RELIGIOUS STUDIES (REL)

Degrees offered: B.A. or B.Min.  

A Bachelor of Ministry degree-seeking student will complete a major in Religious Studies, a minor in Ministry Skills, and a second minor in a career-related discipline. The choice of the second minor is to be made in consultation with the student's faculty advisor.

An emphasis in Missiology is also available for the student interested in pursuing a career as a missionary.

 

A major in Religious Studies consists of the following 30 hours above the freshman level:

 

  1. Required courses:
    REL 210    Introduction to Philosophy (3 hours)
    REL 320    History of Christianity (3 hours)
    REL 330    Christian Theology (3 hours)
    REL 331    Theological Ethics (3 hours) 

  2. Any one (1) of the following:
    REL 391    The Pentateuch (3 hours)
    REL 392    Old Testament Historical Books  (3 hours)
    REL 393    Old Testament Prophets (3 hours)

  3. Any one (1) of the following:
    REL 350    The Life and Teachings of Jesus (3 hours)
    REL 355    The Letters of Paul (3 hours)
    REL 394    Hebrews and the General Epistles (3 hours)
    REL 395    Johannine Literature (3 hours)

  4. Twelve (12) hours of approved electives above the freshman level.

 

Missiology Emphasis

In addition to the courses required of all Religious Studies majors, students who which to complete a concentration in Missiology must take, and make a C or above, in the following classes:

     REL 340    World Religions (3 hours)
     REL 341    Introduction to Missiology (3 hours)
     REL 391    Old Testament Prophets (3 hours)
     REL 471    Internship (a field-based study of Religion in an approved missions setting) (3 hours)
     SOC 211   Poverty and Inequality (3 hours)
     SWK 330   Human Behavior and in the Social Environ. I (3 hours)

Religious Studies majors may use their Religious Studies elective hours in order to take the first three (3) courses listed above. Moreover, REL 393 may count both as fulfillment of the upper-level Old Testament requirement and as part of the fulfillment of the Missiology emphasis.

 

A minor in Religious Studies consists of the following 18 hours above the freshman level:

 

  1. Required courses:
    REL 210    Introduction to Philosophy (3 hours)
    REL 320    History of Christianity (3 hours)
    REL 330    Christian Theology (3 hours)

  2. Nine (9) hours of approved Religion electives, three hours of which must be at the 300-400 level.

A minor in Ministry Skills consists of the following eighteen (17) hours:

  1. Required courses:
    BUS 301     Management (3 hours)
    CHM 100    Introduction to Church Music (2 hours)
    PSY 302     Educational Psychology (3 hours)

  2. Three (3) hours of Electives will be selected from each of the following areas:

  3. Communication
    BUS 306    Business Communication (3 hours)  

    Music
    CHM 201    Hymnology (3 hours) OR
    CHM 303    Music in Worship (3 hours)

    Psychology
    PSY 204     Human Growth and Development (3 hours) OR
    PSY 305     Counseling Principles and Practice (3 hours)