Accelerate gives students an opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Arts, Communications major and the Master of Divinity in 5 years. As such, the Accelerate program incorporates the purpose and learning outcomes of the Bachelor of Arts, Communications 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.
Communications Major Outcomes
Students graduating with the Communications major will be able to do the following:
- Understand the role of communications within both a Christian and secular context.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively employ communication skills within a business organization or ministry setting.
- Demonstrate the ability to competently plan, organize, and direct communications endeavors.
- 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 Divinity Degrees in 165 total hours, over 5 years of study. Accelerate students enjoy substantial contact with ministry leaders and other Christian professionals, in a cohort structure that links theory with practice throughout their courses of study.
Applicants to the Accelerate 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 Divinity degree programs, depending on the extent of their progress thus far. Students successfully completing the first four years of the program will graduate with the Bachelor of Arts, Communications major. Once the fifth year of Accelerate is completed, students are awarded the Master of Divinity degree through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Course Catalog
General Education 48 hrs
BN170 Introduction to Business & Finance 3 hrs
CM110 Introduction to Public Speaking 3 hrs
GE101 English Composition I 3 hrs
GE102 English Composition II 3 hrs
GE135 Quantitative Reasoning 3 hrs
GE185 Introduction to Physical Science 3 hrs
GE205 World Geography 3 hrs
GE240 Survey of World Literature 3 hrs
GS101 Foundations for Kingdom Success 3 hrs
HM300 Introduction to Philosophy 3 hrs
HM344 Christianity & the Arts 3 hrs
HS210 or
HS211 American History I or II 3 hrs
HT113 Church History II 3 hrs
HT411 World Religions 3 hrs
MS201 Global Missions 3 hrs
PY100 Introduction to Psychology 3 hrs
Communications Major 33 Hrs
BN230 Introduction to Marketing 3 hrs
CM120 Visual Communication 3 hrs
CM150 Introduction to Communication Theory 3 hrs
CM201 Principles of Public Relations 3 hrs
CM210 Principles of Crisis Communication 3 hrs
CM220 Online Presence 3 hrs
CM301 Journalism I 3 hrs
CM302 Journalism II 3 hrs
CM310 Advanced Public Speaking 3 hrs
CM405 Advanced Visual Communication 3 hrs
CM450 Communication Studies Capstone 3 hrs
Additional Undergraduate Courses 12 Hrs
BS204 Introduction to Hermeneutics 3 hrs
HT112 Church History I 3 hrs
HT200 Introduction to Ethics 3 hrs
HT450 The Church 3 hrs
Graduate + Undergraduate Credit by Exam 30 Hrs
BS2210* Old Testament Survey I 3 hrs
BS2211* Old Testament Survey II 3 hrs
BS2310* New Testament Survey I 3 hrs
BS2311* New Testament Survey II 3 hrs
MN5060* Evangelism & Discipleship 3 hrs
Master of Divinity Courses 42 hrs
CE8301** Church Administration 3 hrs
HT3200** Theology I 3 hrs
HT3201** Theology II 3 hrs
HT3300** Introduction to Apologetics 3 hrs
GRADUATE WITH BA, COMMUNICATIONS
BS2200 Elementary Hebrew I 3 hrs
BS2201 Elementary Hebrew II 3 hrs
BS2300 Elementary Greek I 3 hrs
BS2301 Elementary Greek II 3 hrs
HT3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
MN5110 Principles of Preaching[1] 3 hrs
MN5111 Expository Preaching Laboratory[2] 3 hrs
MN5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry[3] 3 hrs
MN5468 Leadership Practicum 3 hrs
MS7011 Missiology 3 hrs
GRADUATE WITH MASTER OF DIVINITY
*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.
**Taken on Graduate Level and will fulfill requirements towards a BA as stipulated by HLC 3+2 Program.
[1] Female students take CE8110 Principles of Teaching I
[2] Female students take CE8111 Principles of Teaching II
[3] Female Students take CE8411 Age Group Ministry