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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
ACU's flagship Bible degree — the whole canon, full systematic theology, biblical Greek, and a senior capstone that brings it all together.
Greek Required
Two semesters of New Testament Greek
Full Systematic Theology
Two-semester sequence, not a survey
DTS Seminary Tracks
Accelerated 4+1 and 4+2 Dallas Theological Seminary pathways
The Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies is ACU’s flagship Bible degree — a 120-credit major built for students who want to engage Scripture and theology at the deepest undergraduate level. The 35-credit academic core covers the whole canon (BIB 104–208), full systematic theology (BIB 301–302), church history (BIB 352), apologetics (BIB 400), two semesters of New Testament Greek (GRK 311–312), and a senior capstone that brings it all together.
Wrapped around the core is ACU’s signature four-part thematic biblical theology sequence — Covenants, Image Bearers, Dwelling, and the King and His Kingdom — alongside formal hermeneutics training in BIB 101 Biblical Interpretation. Together they form the most rigorous Bible and theology training ACU offers without going on to seminary.
Students can pursue the standard BA or choose one of four concentration paths: a deeper run at Theology, an extension into Biblical Languages, or a 4+1 / 4+2 partnership with Dallas Theological Seminary that puts a master’s degree within reach in five or six years total. The degree is designed both as a stand-alone credential and as the front door to graduate theological study.
Read the New Testament in Greek
Translate New Testament passages directly from the Greek text through the GRK 311–312 sequence.
Master the Whole Canon
Work through the Old and New Testaments in survey courses, the Gospels analytically, and the four-part thematic theology sequence.
Develop Full Systematic Theology
Engage all the major Christian doctrines across two semesters of systematic study.
Trace the Church's History
Follow the story of the church from Pentecost to the present through its leading personalities and movements.
Defend the Faith Thoughtfully
Build rigorous, respectful responses to contemporary challenges to Christianity.
Interpret Scripture With Method
Apply the literal-grammatical-historical method through a dedicated hermeneutics course with an integrated study-tools lab.
Synthesize Your Education
Bring four years of study together in a small-cohort senior capstone that connects discipline, coursework, and the direction ahead.
The BA in Biblical and Theological Studies takes a biblical worldview as the working assumption, not the conclusion. Three convictions shape the whole major.
Scripture as Trustworthy and Knowable
Every course in the major treats Scripture as worth reading carefully — in English for most courses, in Greek for the upper-level courses, and always with the tools that careful interpretation requires. The hermeneutics course is required precisely because reading the Bible well takes method, not just instinct.
Equips you to handle Scripture responsibly in any teaching, preaching, or scholarly setting.
Theology Discovered in the Text
The two-semester systematic theology sequence treats doctrine as faithful organization of biblical revelation — discovered through Scripture, not imposed on it. The thematic biblical theology series reinforces the same conviction by tracing major themes across the whole canon.
Grounds your theology in what the Bible actually says, in conversation with the church's historical reading.
The Christian Intellectual Tradition
The church history course traces two thousand years of Christian thought and life, and the capstone synthesizes the major within the longer story of which it's part. The BA treats students as the next generation of a long conversation, not as starting from scratch.
Locates your work inside a tradition worth learning from and contributing to.
The BA is built both as a stand-alone credential and as the strongest possible undergraduate preparation for seminary or graduate theological study.
Pastor or Teaching Minister
Step into pastoral ministry with the exegetical and theological depth the work actually requires.
Seminary or Graduate School
Enter a master's program in divinity, biblical studies, or theology with original-language preparation and systematic theology already in hand.
Missions and Bible Translation
Bring serious Bible and language preparation to translation organizations and global ministry work.
Christian School Bible Teacher
Teach Bible and theology in Christian middle and high schools with formal credentials in the discipline.
Parachurch and Nonprofit Leadership
Lead ministries, mission organizations, and Christian nonprofits with grounded theological understanding.
Christian Counseling Preparation
Use the BA as a theological foundation for a graduate counseling or marriage-and-family-therapy program.
Biblical Scholar or Researcher
Pursue academic work, theological writing, or contributions to translation committees and Christian publishing.
The BA in Biblical and Theological Studies is the deepest undergraduate Bible degree ACU offers — and one of the few that genuinely prepares students for seminary on day one.
Two Semesters of Greek
GRK 311 and GRK 312 give every BA graduate working command of New Testament Greek — a marker most undergraduate Bible degrees skip.
Full Systematic Theology, Not a Survey
BIB 301 and BIB 302 walk through the major Christian doctrines across two semesters — depth few bachelor's programs match.
ACU's Signature Thematic Series
The four-part biblical theology sequence (Covenants, Image Bearers, Dwelling, Kingdom) is built into the major's required Bible block.
Dallas Theological Seminary Pathways
Two concentration tracks (4+1 and 4+2) let students step into a DTS master's program with the BA already aligned.
Small-Cohort Senior Capstone
BIB 490 puts seniors in classes of 10–12 to synthesize four years of work — the capstone format actually delivers what capstones promise.
Same Faculty as the Cert, Minor, and AA
ACU's Bible & Theology faculty teach across every level, so BA students learn from professors invested in the whole department's curriculum.
The BA is a four-year program with a clear path through it. Here’s how students begin.
Apply to ACU
Submit your application for admission to Arizona Christian University.
Start Your ApplicationMeet With Your Academic Advisor
Map the 120 credits across four years, including the Greek sequence and the systematic theology pair.
Choose a Concentration (Or Stay Standard)
Decide whether to pursue Theology, Biblical Languages, or one of the 4+1 / 4+2 Dallas Theological Seminary tracks — or to complete the standard BA.
Begin Greek Early
Plan GRK 311 for your sophomore or junior year so the upper-division language and exegesis courses fall into place on time.
View GRK 311Aim Toward the Capstone
BIB 490 in the senior year synthesizes everything that came before — plan your major sequence with the capstone in view.
View BIB 490The BA in Biblical and Theological Studies is ACU's most rigorous undergraduate Bible degree — built to prepare you for ministry, graduate study, or serious scholarly work. Apply or reach out to map your path.
