Program Overview
The Combined B.A. + M.Div Dual Degree Program integrates your undergraduate and graduate coursework and allows you to earn both a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and a Master of Divinity with a total of 208 quarter units, rather than the 279 units that would be required if each degree were pursued independently.
What Makes This Program Unique?
An important feature of this program is the 46-unit overlap between the B.A. and the M.Div. degrees. These overlapping courses count simultaneously toward both degrees, eliminating the need to repeat foundational coursework. The result is a well-structured pathway to a Christ-centered, biblically-saturated theological education that makes the most of your bachelor’s and master’s-level studies.
| Program at a Glance 48 units general education (from JC/CLEP) 46 units count toward both degrees 25 units from the M.Div. curriculum can satisfy the B.A. elective requirement B.A. in Biblical Studies: 128 total units (48 GE + 80 TCBS) Master of Divinity: 80 M.Div-only units —– B.A. + M.Div. Dual Degree: 208 total units |
Degree Requirements Summary
| Component | B.A. in Biblical Studies | Master of Divinity |
| General Education | 48 units (JC/CLEP) | Not required |
| Core TCBS Courses (overlapping) | 46 units | 46 units |
| Elementary Greek (B.A. core / M.Div. prereq.) | 9 units | — |
| B.A. Electives (drawn from M.Div.) | 25 units | 25 units * |
| Remaining M.Div. Courses | — | 80 units |
| TOTAL | 128 units | 151 units |
* These 25 units are drawn from within the M.Div. curriculum and designated to simultaneously fulfill the B.A. elective requirement. No additional standalone elective courses are required.
How the Program Works
Students enrolled in this program will take TCBS coursework concurrently with their General Education requirements at a local junior college, four-year university, or through the CLEP program. We recommend students pursue the CLEP route for most of their general education requirements. This approach will save students both time and money, while allowing them to acquire the needed units in a flexible way. Students will also take all overlapping Master’s-level classes, so these classes will count toward both degrees.
General Education Requirements (48 Quarter Units)
To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, students must complete 48 quarter units of General Education from a junior college, four-year college or university, or through the CLEP program. These credits are in addition to the TCBS coursework and must be verified by official transcripts submitted to TCBS before graduation eligibility is established.
General Education requirements ensure that graduates of the B.A. program have a broad foundation in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and communication.
| Subject Area | Quarter Units | Recommended Courses |
| English Composition | 8 | English 1A & 1B (or equivalents) |
| Mathematics | 4 | College Algebra or higher |
| Natural Sciences | 8 | Two courses with lab (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc.) |
| Social Sciences | 12 | History, Sociology, Political Science, etc. |
| Humanities | 8 | Literature, Philosophy, Art, Music, etc. |
| Communication / Speech | 4 | Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication |
| General Education Electives | 4 | Any transferable courses |
| TOTAL | 48 |
Program Structure
| ✓ Core Overlapping Section A — 46 unitsCounts toward both degrees | ✓ B.A. Core Only Elementary Greek — 9 units. Prerequisite: not in M.Div. total | ✓ M.Div. Only Courses Section B — 105 units All count toward M.Div. | ◆ B.A. Elective Eligible 25 units from Section B Also satisfy B.A. elective req. |
| How Do The Units Work? Total general education units acquired outside of TCBS: 48 Total remaining units: 160 (46 Overlap + 9 B.A.-Only Greek + 105 M.Div.-only) TCBS units for B.A. Degree: 80 (46 overlap + 9 Greek + 25 designated M.Div. electives) TCBS units for M.Div. Degree: 151 (46 overlap + 105 M.Div.-only) Elementary Greek (BL401–403) counts toward the B.A. as a required core course and is the mandatory prerequisite for the M.Div. Greek exegesis courses, but does not count toward M.Div. graduation units. The 25-unit B.A. elective requirement is fulfilled by designating 25 units from within the M.Div. curriculum, eliminating the need for any separate, standalone elective coursework. |
| Degree Component | Units | B.A. | M.Div. | Note |
| General Education (JC / CLEP) | 48 | ✓ | — | Not TCBS units |
| Section A — Core Overlapping | 46 | ✓ | ✓ | Both degrees |
| B.A. Core Only — Elementary Greek (BL401–403) | 9 | ✓ | — | B.A. prerequisite |
| Section B — M.Div. Courses (as B.A. electives) | 25 ◆ | ◆ | ✓ | Student designates |
| Section B — Remaining M.Div. Courses | 80 | — | ✓ | M.Div. only |
| TOTAL TCBS UNITS | 160 | 80 TCBS | 151 TCBS | |
| GRAND TOTAL (including 48 GE units) | 208 | 128 total | 151 total |
Total Course List
| Course Code | Course Name | Units | B.A. in Biblical Studies | Master of Divinity |
| SECTION A — CORE OVERLAPPING COURSES (46 Units — Count Toward Both the B.A. and the M.Div.) | ||||
| Biblical Exposition & Hermeneutics (21 units) | ||||
| BE502 * | Survey & Biblical Theology of the Old Testament I | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| BE503 * | Survey & Biblical Theology of the Old Testament II | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| BE504 * | Survey & Biblical Theology of the New Testament | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| BE505 * | Exposition of Genesis | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
| BE701 * | The Christ-Centeredness of Scripture | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
| BE501 * | Hermeneutics & Interpretation | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Biblical Counseling (10 units) | ||||
| PT502 * | Marriage and Family | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
| PT601 * | Biblical Counseling I | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| PT602 * | Biblical Counseling II | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Systematic Theology (15 units) | ||||
| ST501 * | Bibliology | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ST502 * | The Triune God and Theology Proper | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ST602 * | Hamartiology & Soteriology | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ST604 * | Ecclesiology | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
| SECTION A SUBTOTAL — Core Overlapping Courses | 46 | 46 units | 46 units | |
| B.A. CORE ONLY — ELEMENTARY GREEK (9 Units) | ||||
| Note: Elementary Greek (BL401–403) is required for the B.A. degree and is the mandatory prerequisite for the M.Div. Greek exegesis courses. | ||||
| Elementary Biblical Greek (9 units) | ||||
| BL401 | Elementary Greek I | 3 | ✓ | — |
| BL402 | Elementary Greek II | 3 | ✓ | — |
| BL403 | Elementary Greek III | 3 | ✓ | — |
| B.A. CORE ONLY SUBTOTAL — Elementary Greek | 9 | 9 units | — | |
| SECTION B — M.DIV. COURSES / B.A. ELECTIVE POOL (105 Units — All Count Toward M.Div.; Student Designates 25 Units as B.A. Electives) | ||||
| ◆ B.A. Elective Eligible: All courses in Section B count toward the M.Div. | ||||
| Biblical Languages (33 units) | ||||
| BL501 | Greek Grammar & Exegesis I | 4 | ◆ | ✓ |
| BL502 | Greek Grammar & Exegesis II | 4 | ◆ | ✓ |
| BL503 | Greek Grammar & Exegesis III | 4 | ◆ | ✓ |
| BL601 | Hebrew I: Phonology & Morphology | 4 | ◆ | ✓ |
| BL602 | Hebrew II: Morphology | 4 | ◆ | ✓ |
| BL603 | Hebrew III: Syntax | 4 | ◆ | ✓ |
| BL703 | Hebrew IV: Exegesis | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| BL659 | Exegesis of Galatians | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| BL765 | Exegesis of the Pastoral Epistles | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| Church History (11 units) | ||||
| CH601 | Church History I | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| CH602 | Church History II | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| CH603 | Church History III | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| CH799 | Research in Church History | 2 | ◆ | ✓ |
| Systematic Theology — M.Div. Only Courses (23 units) | ||||
| ST504 | Christology | 4 | ◆ | ✓ |
| ST601 | Pneumatology | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| ST603 | Sanctification: The Christian Life | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| ST701 | Anthropology & Angelology | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| ST702 | Eschatology | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| ST703 | Theology of Worship | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| ST704 | Christian Apologetics | 2 | ◆ | ✓ |
| ST799 | Research in Theology | 2 | ◆ | ✓ |
| Pastoral Training — M.Div. Only Courses (14 units) | ||||
| PT501 | Leadership | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| PT701 | The Theology of Preaching | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| PT705 | Discipleship | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| PT702 | The Preparation for Preaching | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| PT703 | The Practice of Preaching | 2 | ◆ | ✓ |
| World Missions (6 units) | ||||
| WM501 | Missions & The Glory of God | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| WM502 | Missions: Spread of God’s Glory | 3 | ◆ | ✓ |
| M.Div. Electives (18 units) | ||||
| M.Div. Electives (from approved list) | 18 | ✓ | ||
| SECTION B SUBTOTAL — M.Div. Only Courses (25 units designated as B.A. electives) | 105 | 25 units ◆ | 105 units | |
| TOTAL TCBS UNITS REQUIRED | 160 | 80 TCBS | 151 TCBS | |
* Courses marked with an asterisk are Core Overlapping Courses (Section A) that count toward both the B.A. and M.Div..