Accelerate – BA Christian Ministry + Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling

Accelerate: Biblical Counseling (Christian Ministry Track) gives students an opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Arts, Christian Ministry and the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling in as little as five years. As such this program incorporates the purpose and learning outcomes of the Bachelor of Arts, Christian Ministry degree, providing college-level preparation for service in local churches and other Christian ministries through programs of practical education, spiritual and character development, and theological understanding.

Christian Ministry Outcomes
Students completing the Christian Ministry major will be
able to do the following:

  1. Interpret Scripture using appropriate hermeneutical and historically informed principles
  2. Demonstrate skill in communicating biblical truth
  3. Demonstrate basic leadership skills in Christian ministry.

Program Completion and Duration
The Accelerate: Biblical Counseling program allows students to complete the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in 153 total hours, over 5 years of study. Applicants to the Accelerate: Biblical Counseling program must submit additional documentation in the admissions process and agree to take each year’s required number of courses. Students enrolled in Accelerate must maintain a 3.0 GPA at all levels and attend the mandatory amount of cohort meetings assigned by the Dean of Spurgeon College.

Students who cannot meet the requirements of Accelerate will be transferred to the standard Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling degree programs, depending on the extent of their progress thus far. Students successfully completing the program will complete both degrees within five academic years. Accelerate students will be considered undergraduate students and will be eligible for undergraduate financial aid for their first 4 academic years of enrollment at Spurgeon College. Following the completion of their 4th academic year, Accelerate students will be considered graduate students and will be eligible for graduate financial aid.

Residential Program Highlights

  • Phase 1 (counseling observation, required reading, Fundamentals Training)
  • Phase 2 (counseling and theology exam)
  • Phase 3 (50 hours of supervised counseling hours)

Students who complete a residential MABC through the Accelerate program will fulfill all requirements needed to apply for ACBC certification.

Online Program Highlights

  • Phase 1 (counseling observation, required reading, Fundamentals Training)
  • Phase 2 (counseling and theology exam)
  • Phase 3 (25 hours of supervised counseling hours)*

*Students who complete an online MABC through the Accelerate program will fulfill most of the requirements needed for certification with ACBC. Once they complete their degree, they will still need to complete 25 additional hours of counseling under the supervision of an ACBC fellow before submitting their application for the completion of Phase 3 and certification.

Curriculum

General Education (42 hours)

  • BN170 Introduction to Business & Finance
  • CM110 Introduction to Public Speaking
  • GE101 English Composition I
  • GE102 English Composition II
  • GE135 Quantitative Reasoning
  • GE185 Introduction to Physical Science
  • GE240 Survey of Western Literature
  • GS101 Foundations for Kingdom Success
  • HM300 Introduction to Philosophy
  • HM344 Christianity & the Arts
  • HS210 or HS211 American History I or II
  • HT200 Introduction to Ethics
  • HT411 World Religions
  • PY100 Introduction to Psychology

Christian Studies Major + Undergrad Electives (51 hours)

  • BN465 Entrepreneurial Leadership
  • CE360 Church Administration
  • HT112 Church History I
  • HT113 Church History II
  • HT350 Christian Doctrine I
  • HT351 Christian Doctrine II
  • HT450 The Church
  • HT460 Biblical Theology
  • MN201 Personal Evangelism & Discipleship
  • MN204 Introduction to Biblical Spirituality
  • MN410 Pastoral Care & Ministry1
  • MN310 Sermon Preparation or CE401 Principles of Christian Teaching2
  • MS201 Global Missions
  • MS310 Intro to Church Planting and Church Growth
  • XXXXX Undergraduate Elective
  • XXXXX Undergraduate Elective
  • XXXXX Undergraduate Elective
  • XXXXX Undergraduate Elective
  • XXXXX Undergraduate Elective

1 Female students add 3 hours to electives.
2 Female students are to choose CE401

Graduate + Undergraduate Credit by Exam (30 hours)

  • BS2210* Old Testament Survey I
  • BS2211* Old Testament Survey II
  • BS2310* New Testament Survey I
  • BS2311* New Testament Survey II
  • BS2400* Introduction to Hermeneutics

*Taken on Graduate level with undergraduate credit given upon successful completion of a Credit-by-Exam. In lieu of the exam, students may also take the undergraduate course in addition to the Graduate level course.

MA, Biblical Counseling Courses (30 hours)

  • BC5510** Biblical Counseling in the Local Church
  • BC5511** Biblical Interpretation & Counseling Methods
  • BC5512** History & Theology of Soul Care
  • BC5525** Contemporary Issues in Biblical Counseling

Graduate with BA, Christian Ministry (123 hours)

  • BC5501 Biblical Counseling & Psychological Theories
  • BC5513 Biblical Counseling & Emotional Issues
  • BC5514 Addictive Behaviors & Biblical Counseling
  • BC5515 Supervised Counseling Practicum I
  • BC5516 Supervised Counseling Practicum II
  • BC5522 Marriage & Family Counseling

**Taken on Graduate level and will fulfill requirements towards a BA as stipulated by HLC 3+2 program.

Frequently Asked Questions

While students complete much of the necessary coursework for ACBC certification while pursuing a counseling degree with MBTS, completion of a degree does not automatically mean that they will be certified with ACBC. A student’s work and character must still be evaluated through ACBC before certification is possible.

  • BC5510 Biblical Counseling in the Local Church
  • BC5501 Biblical Counseling and Psychological Theories
  • BC5522 Marriage and Family Counseling
  • BC5513 Biblical Counseling and Emotional Issues

In order to receive a Fundamentals Certificate, please fill out this form after completing the classes listed above.

Accelerate MABC students complete both the theology and counseling exam during Practicum I and II. However, students will still need to undergo ACBC’s grading process even after getting course credit for their completion.

If you are a residential Accelerate MABC student, you will complete all 50 of your supervision hours. Online Accelerate MABC students will complete 25 supervision hours.

Students interested in pursuing ACBC certification should create an ACBC account as soon as they begin their degree. They will be able to document the progress they make in their ACBC portal.

For recommendations on counseling opportunities, please contact the Center for Biblical Counseling at [email protected].