Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Study the Bible with the depth and rigor it deserves—original languages, systematic theology, church history, and apologetics
Two Semesters of Greek
Read the New Testament in its original language with 8 credits of elementary Greek.
Systematic Theology
Two-semester sequence covering the full scope of Christian doctrine.
Apologetics
Learn to articulate and defend the Christian faith with intellectual rigor.
22 Elective Credits
Room to add a minor, pursue personal interests, or prepare for graduate study.
ACU’s Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies is a rigorous, comprehensive program designed for students who want to know the Bible deeply—not just devotionally, but academically. You’ll study the Old and New Testaments book by book, learn to read the New Testament in its original Greek, trace the development of Christian doctrine through two semesters of systematic theology, explore the history of the Christian church from the apostolic era to the present, and develop the skills to defend the faith through apologetics.
The 35-credit academic core covers every major area of biblical and theological study: Old Testament survey (Genesis to Song of Solomon, Prophets), New Testament survey (Gospels, Acts to Revelation), systematic theology, church history, apologetics, Greek, and a capstone research project. With 9 additional credits of upper-division Bible electives, you can customize the degree around your specific interests—whether that’s deeper exegesis, pastoral theology, philosophy, or a particular biblical book.
Because ACU’s General Education Bible sequence (Biblical Interpretation, The Relational God, Image Bearers, Dwelling in God’s Presence, The King and His Kingdom) counts as part of this major, your total biblical and theological coursework reaches 62 credits—more than half your degree. Combined with 22 credits of general electives (enough to complete a minor), this degree produces graduates who are genuinely prepared for seminary, ministry, teaching, or any career that demands deep biblical knowledge.
Biblical Survey & Exegesis
Study the entire Bible—Genesis through Revelation—through dedicated Old Testament and New Testament survey courses. You'll learn to interpret Scripture carefully, understanding each book in its historical, literary, and theological context.
Biblical Greek
Complete two semesters of elementary Greek (8 credits), giving you the ability to read the New Testament in its original language and engage with scholarly commentaries and lexical tools.
Systematic Theology
Work through the full scope of Christian doctrine in a two-semester sequence covering theology proper, Christology, pneumatology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology.
Church History & Apologetics
Trace the development of Christianity from the early church through the Reformation and into the modern era. Develop the intellectual tools to articulate and defend the Christian faith in contemporary culture.
Biblical Interpretation
Master the principles and methods of sound biblical interpretation (hermeneutics) through the Gen Ed Biblical Interpretation course, which serves as the foundation for all your advanced biblical studies.
All Biblical and Theological Studies students share the same comprehensive 35-credit academic core. From there, you can specialize with one of our two concentration tracks—or keep maximum flexibility with upper-division Bible electives and room for a minor.
Biblical Languages
Add Biblical Hebrew to your Greek foundation and pursue advanced language study for seminary preparation or academic research.
Learn MoreTheology
Deep dive into Old and New Testament theology, historical theology, and the philosophy of Christian thought.
Learn MoreThis isn't a program where Biblical Worldview is integrated into another discipline—this is the discipline. You'll study the Bible itself with the academic rigor and intellectual seriousness it deserves, developing the kind of deep biblical literacy that informs how you think about every other subject and every area of life.
Scripture as Foundation
Every course in this program is built on the conviction that the Bible is God's authoritative Word. You'll learn to handle it with both reverence and scholarly precision—studying its languages, its history, its literary forms, and its theological message.
Professionals with deep biblical knowledge bring clarity and depth to ministry, teaching, counseling, and cultural engagement.
Theology & Doctrine
DoctrineSystematic theology doesn't just catalog doctrines—it shows how the whole of Scripture holds together as a coherent message about God, humanity, sin, salvation, and the future. You'll develop the ability to think theologically about every question you encounter.
Leaders who can think theologically bring depth and discernment to every decision and conversation.
Church History & Faithfulness
Studying church history reveals how Christians across the centuries have understood and applied Scripture. You'll learn from their faithfulness and their failures, developing a historical perspective that protects against theological novelty.
Pastors, teachers, and leaders who know church history lead with a longer perspective and deeper roots.
Apologetics & Engagement
Apologetics prepares you to articulate the Christian faith to skeptics, seekers, and fellow believers. You'll develop the intellectual tools to engage with the hardest questions—about suffering, science, morality, and the reliability of Scripture.
Every Christian professional benefits from the ability to give thoughtful, well-reasoned answers to life's biggest questions.
A B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies prepares you for seminary, pastoral ministry, teaching, missions, and any career that demands deep biblical knowledge and clear theological thinking. The 22 credits of general electives also allow you to add a minor for additional career flexibility.
Seminary / Graduate Study
Enter seminary or graduate school with an exceptionally strong biblical and theological foundation—including Greek.
Pastor / Church Planter
Lead a church or plant a new congregation with deep biblical knowledge and theological training.
Bible Teacher
Teach the Bible in churches, Christian schools, parachurch organizations, or overseas settings.
Missionary
Serve in cross-cultural ministry with the biblical, theological, and linguistic tools to communicate the gospel effectively.
Youth or College Pastor
Lead the next generation with age-appropriate biblical teaching and relational ministry.
Christian School Educator
Teach Bible, theology, or humanities in a Christian school setting.
Non-Profit Ministry Leader
Lead faith-based organizations with a solid theological foundation and clear biblical vision.
Writer / Content Creator
Create biblical and theological content for publishing, media, curriculum development, or digital platforms.
If you want to know the Bible—really know it—this is the program for you. We don’t just talk about the Bible in general terms. We study it book by book, in its original languages, with the kind of scholarly rigor that produces genuine understanding.
You’ll take two semesters of Greek so you can read the New Testament for yourself. You’ll work through the entire Old and New Testament in survey courses. You’ll study systematic theology, church history, and apologetics. And in the capstone, you’ll produce original research that demonstrates the depth of what you’ve learned.
Our graduates go on to seminary, pastoral ministry, missions, teaching, and dozens of other careers. What they all have in common is a deep knowledge of Scripture and the ability to think theologically about everything they encounter. That’s what this degree builds.
Kyle DiRoberts
Chair, Department of Biblical & Theological Studies
For students who want to know the Bible with the depth and rigor it deserves.
Two Semesters of Biblical Greek
8 credits of elementary Greek give you direct access to the New Testament in its original language—a distinctive foundation most undergraduate programs don't offer.
Complete Biblical Survey
Dedicated courses covering Genesis to Song of Solomon, the Prophets, the Gospels, and Acts to Revelation ensure you know the whole Bible.
Two-Semester Systematic Theology
A comprehensive two-course sequence covering the full scope of Christian doctrine, grounded in Scripture and the historic Christian tradition.
Church History
Trace the story of Christianity from the apostolic fathers through the Reformation and into the modern era.
Apologetics Training
Learn to articulate and defend the Christian faith with intellectual precision and genuine compassion.
62 Credits of Biblical & Theological Coursework
Because Gen Ed Bible courses count as part of this major, more than half your degree is devoted to biblical and theological study.
22 Credits of Electives
Room to add a minor, explore personal interests, or take additional upper-division courses to prepare for specific career goals.
Seminary Preparation
ACU offers partnership tracks with Dallas Theological Seminary and Phoenix Seminary for students planning to continue directly into graduate study.
Take the next step toward a degree that gives you the biblical knowledge, theological depth, and intellectual tools to lead with confidence.