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Bachelor of Arts in Christian Thought

Bachelor of Arts in Christian Thought

Institutional Values

The BACT reflects the following institutional values:

    1. A high view of the authority of Scripture.
    2. An evangelical theological perspective, committed to the Gospel’s centrality and the Holy Spirit’s transforming power.
    3. A commitment to the Christian mission and the Great Commission.
    4. The resolve to provide excellent and affordable theological education to the Global Church, particularly in those areas threatened by political violence and economic oppression.
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Introduction

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Christian Thought degree prepares people for religious leadership or service in congregations and other settings. This degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours or equivalent units, of which 30 credit hours will be on General Education courses; 42 credit-hours on Personal Development courses; and 48 credit hours on Christian Thought and Practice courses. The aim of the BA in Christian Thought of Robert E. Cooley Theological Seminary is to prepare such leaders.

Description of the BA in Christian Thought

The BA is an undergraduate degree program that requires completing 120 credit hours, divided into two blocks on the following areas: General College Courses and Theological Studies.

General Education (30 credit hours)

These courses provide a well-rounded liberal arts education that fulfills general education requirements.
  1. Starting Well (3 credit-hours)
  2. Continuing Well (3 credit-hours)
  3. Life Skills: Personal Finance (3 credit-hours)
  4. Life Skills: Critical Thinking (3 credit-hours)
  5. Research and Communication I: Research Skills (3 credit-hours)
  6. Research and Communication II: Written Communication (3 credit-hours)
  7. Understanding and Working with Others I: Exploring Psychology (3 credit-hours)
  8. Understanding and Working with Others II: Exploring Sociology (3 credit-hours)
  9. Context and Culture I: Exploring Culture (3 credit-hours)
  10. Context and Culture II: Exploring Context (3 credit-hours)

Personal Development (42 credit hours)

  1. Contextual Project I (3 credit-hours)*
  2. Contextual Project II (3 credit-hours)*
  3. Vocational Project I (3 credit-hours)
  4. Vocational Project II (3 credit-hours)
  5. Personal Initiative I (3 credit-hours)
  6. Personal Initiative II (3 credit-hours)
  7. Context for Vocation I (3 credit-hours)
  8. Context for Vocation II (3 credit-hours)
  9. Context and Interpretation I (3 credit-hours)
  10. Context and Interpretation II (3 credit-hours)
  11. Reflection in Community: BA I (3 credit-hours)*
  12. Reflection in Community: BA II (3 credit-hours)*
  13. Knowing Yourself I (3 credit-hours)
  14. Knowing Yourself II (3 credit-hours)
The learning experiences described above will address these nine areas in different ways, as illustrated in Table #3. Almost all experiences address two areas, reflecting the interdisciplinary approach that characterizes our degree.
The elective learning experiences will focus on the student’s ministerial context, fulfilling, thus, the Contextual Project requirement.

Theological Studies (48 credit hours)

These courses focus on Biblical Studies, Christian Theology and Church History, and Practical Ministry:
  1. Vocation I (3 credit-hours)
  2. Vocation II (3 credit-hours)
  3. Learning and Thinking Skills I (3 credit-hours)
  4. Learning and Thinking Skills II (3 credit-hours)
  5. Christian Spirituality I (3 credit-hours)
  6. Christian Spirituality II (3 credit-hours)
  7. Interpreting Biblical Texts I (3 credit-hours)
  8. Interpreting Biblical Texts II (3 credit-hours)
  9. Biblical Literacy I (3 credit-hours)*
  10. Biblical Literacy II (3 credit-hours)*
  11. Coherent Theology I (3 credit-hours)*
  12. Coherent Theology II (3 credit-hours)*
  13. Christian Tradition I (3 credit-hours)*
  14. Christian Tradition II (3 credit-hours)*
  15. Christian Ethics I (3 credit-hours)
  16. Christian Ethics II (3 credit-hours)

This curriculum provides a strong foundation in biblical studies and theology while ensuring students receive a broad liberal arts education. Graduates will be prepared for ministry, further theological education, or other vocations that require a deep understanding of the Bible and Christian theology.

A 60-credit Associate of Arts consists of 8 General Education courses (24 credit-hours), 6 Personal Development courses (18 credit-hours), and 6 major courses (18 credit-hours). Course of study available by request.

The BA can integrate with the Master of Divinity or Master of Arts program. The 30 credit-hours at the master’s level count for the corresponding BA courses.

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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