Accelerated B.C.M. Theological Studies + M.Div. (3+2)

Wayland Baptist University’s accelerated programs allow high-achieving, motivated students the opportunity to combine undergraduate and graduate coursework in an academically rigorous yet efficient, cost-effective program of study. The School of Christian Studies accelerated programs reduce time in school through an integrated curriculum that avoids duplicated courses, maximizing academic coursework and experiential learning opportunities. Each program, undergraduate and graduate, maintains distinctive requirements students must meet to participate in the accelerated program. Undergraduate students must apply and be admitted to an accelerated program.

The B.C.M. in Theological Studies + M.Div. (3+2) is an accelerated 161-hour program that allows student to complete both degrees in as few as five years.

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 of 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
  - THST 5302 - Christian Theology for THST 4302
  - Graduate Old Testament elective for Old Testament elective
  - Graduate New Testament elective for New Testament elective
  - MNST 5260 - Practicum for MNST 3260
- 24 hours in the professional development block (student’s choice in consultation with faculty mentor)
Changes to the M.Div. requirements:
- THST 5303 - Old Testament Foundations replaced by Old Testament elective
- THST 5304 - New Testament Foundations replaced by New Testament elective
- MNST 5300 - Foundations in Ministry , THST 5300 - Foundations of Biblical Interpretation , and THST 5330 - Christian Ethics
  - 9 hours added to the electives block in the M.Div. non-language track
  - 3 hours added to the electives block in the M.Div. biblical languages track; overall hour requirement lowered from 78 hours to 72 hours
Other requirements:
- Complete MNST 5301 - Spiritual Formation or THST 5301 - Christian Spirituality , whichever related course is not completed in the undergraduate major
- Complete MNST 5302 - Principles of Biblical Teaching or MNST 5303 - Preaching , whichever related course is not taken in the undergraduate major
- Must take THST 5351 - Baptist History in M.Div. faith heritage section of the core; non-Baptist students may petition for substitution, if desired

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

B.C.M. Theological Studies

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.

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, of which 11 hours will be cross-listed for the M.Div.:

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 5302 - Christian Theology 3 hrs (for 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 5260 - Practicum 2 hrs (for MNST 5260 - Practicum 2 hrs)
MNST 4100 - Senior Ministry Capstone 1 hrs

Theological Studies - 18 hrs

THST 4330 - Christian Ethics 3 hrs
THST 4350 - Church History 3 hrs
Graduate Old Testament Elective - 3 hrs (for Upper-Level Old Testament Elective - 3 hrs)
Graduate New Testament Elective - 3 hrs (for Upper-Level New Testament Elective - 3 hrs)
THST Elective - 3 hrs
THST or MNST Elective - 3 hrs

Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity is the standard professional degree for individuals entering Christian ministry. For a variety of reasons, however, many individuals find themselves actively engaged in ministry and unable to relocate to a school providing the M.Div. The School of Christian Studies offers a Master of Divinity program that can be completed fully online or through a combination of face-to-face classes at one of Wayland’s many campuses.

The program prepares the student for effective ministry in the twenty-first century, whether serving in the church, on the mission field, in a denominational institution, or through a parachurch organization. The program seeks to prepare the entire person for service in the kingdom of God, by connecting the intellectual disciplines with practical training and spiritual development.

Core Classes - 51-57 hrs

Spiritual Formation - 10 hrs

MNST 5301 - Spiritual Formation 3 hrs or THST 5301 - Christian Spirituality 3 hrs (whichever related course is not completed in undergraduate major)
MNST 5323 - Christian Worship 3 hrs
Combination of four courses:
MNST 5160 - The Practice of Spiritual Disciplines 1 hrs (may be repeated as topic varies)
THST 5160 - Readings in Christian Spirituality 1 hrs (may be repeated as topic varies)

Biblical Foundations - 12-18 hrs

Graduate Old Testament Elective - 3 hrs (for THST 5303 - Old Testament Foundations 3 hrs)
Graduate New Testament Elective - 3 hrs (for THST 5304 - New Testament Foundations 3 hrs)
Non-Language Track:
GREK 5303 - Greek Tools for Ministry 3 hrs
HEBR 5303 - Hebrew Tools for Ministry 3 hrs
OR Biblical Languages Track:
GREK 5301 - Biblical Greek I 3 hrs and GREK 5302 - Biblical Greek II 3 hrs*
HEBR 5301 - Biblical Hebrew I 3 hrs and HEBR 5302 - Biblical Hebrew II 3 hrs
* GREK 1301 - Elementary Greek and GREK 1302 - Elementary Greek are prerequisites and should be taken in the Math/Science/Language core requirement or as an undergraduate elective.

Electives - 15-21 hrs

Students in the non-language track must complete 21 hours of electives. Students in the biblical languages track must complete 15 hours of electives.