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BA/BS in Christian Studies/MA in Discipleship

The joint BA/BS in Christian Studies/MA in Discipleship degree plan prepares students for careers in church-related vocations, providing a seamless interface between undergraduate and graduate degrees. Through Christ-centered higher education, students prepare to work as leaders in local church ministry—serving in roles such as ministers of education, ministers of adults, ministers of youth, ministers of business administration, ministers of missions, and more.

UNDERGRADUATE REQUIREMENTS

courses

credit hours (ba)

credit hours (bS)

Developing A Christian Mind
DCM 2301

3

3

English
ENGL 1301, 1302, and 2301 and/or 2302

12

9

Fine Arts
FINE 1306

3

3

Foreign Language
*Six hours at the 2000 level if adequate prerequisites are met

14*

0

Foundations for Excellence
FOUN 1101 is required of all first-year and transfer students with fewer than 15 credit hours. (AP, CLEP, IB, or dual/concurrent credit earned while in high school does not count toward these 15 credit hours.)

1

1

History
HIST 1301, 1302, 2301, or 2302

6

6

Kinesiology
KNES 1101 and one additional activity course (KNES 1102-1122); for veterans or those 25 years of age or older prior to enrollment at DBU, KNES courses are waived.

2

2

Mathematics
(BA) MATH 1301, 1303, 1307, or 1405
(BS) MATH 1303, 1307, or 1405
[Math Advising Tool (eMAT) required prior to registering for any Math class or any class for which the eMAT is a prerequisite.]

3

3

Natural Science (1000 or 2000 level courses only)
One laboratory science (BA) or 15 credit hours of laboratory science (BS) selected from two or more areas of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Physical Science, or Physics

4

15

Religion
RELI 1301, 1302, and 2304

9

9

Social Science (1000 or 2000 level courses only)
POLS 2301 and an additional three credit hours may be selected from Economics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology.

6

6

Total General Studies Hours

63

57

BA/BS in Christian Studies 

Required Courses
CHST 3301 - Survey of Christian Education
CHST 4302 - Practicum in Christian Studies (S-L)
PHIL 2301 - Introduction to Philosophy
RELI 4371 - American Church History
Choose one from the following
CHST 4306 - Children’s Ministry in the Church
CHST 4307 - Youth Ministry in the Church
CHST 4308 - Adult Ministry in the Church
Select one of the three areas of concentration for a total of 9 hours:
Concentration in Educational Ministry (9 hours)
CHST 3372 - Church Administration
CHST 4301 - Teaching Ministry of the Church
CHST 4310 - Small Group Ministry Design and Practice
Concentration in Christian Leadership (9 hours)
CHST 3372 - Church Administration
CHST 4312 - Biblical Servant Leadership
MANA 3301 - Principles of Management
Concentration in Music Ministry (9 hours)
MUSI 2207 - Introduction to Church Music and Worship
MUSI 3270 - Church Music and Worship Administration
MUSI 3271 - Contemporary Worship and Technology
MUSI 4305 - Congregational Song

24

24

Shared Undergraduate/Graduate Courses
THEO 5313 - Applied Hermeneutics
WORS 6303 - Spiritual Formation and Worship

6

Electives with Concentration in Educational Ministry or Concentration in Christian Leadership:
Additional Upper-Level Electives Required*
Additional Lower or Upper-Level Electives Required*


15
12


15
18

Electives with Concentration in Music Ministry:
Additional Upper-Level Electives Required*
Additional Lower or Upper-Level Electives Required*


17
10


17
16

TOTAL UNDERGRADUATE WITH SHARED HOURS REQUIRED

120

A 120-credit-hour minimum for a bachelor's degree is required. Students must complete all Undergraduate hours and shared undergraduate/graduate hours prior to enrolling for remaining Graduate hours.

*Elective Requirements

• In order to satisfy the “Undergraduate only” portion of an accelerated degree plan, sufficient lower-level and upper-level elective hours must be taken to complete the minimum number of Undergraduate credit hours required for each specific accelerated degree.

• As part of this accelerated degree plan, 6 shared Graduate hours will be counted toward a minimum of 42 upper-level Undergraduate credit hours required for all bachelor’s degrees.

REMAINING GRADUATE REQUIREMENTS

courses

credit hours (Ma)

Core Courses
DISC 5302 - Biblical Servant Leadership
GSOM 6310 - Ministry Mentorship (S-L)
THEO 6305 - Christian History and Heritage
THEO 6306 - Systematic Theology

12

MA in Discipleship Courses
DISC 6301 - Christian Education in the Local Church
DISC 6302 - Biblical Strategies for Discipleship
DISC 6304 - Principles for Bible Teaching

9

*MA in Discipleship Tracks
Students may choose from the MA in Discipleship tracks listed below.
Discipleship for the Family Track
Local Church Discipleship Track
Discipleship Through Communications Track
Ministry Focus Track
*See MA in Discipleship degree plan for track course information.

9

TOTAL ADDITIONAL GRADUATE HOURS REQUIRED

30

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR ACCELERATED DEGREE

150

Note:  Church Membership Requirement (for admission into the EDD in Educational Leadership—all concentrations, PHD in Leadership Studies’ Ministry Concentration, Master’s Ministry Degrees, and Advanced Ministry Certificate Programs): Within the last 12 months, the applicant must have been an active member of a Christian church that holds Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who holds solely the Old Testament and the New Testament as sacred Scripture.

(S-L) = Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.

Refer to course descriptions for course prerequisites.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Find course descriptions by category under the Undergraduate Course Descriptions OR Graduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.