BA/BS in Christian Studies/MA in Children’s Ministry
The Accelerated BA/BS in Christian Studies/MA in Children’s Ministry degree plan is designed to equip childhood ministers to understand the needs of children, explore the principles of best strategies in teaching and reaching children, and implement ministry that impacts not only the child but the family. The program provides foundations in theological, educational, and practical programming for effective childhood ministry. It combines academic training and practical ministry application that focuses intentionally on the world children live in and the faith they need to follow Christ for the rest of their lives.
UNDERGRADUATE REQUIREMENTS
courses | credit hours (ba) | credit hours (bS) |
|---|---|---|
Developing A Christian Mind | 3 | 3 |
English | 12 | 9 |
(BA) ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II ENGL 2301 - World Literature I ENGL 2302 - World Literature II (BS) ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II ENGL 2301 - World Literature I 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 |
Choose one: (BA) MATH 1301 - Math for Liberal Arts MATH 1303 - College Algebra MATH 1307 - Finite Math for Business Analysis MATH 1405 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 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 |
BA/BS in Christian Studies | ||
Required Courses | 24 | 24 |
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 | ||
Shared Undergraduate/Graduate Courses | 6 | 6 |
MINS 5303 - Foundations of Spiritual Life THEO 5313 - Applied Hermeneutics | ||
Electives with Concentration in Educational Ministry or Concentration in Christian Leadership: | ||
Additional Upper-Level Electives Required* Additional Lower or Upper-Level Electives Required | 9 18 | 9 24 |
Electives with Concentration in Music Ministry: | ||
Additional Upper-Level Electives Required* Additional Lower or Upper-Level Electives Required* | 11 16 | 11 22 |
TOTAL UNDERGRADUATE WITH SHARED HOURS REQUIRED | 120 | 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 36 upper-level Undergraduate credit hours required for all bachelor’s degrees.
REMAINING GRADUATE REQUIREMENTS
courses | credit hours (Ma) |
|---|---|
Core Courses | 12 |
MINS 5302 - Ministry Research and Writing Across Media MINS 6305 - Ministry Mentorship (S-L) THEO 6305 - Christian History and Heritage THEO 6306 - Systematic Theology | |
MA in Children’s Ministry Courses | 6 |
MACH 5312 - Ministry with Children MACH 6351 - Children and the Christian Faith | |
CONCENTRATIONS | 12 |
General Concentration MACH 6352 - Advanced Childhood Ministry (S-L) Select three of the following: ECHE 5360 - Foundations of Early Childhood Education EDUC 5344 - Pedagogy of Fine Arts and Movement in the Elementary Classroom MACH 6311 - Early Childhood Ministry MACH 6315 - Ministry to Children with Special Needs MACH 6350 - Ministry in Church Weekday Education Ministries MACH 6354 - Research: Faith Formation in Childhood (S-L) MAFM 6353 - Ministry to Families | |
Special Needs Children's Ministry Concentration MACH 6315 - Ministry to Children with Special Needs MACH 6316 - Advanced Ministry to Children with Special Needs (S-L) Select two of the following: ECHE 5360 - Foundations of Early Childhood Education EDUC 5334 - Pedagogy of Fine Arts and Movement in the Elementary Classroom EDUC 6304 - Improvement of Instruction EDUC 6308 - The School and Multicultural Society MACH 5313 - Disability and Suffering MACH 6311 - Early Childhood Ministry MAFM 6353 - Ministry to Families SPED 5310 - Introduction to Exceptional Learners SPED 5350 - Educating Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities | |
TOTAL ADDITIONAL GRADUATE HOURS REQUIRED | 30 |
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR ACCELERATED DEGREE | 150 |
Note: Church Membership Requirement (for admission into the Master’s Ministry Degrees, Advanced Ministry Certificate Programs, EDD in Educational Leadership—all concentrations, and PHD in Leadership Studies’ Ministry Concentration): 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 requisites.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Find course descriptions by category under the Undergraduate Course Descriptions OR Graduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.