Accelerate – BA Communications + Master of Arts in Christian Education

The Accelerate: Communications track allows students to earn their Bachelor of Arts, Communications and Master of Arts, Christian Education degrees in as little as four and a half years. As such, this program incorporates the purpose and learning outcomes of the Bachelor of Arts, Communications 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.

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

  1. Understand the role of communications within both a Christian and secular context.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to effectively employ communication skills within a business organization or ministry setting.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to competently plan, organize, and direct communications endeavors.
  4. Integrate a biblical worldview into the practice of communications.

Program Completion and Duration
The Accelerate 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: Christian Education 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 Christian Education 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

Communications Major (33 hours)

  • BN230 Introduction to Marketing
  • CM120 Visual Communication
  • CM150 Introduction to Communication Theory
  • CM201 Principles of Public Relations
  • CM210 Principles of Crisis Communication
  • CM220 Online Presence
  • CM301 Journalism I
  • CM302 Journalism II
  • CM310 Advanced Public Speaking
  • CM405 Advanced Visual Communication
  • CM450 Communication Studies Capstone

Additional Undergraduate Courses (18 hours)

  • BS204 Introduction to Hermeneutics
  • HT112 Church History I
  • HT113 Church History II
  • HT350 Christian Doctrine I
  • HT351 Christian Doctrine II
  • MS201 Global Missions

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
  • MN5060* Evangelism and Discipleship

*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, Christian Education Courses (30 hours)

  • CE8110** Principles of Teaching I
  • CE8111** Principles of Teaching II
  • CE8345** Biblical Leadership and Administration for the Church
  • HT3110** Baptist History
  • HT3300 Introduction to Apologetics
  • CE8306 Principles of Leadership
  • CE8134 Issues in Christian Education
  • CE8411 Age Group Ministry
  • MN5801 Volunteer Ministry Practicum
  • MS7011 Missiology

**Taken on Graduate level and will fulfill requirements towards a BA as stipulated by HLC 3+2 program.
1. Female students take undergraduate elective course.