Bachelor of Arts in Ministry
Bachelor of arts in ministry
The Bachelor of Arts in Ministry program is designed to prepare leaders with little or no prior theological training to provide pastoral leadership for a congregation. It prepares students for diaconal or other non-ordained ministries within the church and can be used as a route to ordained ministry, pre-seminary training, or graduate theological studies. This program provides a general overview of theology and skills for congregational and other ministry contexts.
Program Overview
Zero Student Debt
Our goal is for every student to graduate with no debt. Our donor-sponsored financial assistance makes that possible.
More Information
Total: $0.00
Tuition
$400 per Credit Hour
*Tuition cost is subject to change. Additional costs may apply.
Total: $48,000
Requirements
42 courses in biblical theology, historical and systematic theology, ethics, philosophy and religion, and ministry training.
More Information Below
Total: 120 Credits
Expected Timeline
Full-time students can finish this degree in 4 years and part-time students can take up to 6 years.
Total: 4-6 Years
*Additional costs may apply. (Application fee, books, costs associated with researching and producing the independent projects or the final project or thesis, etc.) are also the responsibility of the participant.
| Course Requirements | Credit Hours |
| General Studies: A Total of 30 Credits from the Following Subjects: | |
| Communications | 6 Credits |
| Humanities/Fine Arts | 12 Credits |
| Natural Science/Mathematics | 6 Credits |
| Social/Behavioral Sciences | 6 Credits |
| Bible/Theology General Studies: A Total of 30 Credits from the Following Subjects: | |
| Biblical Theology (BT) | 21 Credits |
| Historical and Systematic Theology (HST) | 9 Credits |
| Choose One (1) Emphasis within the Ministry Major from the Following: A Total of 42 Credits | |
| Bible | 42 Credits |
| Ministry Practice | 42 Credits |
| Theology | 42 Credits |
| Ministry Skills: A Total of 18 Credits from the Following: | |
| One Concentration Plus Three (3) Electives | 18 Credits |
| Total | 120 Credits |
*All work must be in the student’s field of study.
General Studies (30 Credits)
Communications (6 Credits):
- COM 101: Academic Research & Writing
- COM 102: Introduction to Communications
Humanities/Fine Arts (12 Credits):
At least two (2) courses from:
- CLS 111-2: Latin I, II
- CLS 121-2: Classical Greek I, II
- BT 201-3: Biblical Greek I, II, III
- BT 211-2: Biblical Hebrew I, II
- PHL 101-2: Logic I, II
At least two (2) courses from:
- LIT 201-2: World Literature I, II
- HIS 211-2: History of Western Civilization I, II
- PHL 210-1: Intro to Western Philosophy I, II
- PHL 221: Intro to Eastern Philosophy
- REL 231: Intro to World Religions
Natural Science/Mathematics (6 Credits):
- MTH 131: Foundations of Mathematics (Required)
- MTH 231: College Geometry
- SCI 221: Intro to Natural Science
- SCI 222: Intro to Physics
Social/Behavioral Sciences (6 Credits):
- PSY 261: Intro to Psychology
- SOC 251: Cultural Anthropology
- SOC 271: Intro to Sociology
- SOC 281: Intro to Political Science/Civics
Bible/Theology General Requirements (30 Credits)
Biblical Theology (21 Credits):
- BT 221: Principles of Biblical Interpretation
- BT 311: Introduction to the Old Testament Theology and History
- BT 321: Introduction to New Testament Theology and History
- BT 351: Life of Moses
- BT 352: Life of David
- BT 353: Life of Jesus
- BT 354: Life of Paul
Historical and Systematic Theology (9 Credits):
- HST 201: Systematic Theology
- HST 321: Luther and His Catechisms
- HST 331: Lutheran Reformers and the Book of Concord
Ministry Major (42 Credits)
Bible
Biblical Theology:
- BT 201-2: Biblical Greek I, II
- BT 211: Biblical Hebrew I
- 9 Credits Elective
Philosophical Theology and Ethics:
- PTE 241: Christian Apologetics
- 9 Credits Elective
Historical and Systematic Theology:
- HST 301: History of the Early Christian Church
- HST 302: History of the Medieval and Reformation Christian Church
- HST 303: History of the Post Reformation Christian Church
- 3 Credits Elective
Ministry Practice
Biblical Theology:
- 9 Credits Elective
Philosophical Theology and Ethics:
- PTE 241: Christian Apologetics
- 6 Credits Elective
Historical and Systematic Theology:
- HST 301: History of the Early Christian Church
- HST 302: History of the Medieval and Reformation Christian Church
- HST 303: History of the Post Reformation Christian Church
- 6 Credits Elective
Theology
Philosophical Theology and Ethics:
- PTE 241: Christian Apologetics
- HUM 201: Intro to Logic
- HUM 210-11: Intro to Western Philosophy I, II
- PTE 302:Christian Sexual Ethics
- PTE 401: Introduction to Philosophical Theology
- 3 Credits Electives
Historical and Systematic Theology:
- HST 301: History of the Early Christian Church
- HST 302: History of the Medieval and Reformation Christian Church
- HST 303: History of the Post Reformation Christian Church
- HST 401: Religious Movements in North America
- HST 411: Systematic Theology II
- 6 Credits Elective
Ministry Skills:
Concentration in Pastoral Ministry:
- PT 401: Pastoral Care
- PT 411: Lutheran Worship
- PT 421 Proclaiming God’s Word
Concentration in Youth and Family Ministry:
- PT 451: Youth and Family Ministry
- PT 452: Christiana Education for the Parish
- PT 453: Evangelism for Home, Work, and Community
Electives (Choose Three (3) Courses):
- PT 301: Congregational Leadership/Administration
- PT 311: Outreach and Mission
- PT 312: Music in Worship
- PT 402: Pastoral Care II
- PT 422: Proclaiming God’s Word II
- PT: One Credit Electives
Internship:
- 1040 hours of supervised internship
Total: 120 Credits
After completing this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of Scripture and theology, including exegetical skills and tools to discern God’s Word as law and gospel.
- Gain experience in a ministry setting.
- Display basic competencies in a chosen area ministry concentration.
- Appropriate a theology appropriate to their chosen area of ministry concentration.
- Demonstrate an understanding of information literacy.
- Completion of online application form.
- Proof of completion of secondary education and transcripts from any post-secondary schools.
- A letter of recommendation from a pastor, teacher or mentor.
- Entrance writing evaluation.
- Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) that is not more than two years old. Normally, minimum acceptable scores for the TOEFL are 21 on the speaking section and 21 on the writing section. Minimum acceptable scores on the IELTS are 6.5 on the speaking section and 6.5 on the writing section. Please request that your score be sent to ILT. ILT’s DI Code for the TOEFL is 5745. More information concerning TOEFL can be accessed at the Education Testing Services website. Information regarding the IELTS can be found at their IELTS website.
- Non-Refundable Application Fee
- Copy of an official photo identification.
- Admissions interview with Director of Enrollment Services.
Practicum: Students preparing to serve in congregation ministry are required to participate in a practicum during the first 30 credits of their program. This practicum will consist of working with a pastor in a local congregation for 5-10 hours a week. Practicum students will meet with the practicum coordinator twice a month (or at least once a month) throughout each semester until they have earned 30 credits or more.
Internship: Students must be in a congregation or other ministry setting with opportunities to do practicums as assigned in Pastoral Theology classes. Students, congregations, mentor pastors and ILT operate under ILT’s Non-internship Learning-Service Agreement.
Students must also complete an internship. Students affiliate with a congregation as an intern, with an Internship Supervisor and Internship Committee, as described in the Contextual Education Handbook. Internship for the Master of Ministry Program consists of four modules, chosen by the student to fit his or her ministry goals.
Each module requires about 50 hours of work, including preparation, carrying out the work, reflection and evaluation. The internship modules are:
- Homiletics
- Teaching
- Worship
- Pastoral Care
- Music Ministry
- Outreach
- Diaconal Service
Senior Project (Optional): A senior project is a 30-page (7,500 word) academic paper.
Senior Project Research course (BT, PTE, or HST 498): This is a readings course on the student’s proposed senior project topic. The student and his or her primary faculty advisor agree on a reading program before the start of the semester. The student reads independently, meeting with his or her advisor regularly for consultation.
Senior Project Proposal: The student, in consultation with a primary faculty advisor, develops a senior project proposal (1,000 words). At least 60 days prior to the first day of classes in the semester when the student will enroll in BT, PTE, HST 499 (described below), the student submits the proposal to a senior project committee. The committee consists of 2 faculty members, one of whom is the primary advisor and another of whom should be a member of ILT’s undergraduate permanent faculty.
Senior Project course (BT, PTE, or HST 499): If the senior project committee approves the proposal, the student enrolls in EPR 499 as an independent study. This course can be continued through the following semester if needed. The student completes the research and writing of the senior project during this time, in consultation with the primary faculty advisor. The senior project should use the Chicago Style (guidelines are available from the Librarian.)
The senior project must include the following:
- Title page
- Copyright page
- Signatory page
- Librarian Certification page
- Table of Contents
- Text of senior project
- Bibliography
Senior Project Presentation: When the senior project is completed and approved by the primary faculty advisor, the student schedules a formal presentation of the academic paper. The presentation occurs before the last day of classes within the semester. The student should supply the members of the committee with a copy of the senior project sufficiently in advance to allow them to read and comment on it. The committee determines the final grade for the senior project, which is the grade for BT, HST, or PTE 499. The student provides a bound copy of the completed senior project to the ILT Library. (Consult the Librarian for guidelines on printing and binding the senior project.)