Bachelor of Theology

Program Overview

Bachelor of Theology is designed as a seminary-track curriculum with an emphasis on the study of the religious education. The studies in this degree are the foundations for those seeking to enter Christian schools to teach Bible. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be
well prepared to enter a theological seminary to pursue
an educational program as a preparation for a career as an ordained minister. Graduates of Bachelor of Theology are able to serve in the Christian Community as Christian educators, missionary workers, youth ministers, Christian counselors, or Sunday school coordinators.

Standard of Student Achievement and Graduation Requirements

To graduate, a student must complete a minimum of 168 quarter units or 1680 hours of the following coursework with a cumulative GPA average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

1. Complete minimum 40 units of the General Education Courses.
2. Complete minimum 48 units of the Lower Division Courses.
3. Complete minimum 36 units of Upper Division Courses.
4. Complete minimum 24 units of the Elective Courses.
5. Complete minimum 168 units total, including the General Education, Lower Division, Upper Division, and Elective Courses.
6. Successfully complete the degree requirements within the allowed program length.

Successful graduates of the program will be awarded a degree in Bachelor of Religious Education.

Program Length

Students are usually expected to complete the program in 4 years. The maximum time frame allowed for students to complete a program is 150% of the normal program length, namely 6 years for the Bachelor’s programs. An extension may be granted for special circumstances.

Course Descriptions

GEC101            English Composition I                        4 units

The course is an intensive study of the fundamentals of English grammar, usage, diction, sentence structure, vocabulary building, punctuation, and paragraph development. The eight parts of speech and common grammatical mistakes will be studied in depth.

GEC103            Humanities I                        4 units

This course is the study of human culture. The concepts taught in humanities courses include; art, history, cultural values, social movements, and philosophy.

GEC105            General Psychology                        4 units

This course provides an overview of the scientific study of human behavior. Studies include history, biopsychology, motivation, cognition, abnormal behavior, personality theory, and other relevant topics.

GEC106            World History I                        4 units

This is the study of the origins and development of major civilizations from early beginning through the renaissance period. Cultural, and societal, considerations will be explored.

GEC108            Introduction to Philosophy                        4 units

This course is a survey and critical analysis of the various systems of philosophy, philosophical ideas, and major philosophers and their theories in the light of both logic and Scripture. The coverage is from pre-Christian to modern times.

GEC109            Introduction to Sociology                        4 units

This is an introduction to sociology analysis, studying social interaction, social processes, society, culture, social structures, and other conceptual fundamentals to sociological understanding.

GEC110            Principle Economic                        4 units

An introduction to the basic tools of economic analysis. The course will deal with consumers, firms, markets, and income distribution in the field of Churches.

GEC111            Biology                        4 units

The course is designed to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapid changes in science of biology. The goal of the course is to provide a learning environment that enables students to develop a solid understanding of the principal concepts in biology.

GEC112            Cultural Anthropology                        4 units

This course covers the basic areas of anthropology including biological evolution, the prehistoric evolution of early civilizations, language, culture and social life, and the analyses of the nature and variability of human institutions. However, the components that deal with cultural anthropology are heavily emphasized.

GEC113            World Civilizations                        4 units

By the exploring the streams of civilization throughout time, the student will have a better understanding of how the world came to be the way it is today. It will also help the students to understand better the events that are happening today and the decisions being made that will change the future.

GEC114            Sociology & Immigrant Communities   4 units

This course is to give an analysis of economic, political and cultural changes in immigrant groups in America. Emphasis on social processes leading to hunger, poverty, political conflicts, population growth, and environmental problems in Asia, Africa and Latin America will be reflected during the course period.

GEC115            Historical & Poetic Books                        4 units

This course will help students equip and prepare the Christian to fulfill the Great Commission as the student gains a better sense of God’s plan through the ages. These historical and poetic books portray real human experience, and grapple with profound problems, and express big realities, and as the student puts forth the effort apply biblical to the student’s life, each student will become more like Christ.

GEC116            Understanding Politics                        4 units

This is an introduction to the fundamental themes and enduring problems of political life, and it emphasizes the relationship of politics to the church, society, economics and morality.

GEC117            Health Care                        4 units

This course deals with general knowledge of medical science including the basic understanding of physiology, the proper use of medicine, and the basic skills of emergency measure with some practical training.

GEC118            Church Growth                        4 units

The principles and methods of church growth and the effectiveness of church ministry are examined and discussed in terms of both qualitative and quantitative concepts of church growth.

LDC101           Introduction to the Old Testament                        4 units

Study of the organization and content of the books in Old Testament, with focuses on special attentions given to the canon and problems of authorship, dating and authenticity.

LDC102           Introduction to the New Testament        4 units

Study of manuscript evidence, canon, authorship, dating, organization and messages of the books in the New Testament.

LDC103           Bible Study Methods                        4 units

The course provides different methods of Bible study, allowing students to get more involved in reading and studying Bible.

LDC104           Philosophy of Religion                        4 units

Study of the arguments for and against the rationality of religious beliefs and a religious worldview. It also has interest in the analysis of religious language and the clarification of the relation between religious and other sorts of explanations.

LDC105           Church and Worship                        4 units

An introduction to the principles and practices of Christian worship. The course deals with biblical and church- historical perspectives on and practices of worship.

LDC106           The Background of the Bible                        4 units

Significant events and people of the inter testament period; life and customs of various ethnic and religious group in the first century A.D.

LDC107           The Life of Christ                        4 units

A study on the earthly life of Jesus Christ, using a harmony of the Gospels.

LDC108           Introduction to Christian Music                        4 units

A survey to develop a practical, biblical philosophy of church music; methodology and principles of the staff or pastor.

LDC109           Introduction to Christian Ethics                        4 units

Structure and content of Christian ethics; goal, motive, and norms of the Christian life; analysis of technical issues of authority, life, sexuality, property and truthfulness.

LDC110           Introduction to Christian Education        4 units

Brief history and importance of Christian education in the local Church; organization of the Church’s educational program, planning and development; leadership recruitment and training; staff relationship.

LDC111           Pastoral Ministry                        4 units

Pastoral theology and general pastoral care; biblical and professional standards of ministerial conduct.

LDC112           Introduction  to  Counseling                        4 units

This course is an introduction to basic counseling theories and skills. Major topics include in this course are: theological integration of psychology and counseling; an introduction to common counseling models, basic listening skills; issues in clinical practices; assessment and intervention; and special topics in counseling.

LDC113           Foundations of Leadership                        4 units

This course provides an overview of leadership theories using power, position and servant hood as integrating themes to examine a variety of leadership perspectives. Leadership theories will be critiqued in the light of biblical values and perspectives using these themes as an integrating framework, and students will examine roles of leaders and followers interacting in a given the situation and shaped by the culture, uses of different influences means, and formation of values for leadership.

LDC114           Sermon Preparation                        4 units

This course will assist students to hone in their preaching skills. Students will interact with the professor and various established preachers on issues such as the practice and ethics of persuasion, various preaching styles and methods of delivery, and planning a preaching calendar.

LDC115           Cross-cultural Spirituality                        4 units

This course explores the biblical foundation of discipleship and spirituality. The purpose of this course is to provide the students with biblical foundation of spiritual discipline and contemporary approaches to discipleship training.

BED201           Sunday School Ministry                        4 units

This course provides students to nurture the spiritual lives of children who are at the very beginning of their Christian journey.

BED202           Christian Life                        4 units

The purpose of this course is to assist the student in growth toward a deeper relationship with the Lord, with other believers, and maturing interaction with the world in which we live.

BED203           Introduction to Evangelism                        4 units

The purpose of this course is explore the ministry of evangelism through a local church and its ministries. In addition to a summary of various approaches to evangelism in local churches, the biblical, theological and historical aspects of evangelism will be highlighted as well in order to provide a holistic view.

BED204 History of the Christian Church 4 units

The course will provide an examination of the church as an institution and as a people. Dates and names establish the background for historical understanding of the institution of the church; ideas will also be discussed from an explicitly evangelical perspective.

BED205           Pastoral Research and Writing                        4 units

A survey of pastoral care, ministerial leadership and theology in the context of parish ministry. This course explores the pastoral office by focusing on who ministers are and what they do.

BED206           Principles of Leadership                        4 units

A study of leadership and administration in Christian ministries.

BED207           Programming for Adult Education                        4 units

This course will focus on preparation of individuals to work with the unique problems and learning styles of adult learners.

BED208           Seminar: Religious Education                        4 units

An examination of selected issues of themes in religious education to be chose by the instructor. Topics will have a comparative focus.

BED209           The Doctrine of Inspiration                        4 units

An exegetical, historical, and dogmatic survey of the Christian doctrine of Inspiration, including such topics as revelation, scripture, authority, inerrancy, and self-attestation.

BED210           Camp Leadership                        4 units

This course will provide introduction to leadership concepts, behavior, and team dynamics. The course will provide in-depth study of a particular topic in the study of leadership behavior.

BED211           Life-Span Development                        4 units

This study focuses on the developmental stages associated with various age groups. The core concepts common to many life-span development courses are; personality development, experiment design and analysis, psychology in adulthood, psychology of perception, and cultural influences on psychological development.

OEC101            Personal Evangelism                        4 units

The practical examination of the theology of evangelism and discipleship with an emphasis on developing the skills of personal evangelism and equipping others to share their faith.

OEC102            Planning & Leading Worship                        4 units

The course emphasizes the centrality of the inspired scriptures in the worship life of the church. On the basis of a biblical theology of preaching, the role of the pastor as a Minister of the Word will be examined, and initial training given in the art of preparing and delivering sermons.

OEC103            Communication Skills                        4 units

This course is designed to explore the field of ideas relating to human modes of communication skills and personal relationship in the shaping of church environment in depth.

OEC104            World Mission Strategy           4 units

The Biblical basis and the contemporary practice and strategy of Christian missions worldwide, with special attention to recent theorizing on cross-cultural communication and church development.

OEC105            Current Issues in Missions          4 units

The course emphasizes current issues in missions that church holds nowadays. On the basis of a biblical theology of preaching, the role of the pastor as a Minister of the Word will be examined, and initial training given in the art of preparing and delivering sermons.

OEC106       Foundations of Biblical Counseling      4 units

Biblical principles that will help identify and suggest solutions for problems encountered in ministry; counseling techniques.

OEC107            Counseling for Anger Management   4 units

This course contains methods of studying behavior; modifiability of attitude, conflict, anger and emotion, and this course will explore the studies of how they are related and how they should be treated and managed for the better outcome in both physically and psychologically.

OEC108                Crisis Management Counseling                       4 units

This course will include an overview of the helping relationship in crises using communication skills in times of crises. An additional emphasis will be placed on biblical teaching method in traumatic situations with diverse populations.

OEC109            Inner Healing                        4 units

This study will allow students to explore the role of the pastor as spiritual leader embracing key adaptive issues for personal, congregational, and communal transformation for inner healing for each individuals.

OEC110            Healing Ministries                        4 units

Summary of the biblical world and life view in healing; the Word of God, Revelation, ad inspiration; ‘knowing’ and ‘thinking’ and responses to God’s Word in healing; the radical difference between Christian and non-Christian thinking in order to provide effective healing through ministries.