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.

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 World 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
  • BS204 Introduction to Hermeneutics
  • CE408 Introduction to Student Ministry
  • CE409 Introduction to Adult & Family Ministry
  • HT112 Church History I
  • HT113 Church History II
  • HT350 Christian Doctrine I
  • HT351 Christian Doctrine II
  • HT460 Biblical Theology
  • MN225 Interpersonal Skills and Conflict Management
  • MN410 Pastoral Care and Ministry1
  • MS201 Global Missions
  • MS310 Intro to Church Planting and Church Growth
  • XXXXX Undergraduate Elective
  • XXXXX Undergraduate Elective
  • XXXXX Undergraduate Elective
  • XXXXX Undergraduate Elective

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
  • 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.
1. Female students take CE401 Principles of Christian Teaching.