Christian Studies (BA/BS)
The major in Christian Studies is designed primarily for students planning careers in church-related vocations other than the traditional pastoral ministry.
Goals of the Christian Studies Major
To provide Christ-centered higher education for students at the undergraduate level who are preparing for Christian ministry and/or planning to pursue graduate studies in the field.
To provide a program designed with a well-balanced curriculum that prepares its graduates to assume positions as ministers of education, youth and children's workers, as well as other church-related ministries.
To produce graduates who demonstrate management and church administration skills including age-group administration and leadership.
To produce graduates with the competence to function creatively with other professional staff and church members.
To produce graduates with the competencies to develop programs of evangelism and outreach.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
courses | credit hours (ba) | credit hours (bS) |
|---|---|---|
Developing A Christian Mind | 3 | 3 |
English | 12 | 9 |
ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II | ||
ENGL 2301 - World Literature I and/or ENGL 2302 - World Literature II | ||
Fine Arts | 3 | 3 |
Foreign Language | 14* | 0 |
Foundations for Excellence | 1 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 3 |
(BA) 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
Choose one: 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 | 15 |
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 | ||
Religion | 9 | 9 |
RELI 1301 - Old Testament Survey RELI 1302 - New Testament Survey RELI 2304 - Christian Doctrine | ||
Social Science (1000 or 2000 level courses only) | 6 | 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 | 57 |
Christian Studies Major | 21 | 21 |
Core Courses CHST 3301 - Survey of Christian Education CHST 3309 - Spiritual Formation for Christian Ministry CHST 4302 - Practicum in Christian Studies (S-L) PHIL 2301 - Introduction to Philosophy RELI 3305 - Principles of Biblical Interpretation | ||
RELI 3383 - History of Christianity or RELI 4371 - American Church History | ||
Select one of 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: | 9 | 9 |
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 (S-L) | ||
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 | ||
Electives | ||
Electives with Concentration in Educational Ministry or Concentration in Christian Leadership: | ||
Upper-Level Lower or Upper-Level | 15 12 | 15 18 |
Electives with Concentration in Music Ministry: | ||
Upper-Level Lower or Upper-Level | 17 10 | 17 16 |
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED | 120 | 120 |
A 120-credit-hour minimum for a bachelor's degree is required, including 42 upper-level credit 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 CHRISTIAN STUDIES
See information about the Christian Studies minor here.
ACCELERATED DEGREES AVAILABLE
DBU also offers Accelerated Bachelor’s and Master’s degree program(s) for this degree available for qualifying undergraduate students. Refer to Accelerated Bachelor's and Master's Degree Program Requirements for additional information.
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.