PURPOSE
The goal of the Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies is to prepare undergraduate students as lay leaders or vocational ministers for educational leadership in local churches, linked to the GCU’s vision to glorify God by equipping them with biblical principles and a Christian worldview. The BATS program concentrates on Biblical competency, personal integrity, and theoretical and practical learning integration.
OBJECTIVES
Having completed the BATS program, students will demonstrate the following:
- Comprehension of the basic knowledge of the Bible in its diverse contexts accurately,
- an ability to develop a Christian perspective on various contemporary issues with a historical and theological understanding of Christian tradition,
- knowledge of modern societies and cultures from Biblical perspectives,
- application of the basic spiritual disciplines in their personal and public lives, and
- an ability to perform Christian services and ministries at local congregations or the fields of their profession.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The BATS program requires 126 credit hours for graduation. The curriculum includes 45 credit hours in general education courses and 81 credit hours in major coursework. IR (WS305 Institutional Requirement) is required of all students every semester of enrollment. A full-time student following the course sequencing provided will complete the program in eight semesters or four years.
CURRICULUM
| Bible and Theology (30 credits) |
Credit Hours |
| BS101 A Survey of the Bible |
3 |
| BS230 Interpretation of the Bible |
3 |
| OT200 Introduction to the Old Testament |
3 |
| NT200 Introduction to the New Testament |
3 |
| BT100 Christian Worldview |
3 |
| BT101 Jesus Christ in Global Society |
3 |
| NT310 The Parables of Jesus |
3 |
| OT206 Wisdom Literature |
3 |
| TH200 Systematic Theology |
3 |
| PT210 Foundations of the Church |
3 |
*BA program students must complete a minimum of 10 courses (30 credits) in Bible & Theology (ABHE standard).
General Education (36 Semester Hours)
All undergraduate students must complete 36 credit hours in general education courses. The General Education curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies requires two courses in writing and communication, two courses in a foreign language, one course in fine arts or music, two courses in the humanities, three courses in the behavioral/social sciences, one course in both math and sciences.
| Writing and Communication (6 credits) |
Credit Hours |
| ENGL101/102 English I/II |
6 |
| ENGL103/104 Theological English I/II |
6 |
| Foreign Language (select one language: 6 credits) |
Credit Hours |
| LAN101/102 Spanish I/II |
6 |
| LAN111/112 Biblical Greek I |
3 |
| LAN121/122 Biblical Hebrew I |
3 |
| LAN131/132 Chinese I/II |
6 |
| LAN141/142 Korean I/II |
6 |
| Fine Arts/Music (3 credits) |
Credit Hours |
| ART120 Western Art History |
3 |
| ART121 Theories of Design & Color |
3 |
| MUS105 Fundamentals of Music |
3 |
| MUS100 Music Appreciation |
3 |
| MUS351 Music & Worship |
3 |
| MUS106 University Chorus |
3 |
| Humanities (6 credits) |
Credit Hours |
| HUM101 Spiritual Classics |
3 |
| HUM102 Introduction to Philosophy and Theology |
3 |
| HUM103 Introduction to Christian Ethics |
3 |
| HUM104 Religions of the World |
3 |
| HUM105 Multi-Cultural Leadership in Education |
3 |
| SFE200 Spiritual Formation |
3 |
| Behavioral/Social Sciences (9 credits) |
Credit Hours |
| ECON101 Fundamental Economics |
3 |
| SOC101 Sociology of Religion |
3 |
| SOC102 Marriage and Family |
3 |
| SOC103 Race and Ethnic Relations |
3 |
| SOC104 Education and Cultural Diversity |
3 |
| SOC105 Seminar on Urban Problems |
3 |
| PSY106 Psychology of Religious Experience |
3 |
| SOC107 Moral Development and Moral Education |
3 |
| SOC108 Theories of Faith Development |
3 |
| SOC110 Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| SOC146 Christianity and Economic Thoughts |
3 |
| PSY130 Introduction to Psychology |
3 |
| Mathematics/ Statistics (3 credits)
| Credit Hours |
| MATH101 College Algebra |
3 |
| MATH102 Calculus |
3 |
| MATH204 Probability |
3 |
| MATH202 Statistics for Management I |
3 |
| Science (3 credits) |
Credit Hours |
| SCI101 Chemistry |
3 |
| SCI102 Biology |
3 |
| SCI103 Physics |
3 |
Major Fields of Study (60 Semester Hours)
| Foundations of the Bible |
Credit Hours |
| BS200 History of Israel |
3 |
| BS 202 Historical Geography of the Bible |
3 |
| BS210 Background of the New Testament World |
3 |
| BS220 Inter-Testamental Period History | 3 |
| BS230 Interpretation of the Bible* |
3 |
| BS250 Biblical Hermeneutics |
3 |
| Old Testament |
Credit Hours |
| OT202 Pentateuch* |
3 |
| OT203 Historical Books* |
3 |
| OT204 The Major Prophets |
3 |
| OT205 The Minor Prophets |
3 |
| OT301 Genesis |
3 |
| OT305 Nehemiah |
3 |
| OT306 Psalms |
3 |
| OT308 Inter-Testamental Period |
3 |
| OT320 Old Testament Theology |
3 |
| New Testament |
Credit Hours |
| NT202 Synoptic Gospels* |
3 |
| NT203 Gospel of John |
3 |
| NT204 Pauline Literature |
3 |
| NT205 General Epistles |
3 |
| NT300 Romans |
3 |
| NT304 Acts of the Apostles |
3 |
| NT305 1 Corinthians |
3 |
| NT306 Letter of James |
3 |
| NT320 Gospel of Mark as a Story |
3 |
| NT350 New Testament Theology |
3 |
| Philosophy, Theology, Ethics, and History |
Credit Hours |
| CH201 Church History I* |
3 |
| CH202 Church History II* |
3 |
| CH300 History of Korean Christianity |
3 |
| CH303 Asian-American Church--Theology and History |
3 |
| CH304/305/306/307 A Seminar on Augustine, Luther, Calvin, or Wesley |
3 |
| CH310 World Christianity |
3 |
| TH301 Christology |
3 |
| TH302 Doctrine of the Holy Spirit |
3 |
| TH305 Contemporary Theology |
3 |
| TH310 Theology in a Scientific Age |
3 |
| ES200 Christian Social Ethics |
3 |
| ES205 Ethics and Economic Life |
3 |
| ES206 Christian Ethics of Peace and War |
3 |
| PT200 Theology & Practice of the Sacraments |
3 |
| PT205 Women in the Bible |
3 |
| Society, Culture, and Mission |
Credit Hours |
| ME201 Introduction to Christian Mission* |
3 |
| ME202 Intro. to the Church through Mission and Ecumenical Involvement |
3 |
| ME203 A History of Christian Mission |
3 |
| ME205 Evangelism in Multicultural Society |
3 |
| ME300 Christianity and Postmodernism |
3 |
| PC200 Introduction to Pastoral Care |
3 |
| CC200 Introduction to Christian Counseling |
3 |
| The Church, Its Ministry, and Education |
Credit Hours |
| PT300 Homiletics |
3 |
| CE200 Foundations of Christian Education* | 3 |
| CE203 Christian Education and Theology | 3 |
| CE225 Church's Educational Ministry | 3 |
| CE271 Teaching and Learning Methods | 3 |
| PM300 Administration Skills and Leadership Development |
3 |
| PM313 Field Education/Mentored Ministry* | 3 |
| SFE200 Spiritual Formation* |
3 |
| WS200 Christian Worship* |
3 |
| SP101 Spiritual Discipline |
1 |
* Indicates Department Core (DC) courses that are required for all the students in each department. Students will choose nine courses (totaling 27 credit hours) from the list of DC courses.
Electives (11 Courses; 33 Credit Hours)
Students are to choose eleven courses in the area of BSL, TEH, SCM, and/or CME to complete their field of studies.
Institutional Requirement (IR)
Students are required to take WS305 Institutional Requirement (chapel attendance) every semester and enroll until graduation. Students will receive a Pass/Fail grade for WS305 IR.
SUGGESTED COURSE SEQUENCING
Students must work with an advisor to plan their course of study and select courses each semester to meet program and curriculum requirements and individual goals. The following course sequencing is a suggestion for meeting the program requirements and completing the program within eight semesters of full-time enrollment. An individual student’s course plan may differ if alternate (approved) courses are selected to meet the program requirements in consultation with the advisor.
| First Semester |
Credit Hours |
| ENGL103 Theological English I |
3 |
| Select One from Foreign language I |
|
3 |
| Select One from Behavioral/Social Sciences |
3 |
| Select One from Mathematics/Statistics |
3 |
| BT101 Jesus Christ in Global Society |
3 |
| SP101 Spiritual Discipline |
1 |
| Total |
16 |
| Second Semester |
Credit Hours |
| ENGL104 Theological English II |
3 |
| Select One from Foreign language II |
3 |
| Select One from Fine Arts/Music |
3 |
| Select One from Behavioral/Social Sciences |
3 |
| NT200 Introduction to the New Testament |
3 |
| SP101 Spiritual Discipline |
1 |
| Total |
16 |
| Third Semester |
Credit Hours |
| Select One from Science |
3 |
| Select One from Behavioral/Social Sciences |
3 |
| BT100 Christian Worldview |
3 |
| BS101 A Survey of the Bible |
3 |
| CH201 Church History I |
3 |
| SP101 Spiritual Discipline |
1 |
| Total |
16 |
| Fourth Semester |
Credit Hours |
| General Education Elective |
3 |
| TH200 Systematic Theology |
3 |
| BS210 Background of the New Testament World |
3 |
| CH202 Church History II |
3 |
| SFE200 Spiritual Formation |
3 |
| SP101 Spiritual Discipline |
1 |
| Total |
16 |
| Fifth Semester |
Credit Hours |
| NT202 Synoptic Gospels |
3 |
| TH301 Christology |
3 |
| OT200 Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| NT310 The Parables of Jesus |
3 |
| ME205 Evangelism in Multicultural Society | 3 |
| SP101 Spiritual Discipline |
1 |
| Total |
16 |
| Sixth Semester |
Credit Hours |
| WS200 Christian Worship |
3 |
| CH300 History of Korean Christianity |
3 |
| CE200 Foundation of Christian Education |
3 |
| OT203 Historical Books |
3 |
| NT204 Pauline Literature |
3 |
| SP101 Spiritual Discipline |
1 |
| Total |
16 |
| Seventh Semester |
Credit Hours |
| PT 210 Foundations of the Church |
3 |
| BS230 Interpretation of the Bible |
3 |
| ME201 Introduction to Christian Mission |
3 |
| OT202 Pentateuch |
3 |
| Select one from Electives (DE) |
1 |
| Total |
15 |
| Eighth Semester |
Credit Hours |
| PT200 Theology & Practice of the Sacraments |
3 |
| Select Two from Electives (DE) |
6 |
| CH210 History of Christian Thought |
3 |
| OT206 Wisdom Literature |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Total Course Hours Required for Graduation 126
