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Bachelor of Arts in Theology
The Bachelor of Arts in Theology is designed to expose students to selected vocational options in ministry and provide a foundation for graduate education. The degree requirements emphasize spiritual formation and ministerial knowledge and skills. In addition to core requirements for the major, students must choose from one of two concentrations: Pastoral/Evangelistic Ministry or Pre-Counseling/Pre-Chaplaincy Ministry. Students in each concentration are required to complete field education experience in selected practical courses. Field requirements, including the “Credit Hour to Clock Hour” policy, are described in the departmental Student Handbook.
Students who complete the core requirements for the B.A. in Theology will be proficient in the following student learning outcomes:
1. Practice a personal Spirit-led relationship with Christ through a regular devotional life based on the spiritual disciplines to facilitate spiritual formation and maturation
2. Interpret the message of Scripture employing sound hermeneutical and exegetical principles that are compatible with a Christo-centric and SDA worldview
3. Critique the dogmatic categories of theology and humanistic philosophies in light of biblical theology
4. Interpret the history of the Christian Church, including Seventh-day Adventist Church, in light of God’s guidance in the establishment of His kingdom and the fulfillment of His plan of salvation through history
5. Critically apply a Christocentric knowledge of the Bible, theology, history, and the social sciences to the practice of ministerial vocation.
6. Demonstrate skill in ministerial practice in traditional and non-traditional clinical settings
Core Requirements:
RB 211 The Biblical Jesus ......................................................................................... 3 hours
RB 311-312 New Testament I, II .............................................................................. 3-3 hours
RB 411-412 Old Testament I, II ................................................................................ 3-3 hours
RB 413 Studies in Daniel and Revelation .................................................................... 3 hours
RP 131 Spiritual Formation for Ministry ...................................................................... 2 hours
RP 132 Introduction to Christian Ministry ................................................................... 2 hours
RP 231 Personal Evangelism ..................................................................................... 2 hours
RP 431 Christian Ministry I ........................................................................................ 3 hours
RT 221 Biblical Hermeneutics .................................................................................... 2 hours
RT 222 The Gift of Prophecy and Ellen White ............................................................ 2 hours
RT 321 Christian Ethics ............................................................................................. 3 hours
RT 421-422 Christian Theology I, II .......................................................................... 3-2 hours
RT 423 Seventh-day Adventist Theology ..................................................................... 3 hours
HI 314 History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church ................................................... 3 hours
HI 444-445 History of Christianity in the World I, II .................................................. 3-2 hours
Total ...................................................................................................................... 50 hours
General Education Requirement Variations:
RB 211, RT 222, RT 321 and RT 423 fulfill the religion requirement
Biblical languages requirements substitute for the modern language requirement
HI 444 and HI 445 substitute for HI 103 or HI 104
Concentration 1: Pastoral/Evangelistic Ministry
The concentration in Pastoral/Evangelistic Ministry prepares students for entry-level practice in pastoral ministry and for admission to graduate education at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.
Students who complete the concentration in Pastoral/Evangelistic Ministry will be proficient in the following student learning outcomes:
1. Develop, from a Christ-centered perspective, a theology of social responsibility through structured service learning projects that meet community needs
2. Develop homiletic tools for the preparation and the delivery of Christ-centered sermons according to the Seventh-day Adventist and Black traditions
3. Design a Christ-centered corporate worship service with special attention to the Black tradition
4. Demonstrate skills in public evangelism and church growth
5. Build basic skills for ministerial practice in the church setting
Concentration Requirements
RP 341-342 Biblical Preaching I, II ......................................................................... 3-3 hours
RP 441 Christian Worship and the Black Liturgical Experience ................................ 2 hours
RP 442 Public Evangelism and Church Growth ......................................................... 2 hours
RP 443 Christian Ministry II ...................................................................................... 3 hours
Religion/Theology Electives* ...................................................................................... 4 hours
Total ...................................................................................................................... 17 hours
Minor in Biblical Languages is required.
*Students are strongly recommended to select from the following courses in fulfilling the religion/
theology elective requirement: RT 322 or RP 361 or RP 460.
Concentration 2: Pre-Counseling/Pre-Chaplaincy Ministry
The concentration in Pre-Counseling/Pre-Chaplaincy Ministry exposes students to the vocational options of Christian counseling and chaplaincy and prepares students for admission to graduate education at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. It should be noted that this concentration is a pre-professional program; further education is necessary for professional credentialing and practice. Students in Concentration 2 must complete the concentration requirements and Option A or B.
Students who complete the concentration in Pre-Counseling/Pre-Chaplaincy Ministry will be proficient in the following student learning outcomes:
1. Describe the biblical, theological, sociological and psychological foundations of pastoral care and counseling
2. Develop basic intervention skills through the application of Christian counseling techniques
3. Offer pastoral care to people who are experiencing some form of human brokenness utilizing biblical counseling skills
4. Develop verbatim reports and case studies
5. Demonstrate basic competency in Hebrew
6. Demonstrate basic competency in Greek
Concentration Requirements
RP 361-362 Pastoral Care and Counseling I, II ....................................................... 3-3 hours
RP 460 Pre-Counseling/Pre-Chaplaincy Practicum ................................................... 3 hours
PY 361 Marriage and the Family............................................................................... 3 hours
PY 421 Counseling Skills ......................................................................................... 3 hours
Total ...................................................................................................................... 15 hours
Option A
RL 211-212 Greek I, II ............................................................................................. 3-3 hours
RL 313 Greek III ......................................................................................................... 2 hours
RL 311-312 Hebrew I, II ........................................................................................... 3-3 hours
RL 413 Hebrew III ....................................................................................................... 2 hours
RL 314 Greek IV or RL 414 Hebrew IV ....................................................................... 2 hours
Religion/Theology Electives ....................................................................................... 4 hours
Total ...................................................................................................................... 22 hours
Students are strongly recommended to select from the following courses in fulfilling the religion/theology elective requirement: RT 322 or RP 341 or RL 313 and 314 or RL 413 or RL 414.
Students interested in pursuing the Master of Divinity degree at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary are strongly encouraged to take RP 341, RL 313, RL 314, RL 413 and RL 414 in order to meet admission requirements.
Option B
RL 211-212 Greek I, II or RL 311-312 Hebrew I, II..................................................... 3-3 hours
RL 313-314 Greek III, IV or RL 413-414 Hebrew III, IV.............................................. 2-2 hours
Religion/Theology Elective ......................................................................................... 3 hours
Modern Language ...................................................................................................... 6 hours
Non-Religion/Theology Elective .................................................................................. 3 hours
Total ...................................................................................................................... 22 hours
Students are strongly recommended to select from the following courses in fulfilling the religion/theology elective requirement: RT 322 or RP 341 or RL 313 and RL 314 or RL 413 and RL 414.
Students are strongly recommended to take PY 331 in fulfilling the non-religion/theology elective requirement. Students interested in pursuing the Master of Divinity degree at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary are strongly encouraged to take RP 341 and RL 211-212, RL 313-314 as well as RL 311-312 , RL 413-414 in order to meet admission requirements.
Bachelor of Science in Religious Education
The Bachelor of Science in Religious Education is designed to qualify a person to teach secondary-school Bible and to pursue graduate study in such areas as school administration and religious education. Upon conferral of the degree, students may apply for the Seventh-day Adventist Basic Teaching Certificate: Religion, grades 7-12. Degree requirements are listed in the Department of Education section of the bulletin. Program Advisor: Dr. Craig Newborn.
Minor in Theology
The Minor in Theology offers a bi-vocational ministerial option to non-majors interested in supplementing their primary discipline with significant coursework in theology and religion. The minor is especially designed for students not pursuing professional ministry but who recognize that God calls believing people of all vocations to spiritual service. The Minor in Theology also fulfills the discipline of theology requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. Students not having passed two years of high-school Bible must include RG 101, except transfer students who have completed six hours of college Bible.
Minor Requirements
RB 211 The Biblical Jesus ......................................................................................... 3 hours
RB 311 New Testament I ............................................................................................ 3 hours
RB 411 Old Testament I ............................................................................................. 3 hours
RP 131 Spiritual Formation for Ministry ...................................................................... 2 hours
RP 231 Personal Evangelism ..................................................................................... 2 hours
RT 221 Biblical Hermeneutics .................................................................................... 2 hours
RT 321 Christian Ethics ............................................................................................. 3 hours
RT 423 Seventh-day Adventist Theology ..................................................................... 3 hours
Total ...................................................................................................................... 21 hours
Minor in Biblical Languages
The Minor in Biblical Languages is designed for theology majors in recognition of the practical benefit of in-depth knowledge and skill in biblical languages for ministerial practice. Students other than theology majors are also permitted to enroll in a Minor in Biblical Languages.
Minor Requirements
RL 211-212 Greek I, II ............................................................................................. 3-3 hours
RL 313-314 Greek III, IV ......................................................................................... 2-2 hours
RL 311-312 Hebrew I, II ........................................................................................... 3-3 hours
RL 413-414 Hebrew III, IV ........................................................................................ 2-2 hours
Total ............................................................................................................................. 20 hours
Certificate in Church Leadership
This one-year program prepares the participant for effective lay leadership or self-supporting ministry. The program also provides certification for ministers with training from other denominations who seek to practice ministry in a Seventh-day Adventist context.
Certificate Requirements:
RB 211 The Biblical Jesus ......................................................................................... 3 hours
RB 311 New Testament I ............................................................................................ 3 hours
RB 411 Old Testament I ............................................................................................. 3 hours
RB 413 Studies in Daniel and Revelation .................................................................... 3 hours
RP 131 Spiritual Formation for Ministry ...................................................................... 2 hours
RP 341 Biblical Preaching I ....................................................................................... 3 hours
RP 431 Christian Ministry I ........................................................................................ 3 hours
RP 442 Public Evangelism and Church Growth .......................................................... 2 hours
RT 221 Biblical Hermeneutics .................................................................................... 2 hours
RT 222 The Gift of Prophecy and Ellen White ............................................................ 2 hours
RT 321 Christian Ethics ............................................................................................. 3 hours
RT 423 Seventh-day Adventist Theology ..................................................................... 3 hours
HI 314 History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church ................................................... 3 hours
Total ...................................................................................................................... 35 hours
