1301 and GREK 1302 in the Math/Science/Language general education slots or as electives
To remain in good standing for the accelerated program:
- Students must make C or better in all major coursework in the B.C.M. degree
- Students must maintain a 2.5 overall GPA in the first sixty hours of the B.C.M. degree
- Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the last sixty hours of the B.C.M. degree
- Students must earn B or better in the cross-listed graduate courses
For complete listing of requirements: Accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies + M.A. Theological Studies
Accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies to M.Div.
To help students to be good stewards of their financial resources, the School of Christian Studies is proud to offer an accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies to M.Div. program for students who apply as undergraduates. The accelerated program can reduce the financial cost for the student by reducing the time required to complete a master’s degree.
The accelerated program would reduce the total hours for the two degrees from 196 hours to 161 hours (208 to 161 for biblical languages track). Undergraduate students must apply and be admitted to this program.
- Full-time students transition from bachelor-level coursework to master-level coursework in years three to four and complete both degrees simultaneously in years five to six (depending on hours taken)
- A minor is not required in the professional development block
- 35 hours graduate coursework taken as an upper-classman cross-lists on the baccalaureate degree plan
- No more than 35 hours can be cross-listed, though graduate courses can be taken concurrently if needed in the last term of the B.C.M. for financial aid
- Cross-listed courses in the major are the following:
- 11 hours in the major
- 24 hours in the professional development block (student’s choice in consultation with faculty mentor)
- Changes to the M.Div. requirements:
- Other requirements:
To remain in good standing for accelerated program:
- Student must make C or better in all major coursework in the B.C.M. degree
- Student must maintain a 2.5 overall GPA in first sixty hours of the B.C.M. degree
- Student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in last sixty hours of the B.C.M. degree
- Student must earn C or better in the 35 hours of cross-listed graduate courses
For complete listing of requirements: Accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies + M.Div. (3+2)
Accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies to M.Div./M.B.A. Joint Degree
To help students to be good stewards of their financial resources, the School of Christian Studies is proud to offer an accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies to M.Div./M.B.A. joint degree program for students who apply as undergraduates. The accelerated program can reduce the financial cost for the student by reducing the time required to complete a master’s degree.
The accelerated program would reduce the total hours for the two degrees from 214 hours to 179 hours. Undergraduate students must apply and be admitted to this program.
- Full-time students transition from bachelor-level coursework to master-level coursework in years three to four and complete both degrees simultaneously in years five to six (depending on hours taken)
- A minor is not required in the professional development block
- 35 hours graduate coursework taken as an upper-classman cross-lists on the baccalaureate degree plan
- No more than 35 hours can be cross-listed, though graduate courses can be taken concurrently if needed in the last term of the B.C.M. for financial aid
- Cross-listed courses in the major are the following:
- 11 hours in the major
- 24 hours in the professional development block (student’s choice in consultation with faculty mentor)
- Changes to the M.Div. requirements:
- Other requirements:
To remain in good standing for accelerated program:
- Student must make C or better in all major coursework in the B.C.M. degree
- Student must maintain a 2.5 overall GPA in first sixty hours of the B.C.M. degree
- Student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in last sixty hours of the B.C.M. degree
- Student must earn C or better in the 35 hours of cross-listed graduate courses
For complete listing of requirements: Accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies + M.Div./M.B.A. Joint Degree (3+2)
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Return to: Undergraduate Curriculum
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