Accelerate – BA Biblical Studies + Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling

Accelerate: Biblical Counseling (Biblical Studies Track) gives students an opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Arts, Biblical Studies 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, Biblical Studies degree, preparing graduates for service in local church ministry, evangelism, international or North American missions, denominational service, and/or other Christian ministries by providing increased knowledge of the Bible and its interpretation.

Biblical Studies Outcomes
Students completing the Biblical Studies major will be able to do the following:

  1. Demonstrate increased understanding of biblical material
  2. Interpret Scripture using appropriate hermeneutical and historically informed principles
  3. Demonstrate skill in communicating biblical truth.

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 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

Biblical Studies Major + Undergrad Electives (51 hours)

  • FL441 Hebrew I
  • FL442 Hebrew II
  • FL451 Greek I
  • FL452 Greek II
  • 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
  • MN310 Sermon Preparation1
  • MS210 Global Missions
  • 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)
First four courses apply to both BA and MABC degrees:

  • BC5501** Biblical Counseling & Psychological Theories
  • BC5510** Biblical Counseling in the Local Church
  • BC5511** Biblical Interpretation & Counseling Methods
  • BC5512** History & Theology of Soul Care

Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies degree conferred upon completion of above coursework (123 hours)

Remaining courses for MABC degree completion:

  • BC5513 Biblical Counseling & Emotional Issues
  • BC5514 Addictive Behaviors & Biblical Counseling
  • BC5515 Supervised Counseling Practicum I
  • BC5516 Supervised Counseling Practicum II
  • BC5522 Marriage & Family Counseling
  • BC5525 Contemporary Issues in Biblical 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.