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BA/BS in Christian Studies/MA in Theological Studies

The BA/BS in Christian Studies/MA in Theological Studies is an accelerated bachelor’s and master’s degree program jointly sponsored by the Mary C. Crowley College of Christian Faith and the Graduate School of Ministry. The program is designed to prepare students to serve in a variety of church and church-related vocational contexts, such as church staff positions, para-church ministries, and denominational service. The accelerated degree will provide students a seamless interface between undergraduate and graduate degrees. Through Christ-centered, quality higher education, students will focus on the theological, biblical, historical, and practical dimensions of Christian ministry for the 21st century.

UNDERGRADUATE REQUIREMENTS

courses

credit hours (ba)

credit hours (bS)

Developing A Christian Mind
DCM 2301 - Developing a Christian Mind

3

3

English

12

9

(BA)

ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I

ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II

ENGL 2301 - World Literature I

ENGL 2302 - World Literature II

(BS)

ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I

ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II

ENGL 2301 - World Literature I

or

ENGL 2302 - World Literature II

Fine Arts
FINE 1306 - Introduction to Fine Arts

3

3

Foreign Language
*Six hours at the 2000 level if adequate requisites are met

14*

0

Foundations for Excellence

1

1

FOUN 1101 - Foundations for Excellence

is required of all first-year and transfer students with fewer than 15 credit hours. (AP, CLEP, IB, or dual/concurrent credit earned while in high school does not count toward these 15 credit hours.)

History

6

6

Choose two:

HIST 1301 - U.S. History to 1865

HIST 1302 - U.S. History Since 1865

HIST 2301 - World Civilization I

HIST 2302 - World Civilization II

Kinesiology

2

2

KNES 1101 and one additional activity course (KNES 1102-1122); for veterans or those 25 years of age or older prior to enrollment at DBU, KNES courses are waived.

Mathematics

3

3

Choose one:

(BA)

MATH 1301 - Math for Liberal Arts

MATH 1303 - College Algebra

MATH 1307 - Finite Math for Business Analysis

MATH 1405 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry

(BS)

MATH 1303 - College Algebra

MATH 1307 - Finite Math for Business Analysis

MATH 1405 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry

Natural Science (1000 or 2000 level courses only)
One laboratory science (BA) or 15 credit hours of laboratory science (BS) selected from two or more areas of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Physical Science, or Physics

4

15

Religion

9

9

RELI 1301 - Old Testament Survey

RELI 1302 - New Testament Survey

RELI 2304 - Christian Doctrine

Social Science (1000 or 2000 level courses only)

6

6

POLS 2301 - American National Government

and an additional three credit hours may be selected from Economics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology.

TOTAL GENERAL STUDIES HOURS

63

57

BA/BS in Christian Studies 

Required Courses

24

24

Required Courses
CHST 3301 - Survey of Christian Education
CHST 4302 - Practicum in Christian Studies (S-L)
PHIL 2301 - Introduction to Philosophy
RELI 4371 - American Church History
Choose one from the following:
CHST 4306 - Children’s Ministry in the Church
CHST 4307 - Youth Ministry in the Church
CHST 4308 - Adult Ministry in the Church


Select one of the three areas of concentration for a total of 9 hours:
Concentration in Educational Ministry (9 hours)

CHST 3372 - Church Administration
CHST 4301 - Teaching Ministry of the Church
CHST 4310 - Small Group Ministry Design and Practice
Concentration in Christian Leadership (9 hours)
CHST 3372 - Church Administration
CHST 4312 - Biblical Servant Leadership
MANA 3301 - Principles of Management
Concentration in Music Ministry (9 hours)
MUSI 2207 - Introduction to Church Music and Worship
MUSI 3270 - Church Music and Worship Administration
MUSI 3271 - Contemporary Worship and Technology
MUSI 4305 - Congregational Song

Shared Undergraduate/Graduate Courses

6

6

MINS 5303 - Foundations of Spiritual Life

THEO 5313 - Applied Hermeneutics

Electives with Concentration in Educational Ministry or Concentration in Christian Leadership:

Additional Upper-Level Electives Required*
Additional Lower or Upper-Level Electives Required*

9
18

9
24

Electives with Concentration in Music Ministry:

Additional Upper-Level Electives Required*
Additional Lower or Upper-Level Electives Required*

11
16

11
22

TOTAL UNDERGRADUATE WITH SHARED HOURS REQUIRED

120

120

A 120-credit-hour minimum for a bachelor's degree is required. Students must complete all Undergraduate hours and shared undergraduate/graduate hours prior to enrolling for remaining Graduate hours.

REMAINING GRADUATE REQUIREMENTS

courses

credit hours (Ma)

Core Courses

18

MINS 5302 - Ministry Research and Writing Across Media
MINS 6305 - Ministry Mentorship (S-L)
THEO 5307 - Old Testament Literature and Interpretation
THEO 5308 - New Testament Literature and Interpretation
THEO 6305 - Christian History and Heritage
THEO 6306 - Systematic Theology

MA in Theological Studies Concentrations 

Select one concentration from the following:

12

General Studies

Select any four courses from the Biblical Studies or Pastoral Leadership concentrations in consultation with the Academic Advisor. 

Biblical Studies
Select any four 5000 or 6000-level THEO Scripture courses listed below:
THEO 5310 - The Gospels
THEO 5321 - Early Life and Letters of Paul
THEO 5322 - Later Life and Letters of Paul
THEO 5336 - The General Epistles
THEO 6303 - Biblical Greek Linguistic and Exegetical Tools
THEO 5360 - Special Topics in Religion
THEO 6322 - Old Testament Readings: Pentateuch
THEO 6323 - Old Testament Readings: Prophets
THEO 6324 - Old Testament Readings: Psalms & Wisdom Literature
THEO 6325 - Old Testament Readings: Historical Books

THEO 6333 - New Testament Readings: Synoptic Gospels
THEO 6334 - New Testament Readings: Johannine Literature
THEO 6335 - New Testament Readings: Pauline Epistles
THEO 6336 - New Testament Readings: The General Epistles

THEO 6337 - Advanced Research in Biblical and Theological Studies

Pastoral Leadership

Select any four courses listed below:

MACC 6301 - Introduction to Christian Counseling

MACM 5301 - Foundations in Christian Ministry

MACM 6309 - Pastoral Care

THEO 6360 - Biblical Preaching

THEO 6361 - Pastoral Theology and Ministry Practices

TOTAL ADDITIONAL GRADUATE HOURS REQUIRED

30

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR ACCELERATED DEGREE

150

*Elective Requirements

• In order to satisfy the “Undergraduate only” portion of an accelerated degree plan, sufficient lower-level and upper-level elective hours must be taken to complete the minimum number of Undergraduate credit hours required for each specific accelerated degree.

• As part of this accelerated degree plan, 6 shared Graduate hours will be counted toward a minimum of 36 upper-level Undergraduate credit hours required for all bachelor’s degrees.

Note:  Church Membership Requirement (for Admission into the Master’s Ministry Degrees, Advanced Ministry Certificate Programs, EDD in Educational Leadership—all concentrations, and PHD in Leadership Studies’ Ministry Concentration): Within the last 12 months, the applicant must have been an active member of a Christian church that holds Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who holds solely the Old Testament and the New Testament as sacred Scripture.

(S-L) = Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.

Graduate School of Ministry Portfolio

Dallas Baptist University’s Ministry Degree Programs seek to provide an academic experience that enables all candidates to engage and impact Christian Ministries of the 21st century. The Portfolio is designed to be an individualized collection of documents that represent the candidate’s preparation for future ministry positions, demonstrating the candidate’s ongoing knowledge, skills, and ministry experiences.   

The Graduate School of Ministry provides candidates the opportunity for self-reflection through the compilation of documents in an electronic Portfolio. Documents in the Portfolio may include Signature Assignments, Resume, and Philosophy of Ministry among others.  

Throughout the program, the candidate will collect designated documents and upload them to the Portfolio within Blackboard. The Portfolio will be used to assess development as the candidate proceeds through their designated ministry program.  It is the candidate’s responsibility to meet with their GSOM Program Director to discuss the Portfolio required documents prior to graduation.

Refer to course descriptions for course requisites.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Find course descriptions by category under the Undergraduate Course Descriptions OR Graduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.