Biblical Studies (BA)
The program of study for a major in Biblical Studies is designed to prepare students for further seminary or university studies, or for a lifetime of study and service without further formal training. The Mary C. Crowley College of Christian Faith encourages on-the-job training for Biblical Studies majors in cooperation with local churches, hospitals, missions, and other religious institutions.
Biblical Languages are not required for a major in Biblical Studies but are strongly recommended. The second year of Greek or Intermediate Hebrew will count as part of the general studies foreign language requirement.
Goals of the Biblical Studies Major
To equip the student with the ability to articulate a general knowledge of the Old Testament and New Testament.
To provide a foundation of high-quality academic training for ministry, equipping students to serve as pastors, teachers, missionaries, and in other positions of Christian leadership.
To provide the academic foundation that will enable our graduates to be accepted in and graduate from graduate theological programs.
To enable the student to ponder the ultimate questions of life, to develop a strong, maturing, distinctively evangelical faith, and present an apologetic to competing views.
To lay a biblical foundation for the student's task of integrating faith and learning.
To integrate the Biblical Studies discipline with God's truth wherever it is found.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
courses | credit hours (ba) |
|---|---|
Developing A Christian Mind | 3 |
English | 12 |
ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II ENGL 2301 - World Literature I ENGL 2302 - World Literature II | |
Fine Arts | 3 |
Foreign Language | 14* |
Foundations for Excellence | 1 |
FOUN 1101 - Foundations for Excellence 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.) | |
History | 6 |
Choose two: HIST 1301 - U.S. History to 1865 HIST 1302 - U.S. History Since 1865 HIST 2301 - World Civilization I HIST 2302 - World Civilization II | |
Kinesiology | 2 |
KNES 1101 - Fitness for Living 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. | |
Mathematics | 3 |
Choose one: MATH 1301 - Math for Liberal Arts MATH 1303 - College Algebra MATH 1307 - Finite Math for Business Analysis MATH 1405 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | |
Natural Science (1000 or 2000 level courses only) | 4 |
Religion | 9 |
RELI 1301 - Old Testament Survey RELI 1302 - New Testament Survey RELI 3304 - Christian Doctrine | |
Social Science (1000 or 2000 level courses only) | 6 |
POLS 2301 - American National Government and an additional three credit hours may be selected from Economics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology. | |
TOTAL GENERAL STUDIES HOURS | 63 |
Biblical Studies Major | 36 |
CHST 3309 - Spiritual Formation for Christian Ministry PHIL 2301 - Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 3303 - Philosophy of Religion RELI 3305 - Principles of Biblical Interpretation RELI 3382 - Practicum in Religion (S-L) | |
Select ONE History: RELI 4371 - American Church History RELI 4372 - Baptist History RELI 4383 - History of Christianity (AGP-eligible) | |
RELI 4345 - Christianity in a Pluralistic World RELI 4350 - Historical Theology | |
Choose one Old Testament course from the following: RELI 3311 - The Pentateuch RELI 3329 - The Historical Books RELI 3336 - The Wisdom Literature RELI 3347 - The Major Prophets RELI 3362 - The Minor Prophets | |
Choose one New Testament course from the following: RELI 4307 - The Gospels RELI 4321 - The Early Life and Letters of Paul RELI 4322 - The Later Life and Letters of Paul RELI 4336 - The General Epistles | |
Select ONE Practical Ministry RELI 3306 - Proclamation of Biblical Truth RELI 3371 - Pastoral Ministries RELI 3386 - Practicum in Personal Evangelism RELI 3387 - Practicum in Discipleship RELI 4378 - Ministry Research and Writing Across Media (AGP-eligible) | |
Select ONE Advanced Topics RELI 4341 - Biblical Eschatology RELI 4360 - Special Topics in Theology and Religion RELI 4374 - Christian Apologetics RELI 4377 - Discover Biblical Lands | |
Electives | |
Upper-Level Lower or Upper-Level | 0 21 |
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED | 120 |
A 120-credit-hour minimum for a bachelor's degree is required, including 36 upper-level credit hours.
At least 12 credit hours in the major program must be completed at Dallas Baptist University, including nine upper-level course hours.
Minimum GPA Required for Graduation from Dallas Baptist University: DBU requires a minimum institutional cumulative, major, and minor GPA of 2.0.
(S-L)=Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.
MINOR IN BIBLICAL STUDIES
See information about the Biblical Studies minor here.
Refer to individual course descriptions for course requisites.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Find course descriptions by category under the Undergraduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.