B.A. in Biblical & Theological Studies
+ Master of Divinity
A complete five-year full-time dual degree program. Two degrees. One uncompromising education.
Two Degrees. One Uncompromising Education.
The Combined B.A. + M.Div. Dual Degree Program allows qualified students to complete both a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies and a Master of Divinity from The Cornerstone Bible College and Seminary in five full-time years without reducing the academic rigor of either degree.
Rather than finishing a four-year college degree and then beginning a four-year seminary program, students in the dual degree program pursue both degrees simultaneously, finishing in five full-time years with two degrees that would otherwise take seven or more years.
The key to this efficiency is strategic integration, not reduction. Where a master's-level course directly corresponds to an undergraduate requirement (e.g., ST 501 Bibliology at the graduate level fulfills the same learning outcomes as ST 101 Bibliology at the undergraduate level) students take the graduate course once, at the highest level, and then demonstrate undergraduate mastery through a Bachelor Credit Examination (BCE). These examinations eliminate the need to take the same subject twice in two different classrooms, saving significant time and tuition without diminishing what is learned.
Throughout the program, students receive the same pastorally-rooted, academically rigorous theological education that has defined TCBS for the last two decades: mastery of the biblical languages, depth in systematic theology, breadth in church history, training in pastoral counseling, and practical preparation for a lifetime of faithful, Christ-centered preaching and ministry.
How the Program Works
The program follows a clear three-part structure, integrating undergraduate and graduate coursework into a single, coherent five-year full-time path toward ministry.
General Education
Students complete 70 quarter units of general education (English composition, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and communication) at an accredited college or university, or through a credit-equivalent examinations such as CLEP or approved online courses. With a variety of ways to earn their general education requirements, students will have flexibility in how they schedule their on-campus classes.
Undergraduate Coursework at TCBS
Students take 37 units of undergraduate coursework directly at TCBS. This includes Elementary Greek (BL 401–403), which is a required prerequisite for the graduate Greek Exegesis sequence. Students also take specific undergraduate Biblical Exposition courses (BE 383, 384, and 385) and elective units. These courses are completed at the college level and count exclusively toward the B.A. degree.
Graduate Coursework & Bachelor Credit Exams
Students complete the full 151-unit M.Div. curriculum — every course, every unit, unchanged. For courses that have a direct B.A. equivalent (theology, hermeneutics, church history, and practical theology), students take the graduate-level version and then sit for a Bachelor Credit Examination immediately upon completion. Passing this exam awards the corresponding undergraduate credit, satisfying the B.A. requirement without requiring a separate lower-level course.
Understanding the 331 Units — and Why 73 of Them Cost You Almost Nothing Extra
It is important for prospective students to understand the 331 units. While this number may seem daunting, it reflects the true scope of earning two rigorous degrees. Due to overlap between the B.A. and M.Div. curricculum, however, the Bachelor Credit Examination pathway means that 73 of those units are earned at minimal additional time and cost.
After completing a graduate-level course that has a direct undergraduate equivalent, students sit for a Bachelor Credit Examination (BCE). A BCE is a comprehensive assessment demonstrating that graduate-level mastery of the subject satisfies the undergraduate learning outcomes for the corresponding B.A. course.
For example, a student who has successfully completed ST 501 Bibliology at the graduate level has already exceeded the learning outcomes of ST 101 Bibliology at the undergraduate level. The Bachelor Credit Examination confirms this and immediately awards the 4 B.A. units for ST 101 with no additional class required.
→ Pass Bachelor Credit Exam
→ ST 101 Bibliology (4 B.A. units, earned by exam)
→ Same subject. One classroom. Two classes fulfilled.
In a traditional path, a student pursuing both a B.A. and an M.Div. separately would spend seven or more years in school and pay tuition for 261 units of TCBS coursework, taking both the undergraduate and graduate versions of theology, church history, hermeneutics, and counseling.
The BCE pathway eliminates 73 units of duplicate classroom time. Students do not pay full tuition for those 73 units, and the examination itself is the only additional step. For a student who has genuinely mastered the graduate content, the BCE is a straightforward demonstration of what they already know.
The result: both degrees completed in five full-time years, at significantly lower total cost, with zero reduction in what has been learned.
Our Commitment to a Robust Theological Education
Why we preserve every unit of both degrees — and why that matters for the men we train.
We Don't Dilute the M.Div.
Some combined degree programs reduce their graduate curriculum to make the dual degree more attractive. At TCBS, the M.Div. requires the same 151 quarter units whether a student pursues it alone or as part of the combined program. We have not removed, shortened, or substituted any requirement of the Master's of Divinity. A TCBS, an M.Div. means what it has always meant: a well-balanced degree that equips students with a thorough knowledge of biblical languages, theology, exposition, preaching, and pastoral leadership.
Depth Produces Faithful Ministers
Over many years of training men for ministry, we have found that depth of theological development is not separable from depth of pastoral fruitfulness. A man who has wrestled through the biblical languages, worked through the full range of systematic theology, and drawn from the wealth of church history, while receiving instruction from seasoned pastors, will be a man who can handle the Word with precision, weather doctrinal challenges with confidence, and counsel his congregation from the riches of Scripture. The 331 units of this program are represent what a well-equipped minister ought to possess when he leaves seminary.
The B.A. Is a Real Degree
The 110 TCBS units that comprise the B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies represent a genuine undergraduate credential in its own right. The degree includes substantial coursework in biblical Greek, biblical exposition, hermeneutics, systematic theology, church history, and biblical counseling.
Two Degrees Are Better Than One
The combined program produces graduates who hold both an undergraduate degree and a Master of Divinity. This has practical significance: many ministry positions, para-church organizations, academic institutions, and mission agencies formally require a baccalaureate degree for employment or ordination consideration, in addition to the M.Div. For students who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree, the combined program efficiently closes both gaps.
Why Choose the Combined Program?
For the student called to ministry, this program offers a set of advantages that no standalone degree can match.
Save Time
Complete a B.A. and M.Div. in five full-time years rather than the seven or more typically required to pursue them sequentially.
Significant Tuition Savings
The 73 units earned by Bachelor Credit Examination do not require full tuition payment as standalone courses. Students pay for the graduate course they are already taking, and the exam awards the corresponding undergraduate credit at little additional per-unit cost.
Two Degrees
Graduate holding both a B.A. and M.Div. from TCBS meet the formal educational requirements of a wide range of ministry, academic, and para-church positions that may require a baccalaureate degree alongside the M.Div.
Study at the Highest Level First
Rather than spending a year in an undergraduate theology class before eventually reaching the graduate version of the same subject, students in this program engage theological content at the graduate level from the beginning.
Ministry-Ready, Sooner
Finishing two years earlier allows men to engage in their full-time vocational ministry sooner. The combined program is designed to help men prepare for ministry more efficiently so they can use that extra time for profitble gospel ministry.
No Compromise on Depth
The full M.Div. curriculum, including all biblical languages, the complete systematic theology sequence, church history, counseling, and pastoral training, is preserved without modification. Efficiency never comes at the expense of education.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the Combined B.A. + M.Div. Program will demonstrate a commitment to:
- The supremacy, sufficiency, and inerrancy of Holy Scripture
- Accurate, Christ-centered exposition of the whole counsel of God
- Mastery of Biblical Greek and Hebrew for faithful exegesis and preaching
- The full range of systematic theology across all major loci
- The history and continuity of the Christian church from the apostolic era to the present
- The sovereignty of God and man's responsibility in salvation
- Biblical counseling from a thoroughly scriptural framework
- The theology, practice, and priority of expository preaching
- Missiology and the spread of God's glory to all peoples
- The character, calling, and gifting required for pastoral eldership
- Doctrinal fidelity tested and refined by engagement with church history
Ministry Possibilities
The Combined B.A. + M.Div. prepares graduates for a wide range of gospel-centered vocations. Holding both an undergraduate and graduate credential, graduates are positioned for:
Curriculum Overview
The program is organized into eight sections. Courses marked + B.A. Exam also earn undergraduate B.A. credit through a Bachelor Credit Examination upon successful completion. GE External credits are completed outside of TCBS.
| Area of Study | How Completed | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A. General Education | ||
| English Composition, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, Communication, GE Electives GE External | Accredited college, university, or CLEP | 70 |
| B. Undergraduate Courses — In Class | ||
| Biblical Greek I, II, III (BL 401–403) | In class at TCBS — B.A. only | 9 |
| Biblical Exposition: Exposition of John, Acts, Romans; 3 Electives (BE 383–385) | In class at TCBS — B.A. only | 18 |
| B.A. Electives | In class at TCBS — B.A. only | 10 |
| C. Graduate — Biblical Languages | ||
| Greek Grammar & Exegesis I–III; Hebrew I–IV; Exegesis of Galatians & Pastoral Epistles | In class — M.Div. only | 33 |
| D. Graduate — Biblical Exposition & Hermeneutics | ||
| Hermeneutics; OT Survey I & II; NT Survey; Exposition of Genesis + B.A. Exam | In class (M.Div.) → exam earns 21 B.A. units | 18 |
| Christ-Centeredness of Scripture (BE 701) | In class — M.Div. only | 3 |
| E. Graduate — Church History | ||
| Church History I, II, III + B.A. Exam | In class (M.Div.) → exam earns 9 B.A. units | 9 |
| Research in Church History (CH 799) | In class — M.Div. only | 2 |
| F. Graduate — Systematic Theology | ||
| Bibliology, Theology Proper, Christology, Pneumatology, Anthropology & Angelology, Hamartiology & Soteriology, Sanctification, Ecclesiology, Eschatology, Apologetics + B.A. Exam | In class (M.Div.) → exam earns 33 B.A. units | 33 |
| Theology of Worship; Research in Theology | In class — M.Div. only | 5 |
| G. Graduate — Pastoral Training & Biblical Counseling | ||
| Marriage & Family; Biblical Counseling I & II + B.A. Exam | In class (M.Div.) → exam earns 10 B.A. units | 10 |
| Leadership; Theology of Preaching; Discipleship; Preparation & Practice of Preaching | In class — M.Div. only | 14 |
| H. Graduate — Missions | ||
| Missions & The Glory of God; Missions: Spread of God's Glory | In class — M.Div. only | 6 |
| I. Graduate Electives (M.Div.) | ||
| M.Div. Elective Courses (advisor-approved graduate electives) | In class — M.Div. only | 18 |
| J. Credits Earned by Examination (B.A.) | ||
| Hermeneutics (3 courses); Biblical Exposition (4 courses); Church History (3 courses); Systematic Theology (10 courses); Practical Theology (3 courses) | Bachelor Credit Examination — no separate tuition | 73 |
| Total Program Credits | 331 | |
Proposed Five-Year Full-Time Course Plan
The schedule below represents a recommended full-time sequence for completing the Combined B.A. + M.Div. program in five years. This is a full-time program. Students will need to carry a full academic load, which is approximately 32–39 TCBS units per year, at a pace comparable to full-time enrollment at any graduate institution. General Education units are completed concurrently at a junior college, four-year university, or through an approved examination program (CLEP) or online course. The exact term-by-term schedule should be finalized with the Academic Dean.
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* This schedule assumes full-time enrollment throughout all five full-time years. Students who reduce their course load, take leaves of absence, or enroll part-time should expect the program to extend beyond five full-time years. GE unit counts per year are approximate; actual distribution depends on the institutions and examination pathways chosen. Final course scheduling must be confirmed with the TCBS Academic Dean.
Ready to Begin?
If you desire to be equipped for a lifetime of Christ-centered, biblically-saturated, pastorally-rooted ministry, we invite you to take the next step.