Biblical Studies
An 18-credit, fully online certificate that deepens your Bible literacy for ministry, leadership, and life.
About the Certificate
You don’t need to enroll in a four-year degree to get a serious grounding in Scripture. The Certificate in Biblical Studies packages six core Bible and worldview courses into an 18-credit online program designed for adults already in life and ministry.
The certificate walks you from the foundations — how the Bible came together and how to read it — through ACU’s thematic biblical theology sequence on covenants, image-bearers, and the dwelling presence of God, with a dedicated course on the Gospels and a systematic worldview course in between. It’s the same content ACU’s Bible majors study, in a format built around adult schedules.
Whether you’re a pastor wanting deeper exegetical chops, a small-group leader looking for substance, a parent who wants to teach Scripture well at home, or simply someone who’s tired of staying at the surface — the certificate gives you a structured path forward.
What You'll Learn
Read the Bible Well
Apply sound interpretation methods to any passage of Scripture, in any genre.
Trace Biblical Theology
Follow the major themes — covenants, image-bearers, dwelling — across the whole canon.
Study the Gospels Closely
Work through Jesus' life, ministry, and resurrection in their gospel contexts.
Think From a Biblical Worldview
Engage contemporary culture from a coherent biblical perspective.
Connect Scripture to Life
Move from study to application in church, work, family, and culture.
Courses in This Certificate
Six courses, eighteen credits, all online. The sequence builds from biblical foundations through ACU's thematic biblical theology curriculum.
BIB 100: Introduction to the Bible and Biblical Interpretation
3 CreditsLIA 102: Biblical Worldview and Culture
3 CreditsBIB 221: The Relational God — A Study of the Divine Covenants
3 CreditsBIB 222: Image Bearers — Humanity’s Story
3 CreditsBIB 320: Life and Teaching of Jesus
3 CreditsBIB 321: Dwelling in God’s Presence — A Sanctuary-Centered Reading
3 CreditsA Bible-First Worldview
Every course in this certificate works from a single conviction: Scripture is coherent, knowable, and worth the work of careful study. Here's how that plays out.
Scripture as One Story
Three of the six courses read Scripture thematically, tracing major threads from Genesis through Revelation. The certificate treats the Bible as a unified narrative rather than a stack of disconnected texts — which changes how students approach every passage.
Equips you to teach, preach, or lead small-group study with the whole canon in view.Worldview as Lens, Not Slogan
LIA 102 makes worldview the explicit subject — naming competing frameworks, applying a biblical lens to gender, race, ethnicity, and politics, and developing strategies for engaging culture rather than just reacting to it.
Gives you a vocabulary for the conversations you're already having in church, at work, and at home.Christ at the Center
BIB 320 puts a full course on the life and teaching of Jesus at the heart of the certificate. The thematic courses then connect back to Him — covenants fulfilled, image-bearers restored, God dwelling among us.
Keeps the certificate's center where Christian theology has always put it.Where This Certificate Takes You
The Certificate in Biblical Studies isn't a license to a single role — it's biblical training that strengthens whatever you're already doing or hoping to step into.
Lay Ministry Leader
Lead small groups, teach Sunday school, or run discipleship programs with deeper exegetical confidence.
Church Staff & Pastoral Support
Strengthen the biblical grounding behind a worship, children's, youth, or administrative ministry role.
Christian School Educator
Add formal Bible credentials to a teaching résumé, especially for Bible-class assignments at Christian schools.
Parachurch & Nonprofit Staff
Bring a steadier theological foundation to mission, mercy, and ministry work.
Bridge to a Bachelor's Degree
Use the certificate as a stackable on-ramp to ACU's Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies.
Why Students Choose This Certificate
The Certificate in Biblical Studies isn't a stripped-down Bible-overview class — it's the same content ACU's majors study, packaged for adult learners.
Built for Adult Schedules
Eight-week online sessions across fall, spring, and summer make the certificate finishable inside a year alongside work and ministry.
Real ACU Coursework
Every course is taken from ACU's standard undergraduate curriculum, not a watered-down adult track.
Stackable Credit
All 18 credits apply directly to ACU's Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies if you decide to continue.
Thematic Depth, Not Just Survey
Three of the six courses are biblical-theology deep dives, not generic overviews — covenants, image-bearers, and dwelling presence.
Substantive Worldview Training
A dedicated worldview course gives you a framework for the cultural questions you're already navigating.
Getting Started
The Certificate in Biblical Studies is designed for adults stepping back into school. Here’s how to start.
Apply to ACU Online
Submit your application for non-traditional admission. The process is built around adult students and works with most life schedules.
Start Your Application →Talk With an Adult Admissions Counselor
A counselor will help you map the 18 credits, sequence the six courses, and explain how transfer credit or prior coursework affects your plan.
Begin With BIB 100
Most students start with Introduction to the Bible and Biblical Interpretation — the foundation the rest of the sequence builds on.
View BIB 100 →Finish in About a Year
Taking one course per 8-week session keeps the pace steady; most students complete all 18 credits in roughly 12 months.
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Ready to Go Deeper in Scripture?
The Certificate in Biblical Studies gives you a structured, online path to real biblical literacy — without pausing the rest of your life. Apply or reach out to talk through the fit.
