Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education
Institutional Values
The BA in Christian Education upholds the following institutional values:
- A high view of the authority of Scripture, ensuring a biblically grounded approach to education.
- An evangelical theological perspective, emphasizing the Gospel’s transformative power and the Holy Spirit’s role in education.
- A commitment to Christian mission, training educators to equip disciples worldwide.
- A resolve to provide excellent and affordable theological education, especially in regions facing economic and political challenges.
Introduction
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Christian Education equips students for leadership roles in teaching, discipleship, and ministry within congregations, schools, and Christian organizations. This degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours, distributed as follows: 30 credit hours in General Education, 42 credit hours in Personal Development, and 48 credit hours in Christian Education and Ministry.
The goal of the BA in Christian Education at Robert E. Cooley Theological Seminary is to train individuals to educate and disciple others in Christian faith and practice while engaging with contemporary educational theories and methodologies.
Description of the BA in Christian Education
This undergraduate degree program consists of 120 credit hours, structured into two main areas: General Education and Theological Studies in Christian Education
General Education (30 credit hours)
These courses ensure students receive a well-rounded liberal arts education that supports their theological and educational training.
- Starting Well (3 credit hours)
- Continuing Well (3 credit hours)
- Life Skills: Personal Finance (3 credit hours)
- Life Skills: Critical Thinking (3 credit hours)
- Research and Communication I: Research Skills (3 credit hours)
- Research and Communication II: Written Communication (3 credit hours)
- Understanding and Working with Others I: Exploring Psychology (3 credit hours)
- Understanding and Working with Others II: Exploring Sociology (3 credit hours)
- Context and Culture I: Exploring Culture (3 credit hours)
- Context and Culture II: Exploring Context (3 credit hours)
Personal Development (42 credit hours)
These courses focus on vocational preparation, self-awareness, and theological reflection in the practice of Christian education.
- Contextual Project I (3 credit hours)
- Contextual Project II (3 credit hours)
- Vocational Project I (3 credit hours)
- Vocational Project II (3 credit hours)
- Personal Initiative I (3 credit hours)
- Personal Initiative II (3 credit hours)
- Context for Vocation I (3 credit hours)
- Context for Vocation II (3 credit hours)
- Context and Interpretation I (3 credit hours)
- Context and Interpretation II (3 credit hours)
- Reflection in Community: BA I (3 credit hours)
- Reflection in Community: BA II (3 credit hours)
- Knowing Yourself I (3 credit hours)
- Knowing Yourself II (3 credit hours)
Christian Education and Ministry (48 credit hours)
This component provides specialized training in biblical teaching, educational theory, and practical application in ministry settings.
- Learning and Thinking Skills I (3 credit-hours)*
- Learning and Thinking Skills II (3 credit-hours)*
- Biblical Literacy I (3 credit-hours)*
- Biblical Literacy II (3 credit-hours)*
- Foundations of Christian Education (3 credit hours)
- Discipleship and Spiritual Formation (3 credit hours)
- History of Christian Education (3 credit hours)
- Teaching Methods and Learning Theories (3 credit hours)
- Educational Psychology in Ministry (3 credit hours)
- Curriculum Development for Christian Education (3 credit hours)
- Philosophy of Christian Education (3 credit hours)
- Discipleship and Spiritual Formation (3 credit hours)
- Technology and Media in Christian Education (3 credit hours)
- Christian Education in a Global Context (3 credit hours)
- Family and Church-Based Education (3 credit hours)
- Leadership in Christian Education (3 credit hours)
Conclusion
The BA in Christian Education at Robert E. Cooley Theological Seminary is designed to equip students with biblical knowledge, educational methodologies, and leadership skills. Graduates will be prepared to serve as educators, pastors, and ministry leaders, fostering discipleship and spiritual growth in various educational and church settings.
Educational Philosophy
The vision and mission statements of the seminary, both focused on spiritual formation and pastoral ministry, drive our educational philosophy. Our focus is to prepare God’s people for the service of Jesus Christ. The seminary achieves this goal with a two–pronged strategy: Competency-Based Theological Education (CBTE) and Mentored Teamwork.
CBTE complements the broad heading of Outcome-Based Education (OBE). The OBE movement began in the 1970s and grew out of a desire to build educational programs that equipped students practically and pragmatically to achieve measurable learning outcomes described in the degree program. This was an important development in the history of educational design for it signaled the birth of an entire area of research and study focused on assessing the outcomes of learning. Rather than if learning occurred by default through courses, CBTE requires the professor and student to think critically about what the educational program is attempting to accomplish. CBTE has the potential to develop a form of education that values the role of relationships and mentoring, both with God and with each other, which accomplishes true ministry training. At its core, CBTE is a philosophy of education that invites participants to re-evaluate current assumptions about learning and to embrace the development of learners as a truly organic, spirit-filled process of discipleship.
Mentored teamwork is one of the most important CBTE principles. RECTS requires each learner to be embedded in a mentor team comprised of the student, a faculty mentor, a vocational mentor, and a personal mentor. Mentor teams are a key component of the educational experience at RECTS. Each mentor team shapes and evaluates the learner’s experience in their educational journey of discipleship. Mentoring teamwork requires a collaborative commitment to mission and ministry where each member of the team is engaged in a journey of discipleship while learning together.
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