Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Go deeper into Christian doctrine, biblical theology, historical theology, and the philosophy of the Christian faith
OT & NT Theology
Dedicated courses tracing the theological message of both testaments.
Historical Theology
Study how Christian doctrine developed from the patristic era to the present.
Philosophy of Christian Thought
Engage the philosophical foundations and challenges of the Christian faith.
Greek + Theology
Two semesters of Greek paired with deep theological study.
The Theology concentration is designed for students who want to think deeply about what the Bible teaches—and how the church has understood that teaching across two thousand years of history. Built on the same 35-credit academic core that all BTS students share, this concentration adds 18 credits of focused theological study: New Testament Theology, Old Testament Theology, Historical Theology, the Philosophy of Christian Thought, and two upper-division electives in biblical and theological studies.
What distinguishes this concentration from the general degree is the deliberate layering of theological disciplines. You won’t just study systematic theology in the core—you’ll also trace the theological message of the Old Testament and New Testament individually, explore how doctrine developed historically from the church fathers through the Reformation and beyond, and engage with the philosophical questions that have shaped and challenged Christian thought since the first century.
This is an ideal preparation for seminary, graduate study in theology or philosophy, pastoral ministry, teaching, or any career that demands the ability to think carefully about the deepest questions of faith. Combined with the core’s two semesters of Greek, systematic theology, church history, apologetics, and biblical survey, you’ll graduate with an exceptionally well-rounded theological education. The 13 credits of general electives also give you room to add a minor or pursue additional interests.
Old Testament Theology
Trace the theological message of the Old Testament—creation, covenant, law, prophecy, wisdom—understanding how each part contributes to the overarching narrative of Scripture.
New Testament Theology
Study the theological themes of the New Testament—the kingdom of God, Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology—and how they fulfill and develop Old Testament foundations.
Historical Theology
Explore how the church has understood and articulated its faith across the centuries, from the apostolic fathers through the creeds, the Reformation, and into the modern era.
Philosophy of Christian Thought
Engage the philosophical questions that intersect with Christian theology—epistemology, metaphysics, the problem of evil, faith and reason—developing the tools for rigorous intellectual engagement.
Theological Integration
Learn to connect the disciplines—biblical theology, systematic theology, historical theology, and philosophy—into a coherent framework for understanding the Christian faith as a whole.
Theology isn't an academic abstraction—it's the disciplined study of who God is, what He's done, and what that means for everything. At ACU, the Theology concentration puts you at the center of the Biblical Worldview conversation, giving you the depth to articulate what the church believes, why it believes it, and how those beliefs shape every area of life.
Biblical Theology
Study the theological message of Scripture on its own terms—tracing themes through the Old and New Testaments and understanding how the Bible tells one unified story. This is the foundation of a Biblical Worldview that's rooted in the text, not imposed on it.
Pastors and teachers who can articulate the Bible's unified theological message communicate with clarity and power.
Doctrinal Precision
Systematic and historical theology develop the ability to state clearly what the church believes and why. You'll learn to distinguish essential doctrines from secondary matters, and to articulate your convictions with both precision and humility.
Leaders who can articulate doctrine clearly build theologically healthy churches and organizations.
Intellectual Engagement
The Philosophy of Christian Thought course equips you to engage with the hardest intellectual challenges to the faith—the problem of evil, the relationship of faith and reason, and the competing worldviews that shape contemporary culture.
Professionals who can engage philosophical challenges with rigor and grace earn a hearing in any context.
Historical Perspective
Historical theology provides the long view—showing how the church has navigated theological controversies, political pressures, and cultural shifts across two millennia. This perspective protects against theological novelty and builds confidence in the enduring truths of the faith.
Leaders with historical perspective make wiser decisions and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
Core courses that define the Theology concentration.
Biblical Interpretation
Learn the literal-grammatical-historical method — how to determine what the Bible says, what it means, and how to apply it.
BIB 301Systematic Theology I
The first half of ACU's systematic theology sequence — Scripture, God, creation, humanity, and sin.
PHI 310Philosophy of Christian Thought
A survey of major Christian philosophers — Plantinga, C.S. Lewis, Geisler, and Schaeffer — with emphasis on Schaeffer's body of work.
GRK 311Elementary Greek I
Begin reading the New Testament in Greek — basic grammar, vocabulary, and the translation skills serious Bible study requires.
BIB 370The Trinity
A focused study of the doctrine of the Trinity through theological, historical, exegetical, and philosophical lenses.
BIB 352History of the Christian Church
A survey of two thousand years of church history — from Pentecost to the present — through its leading personalities and movements.
BIB 400Apologetics
The practical art of defending the Christian faith against the modern challenges that students actually encounter.
BIB 490Biblical Studies Capstone
The senior capstone — a small-cohort synthesis of your discipline, your coursework, and the direction you're stepping into.
The Theology concentration prepares you for seminary, pastoral ministry, academic study, teaching, writing, and any role that demands the ability to think deeply and clearly about the Christian faith. The combination of biblical, systematic, historical, and philosophical theology gives you an unusually well-rounded theological education at the undergraduate level.
Seminary / Graduate Study
Enter seminary or a theology graduate program with an advanced foundation in biblical, systematic, historical, and philosophical theology.
Pastor / Teaching Minister
Lead a church with deep theological convictions, clear doctrinal thinking, and the ability to communicate complex truths accessibly.
Theology Professor
Pursue a Ph.D. and teach theology at the college or seminary level.
Apologist / Speaker
Articulate and defend the Christian faith in public settings, conferences, and media.
Christian Author / Writer
Write theology, devotional material, apologetics, or Christian thought for publishing and digital platforms.
Campus Ministry Leader
Lead college-aged students through theological mentoring, teaching, and discipleship.
Missionary / Theological Educator
Train pastors and church leaders in developing countries with solid theological foundations.
Chaplain
Serve as a military, hospital, corporate, or university chaplain with deep theological training.
The Theology concentration is for students who want to go deeper. You’ll study what the Old Testament and New Testament teach on their own terms, how the church has understood those teachings across twenty centuries, and how Christian thought engages with the biggest philosophical questions humans have ever asked.
What makes this concentration powerful is the integration. You’re not just studying one theological discipline—you’re learning how biblical theology, systematic theology, historical theology, and philosophy of religion work together to produce a comprehensive understanding of the Christian faith. Add that to the core’s two semesters of Greek, systematic theology, church history, and apologetics, and you have one of the most thorough undergraduate theological educations available anywhere.
Whether you’re headed to seminary, pastoral ministry, academic study, or any career where deep theological thinking matters, this concentration gives you the foundation to think clearly, speak precisely, and lead with conviction.
John DelHousaye, Ph.D.
Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies
For students who want to think deeply about the Christian faith and articulate it with precision.
Four Theological Disciplines
Biblical theology (OT and NT), historical theology, and philosophy of Christian thought—a breadth of theological study rare at the undergraduate level.
Old and New Testament Theology
Dedicated courses tracing the theological message of each testament individually, not just as part of survey courses.
Historical Theology
Go beyond church history to study how doctrine itself developed, from the early creeds through the Reformation and into the modern era.
Philosophy of Christian Thought
Engage the intellectual challenges to the faith with rigor—epistemology, the problem of evil, faith and reason, and competing worldviews.
Greek Foundation
Two semesters of New Testament Greek (part of the BTS core) ensure your theology is grounded in the original text.
Full Academic Core
Systematic theology, church history, apologetics, and complete biblical survey alongside your concentration courses.
Flexible Electives
6 credits of upper-division BTS electives plus 13 credits of general electives give you room to customize.
Seminary Partnerships
ACU's tracks with Dallas Theological Seminary and Phoenix Seminary offer accelerated paths to graduate study in theology.
Take the next step toward a degree that gives you the theological depth, intellectual tools, and biblical foundation to lead with conviction.