Department of Biblical Studies - Catalog

• Brandon L. Fredenburg, Ph.D., Chair of Academic Affairs
• Jim Beck, M.S.
• Jeff Cary, Ph.D., Dean of the Alfred and Patricia Smith College of Biblical Studies
• David Fraze, D.Min.
• Jeremy Hegi, Ph.D.
• Jesse C. Long, Jr., Ph.D.
• Michael Martin, Ph.D.
• Shannon Rains, D.Min.
• Mark Sneed, Ph.D.
• Barry Stephens, D.Min.
• Shawn Tyler, M.S.
• Mark Wiebe, Ph.D.

To earn a degree, students must complete the curriculum and meet other requirements for a degree listed in the academic policy section of this catalog.

• Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Text
• Bachelor of Arts in Children’s Ministry
• Bachelor of Arts in Missions
• Bachelor of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry

1. University Core (45 hours)
   • BIB1312  Introduction to the Old Testament for Majors
   • BIB1322  Introduction to the New Testament for Majors
   • MIN2322  Christian Spiritual Formation
   • HTH3311  Christian History and Theology I
   • COM2340  Communication for the Professional
   • ENG1301  Composition Studies
   • ENG1302  Composition and Literature
   • 3 hours from
     • PSY1300
     • SOC1300
   • 3 hours from HIS
   • 3 hours from GOV or HIS
   • ESS1200  Personal Fitness and Wellness
   • MAT1311  College Algebra
   • 3 hours from BIO, CHE, NRC or PHY
   • 3 hours from AFA, Fine Arts History ENG, FOL, GOV, HIS, PHI, or REL
   • PHI3305 Ethics
   • UNI1170  University Seminar
   • UNI2000  University Skills
2. Major (33 hours)
   • BIB3312  Nature of Scripture
   • BIB4060  Senior Presentation
   • BIB4090  Practicum
   • 9 hours from BIB, BNT, or BOT
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL4351  Advanced Greek
     • BIL4357  Advanced Hebrew
   • 12 upper level hours from BIB, BNT, or BOT
   • MIN4342  Christian Ministry
   • YFM2311  Foundations of Youth and Family Ministry
3. Supporting Courses (45 hours)
   • BIB2302  Interpretation: Hermeneutics
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL2311  Elementary Greek I
     • BIL3313  Elementary Hebrew I
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL2322  Elementary Greek II
     • BIL3324  Elementary Hebrew II
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL3331  Intermediate Greek I
     • BIL4336  Intermediate Hebrew I
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL3342  Intermediate Greek II
     • BIL4345  Intermediate Hebrew II
   • HTH3322  Christian History and Theology II
   • HTH4331  Christian History and Theology III
   • HTH4342  History of American Christianity
   • MIN2303  The Ministry of Teaching
   • MIN2311  Mission of God
   • MIN3301  Family and Congregational Dynamics
   • MIN3304  The Ministry of Preaching
   • MIN4331  Spiritual Direction and Worship
   • PHI2304  Introduction to Philosophy
   • 3 hours from upper division REL or PHI
4. Electives (6 hours)
5. Total (129 hours)

1. University Core (45 hours)
   • BIB1312  Introduction to the Old Testament for Majors
   • BIB1322  Introduction to the New Testament for Majors
   • MIN2322  Christian Spiritual Formation
   • HTH3311  Christian History and Theology I
   • COM2340  Communication for the Professional
   • ENG1301  Composition Studies
   • ENG1302  Composition and Literature
   • 3 hours from
     • PSY1300
     • SOC1300
   • 3 hours from HIS
   • 3 hours from GOV or HIS
   • ESS1200  Personal Fitness and Wellness
   • MAT1311  College Algebra
   • 3 hours from BIO, CHE, NRC or PHY
   • 3 hours from AFA, Fine Arts History ENG, FOL, GOV, HIS, PHI, or REL
   • PHI3305 Ethics
   • UNI1170  University Seminar
   • UNI2000  University Skills
2. Major (33 hours)
   • BIB3312  Nature of Scripture
   • BIB4060  Senior Presentation
   • 12 hours from BIB, BNT, or BOT
   • CFM2326  Practice of Children and Family Ministry
   • CFM3301  Children's Spiritual Formation
   • CFM3302  Methods for Children's Spiritual Formation
   • CFM4090  Practicum
   • MIN3303  Contemporary Issues in the Family
   • MIN4342  Christian Ministry
   • YFM2311  Foundations of Youth and Family Ministry
3. Supporting Courses (45 hours)
   • BIB2302  Interpretation: Hermeneutics
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL2311  Elementary Greek I
     • BIL3313  Elementary Hebrew I
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL2322  Elementary Greek II
     • BIL3324  Elementary Hebrew II
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL3331  Intermediate Greek I
     • BIL4336 Intermediate Hebrew I
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL3342  Intermediate Greek II
     • BIL4345  Intermediate Hebrew II
   • HTH3322  Christian History and Theology II
   • HTH4331  Christian History and Theology III
   • HTH4342  History of American Christianity
   • MIN2303  The Ministry of Teaching
   • MIN2311  Mission of God
   • MIN3301  Family and Congregational Dynamics
   • MIN3304  The Ministry of Preaching
   • MIN4331  Spiritual Direction and Worship
   • PHI2304  Introduction to Philosophy
   • 3 hours from upper division REL or PHI
4. Electives (6 hours)
5. Total (129 hours)

1. University Core (45 hours)
   • BIB1312  Introduction to the Old Testament for Majors
   • BIB1322  Introduction to the New Testament for Majors
   • MIN2322  Christian Spiritual Formation
   • HTH3311  Christian History and Theology I
   • COM2340  Communication for the Professional
   • ENG1301  Composition Studies
   • ENG1302  Composition and Literature
   • 3 hours from
     • PSY1300
     • SOC1300
   • 3 hours from HIS
   • 3 hours from GOV or HIS
   • ESS1200  Personal Fitness and Wellness
   • MAT1311  College Algebra
   • 3 hours from BIO, CHE, NRC or PHY
   • 3 hours from AFA, Fine Arts History ENG, FOL, GOV, HIS, PHI, or REL
   • PHI3305 Ethics
   • UNI1170  University Seminar
   • UNI2000  University Skills
2. Major (33 hours)
   • BIB3312  Nature of Scripture
   • BIB4060  Senior Presentation
   • 12 hours from BIB, BNT, or BOT
   • MIN4342  Christian Ministry
   • MIS2311  Introduction to Missions
   • MIS2322  Missionary Anthropology
   • 6 hours from
     • MIS3302  The Gospel and Holistic Missions
     • MIS3303  Living Globally
     • MIS4304  Imaging God
   • MIS4310  Team Dynamics
   • MIS4090  Practicum
3. Supporting Courses (45 hours)
   • BIB2302  Interpretation: Hermeneutics
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL2311  Elementary Greek I
     • BIL3313  Elementary Hebrew I
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL2322  Elementary Greek II
     • BIL3324  Elementary Hebrew II
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL3331  Intermediate Greek I
     • BIL4336  Intermediate Hebrew I
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL3342  Intermediate Greek II
     • BIL4345  Intermediate Hebrew II
   • HTH3322  Christian History and Theology II
   • HTH4331  Christian History and Theology III
   • HTH4342  History of American Christianity
   • MIN2303  The Ministry of Teaching
   • MIN2311  Mission of God
   • MIN3301  Family and Congregational Dynamics
   • MIN3304  The Ministry of Preaching
   • MIN4331  Spiritual Direction and Worship
   • PHI2304  Introduction to Philosophy
   • 3 hours from REL or PHI
4. Electives (6 hours)
5. Total (129 hours)

1. University Core (45 hours)
   • BIB1312  Introduction to the Old Testament for Majors
   • BIB1322  Introduction to the New Testament for Majors
   • MIN2322  Christian Spiritual Formation
   • HTH3311  Christian History and Theology I
   • COM2340  Communication for the Professional
   • ENG1301  Composition Studies
   • ENG1302  Composition and Literature
   • 3 hours from
     • PSY1300
     • SOC1300
   • 3 hours from HIS
   • 3 hours from GOV or HIS
   • ESS1200  Personal Fitness and Wellness
   • MAT1311  College Algebra
   • 3 hours from BIO, CHE, NRC or PHY
   • 3 hours from AFA, Fine Arts History ENG, FOL, GOV, HIS, PHI, or REL
   • PHI3305 Ethics
   • UNI1170  University Seminar
   • UNI2000  University Skills
2. Major (33 hours)
   • BIB3312  Nature of Scripture
   • BIB4060  Senior Presentation
   • 12 hours from BIB, BNT, or BOT
   • MIN3303  Contemporary Issues in the Family
   • MIN4342  Christian Ministry
   • YFM2311  Foundations of Youth and Family Ministry
   • YFM2324  Strategic Issues of Youth and Family Ministry
   • YFM3303  Adolescent Spiritual Formation
   • YFM4322  Advanced Youth and Family Ministry
   • YFM4090  Practicum
3. Supporting Courses (45 hours)
   • BIB2302  Interpretation: Hermeneutics
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL2311  Elementary Greek I
     • BIL3313  Elementary Hebrew I
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL2322  Elementary Greek II
     • BIL3324  Elementary Hebrew II
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL3331  Intermediate Greek I
     • BIL4336  Intermediate Hebrew I
   • 3 hours from
     • BIL3342  Intermediate Greek II
     • BIL4345  Intermediate Hebrew II
   • HTH3322  Christian History and Theology II
   • HTH4331  Christian History and Theology III
   • HTH4342  History of American Christianity
   • MIN2303 The Ministry of Teaching
   • MIN2311  Mission of God
   • MIN3301  Family and Congregational Dynamics
   • MIN3304  The Ministry of Preaching
   • MIN4331  Spiritual Direction and Worship
   • PHI2304  Introduction to Philosophy
   • 3 hours from REL or PHI
4. Elective (6 hours)
5. Total (129 hours)

The minor in Bible Studies requires 18 hours.

• 6 required hours from
  • BIB3305  Christian Heritage
  • BIB3310  Christian Life
• 12 hours from:
  • 3 hours from
    • BIB1310  Introduction to the Old Testament, or
    • BIB1320  Introduction to the New Testament
  • 3 hours from
    • MIN2303  Ministry of Teaching, or
    • MIN3304  Ministry of Preaching
  • BIL2311  Elementary Greek I
  • BIL2322  Elementary Greek II
  • Up to 12 upper level hours from BIB, BIL, BNT, or BOT

The minor in Children and Family Ministry requires 18 hours.

• BIB1310  Introduction to the Old Testament
• BIB1320  Introduction to the New Testament
• BIB3305  Christian Heritage
• CFM2326  Practice of Children and Family Ministry
• CFM3302  Methods of Children’s Spiritual Formation
• 3 hours from
  • CFM3301  Children’s Spiritual Formation
  • YFM3303  Adolescent Spiritual Formation

The minor in Christian History and Theology requires 18 hours.

• BIB3305  Christian Heritage
• BIB3310  Christian Life
• 12 hours from
  • 3 hours from
    • BIB1310  Introduction to the Old Testament
    • BIB1320  Introduction to the New Testament
  • Up to 12 upper level hours from HTH, PHI, or REL

The minor in Missional Engagement requires 18 hours. The student must be in good standing with the university and maintain ongoing involvement in the missions community.

• MIS3312  Intercultural Engagement
• MIS3313  Christian Missional Engagement
• 12 hours from
  • BIB3305  Christian Heritage
  • BIB3310  Christian Life
  • MIN2311  Mission of God
  • Upper level MIS
  • REL3301  World Religions
  • REL3313  World Christianity

The minor in Philosophy requires 18 hours.

• PHI2304  Introduction to Philosophy
• PHI3303  Plato
• PHI3305  Ethics
• 9 hours from
  • ART4308  Art Theory and Criticism
  • ENG3307  Classical and Contemporary Rhetoric
  • PHI3304  Augustine and Aquinas
  • PHI4306  Philosophy of Religion
  • REL3368  Intermediate Studies in Religion/Theology

The minor in Youth Ministry requires 18 hours.

• BIB3305  Christian Heritage
• BIB3310  Christian Life
• YFM2311  Foundations of Youth and Family Ministry
• YFM2324  Strategic Issues of Youth and Family Ministry
• 6 hours from
  • 3 hours from
    • BIB1310  Introduction to the Old Testament
    • BIB1320  Introduction to the New Testament
  • MIN3303  Contemporary Issues in the Family
  • 3 hours from:
    • YFM3303  Adolescent Spiritual Formation
    • CFM3301  Children’s Spiritual Formation 
  • YFM4322  Advanced Youth and Family Ministry

The Minor in Theology & Psychology requires 18 hours and is listed for both Department of Biblical Studies and Behavioral Sciences.

• PSY2340  Psychology of Diversity
• PSY3301  Introduction to Counseling Professions
• PSY3381  Social Psychology
• HTH3311  Christian History and Theology I
• 6 hours from
  • HTH3322  Christian History and Theology II
  • HTH3331  Christian History and Theology III
  • MIN4331  Spiritual Direction and Worship
  • upper level REL
  • PHI (excluding PHI3305 Ethics)