The MABTS is a flexible degree designed for those who desire to grow in depth and breadth of biblical knowledge in a format that fits their schedule and unique ministry preparation needs. NEW! The MABTS also provides an option to add a Church Planting Track to the degree for those interested in and called to church planting.
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS DEGREE?
Anyone who wants to take a deep dive into the Scriptures, desiring to be better equipped to serve in a teaching ministry in the church or in an academic setting, or who is interested in church planting will find the MABTS well suited to their needs. The degree can be done RESIDENTIALLY and is also AVAILABLE FULLY ONLINE, making this program ideal for vocational ministry leaders who never had the chance to complete a degree in residence but desire more robust biblical training than many online programs provide.
COURSEWORK — 66 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
- Biblical Studies – 29 credit hours
- Biblical and Systematic Theology – 15 credit hours
- Church History – 3 credit hours
- Electives – 18 credit hours
- Capstone – 1 credit hour
- Thesis (optional) – 4 credit hours (taken as part of the elective hours)
- Church Planting Track (optional) – 5 credit hours of church planting courses + 5 credit hours of Applied Theology courses (10 credit hours, all taken as part of the elective hours)
BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
One biblical language (Greek or Hebrew) is required for all MABTS students; students may, if they desire, opt to take both languages.
THESIS
Students interested in academic leadership or advanced study may opt to write a thesis (4 credits taken as electives), enabling them to gain greater experience in research and advanced theological writing.
MDIV ON-RAMP
Interested MABTS students can craft their degree to ensure that all credits transfer into the MDiv program, enabling them to complete the final third of the MDiv through as few as six on-campus intensive courses.
BIBLE CONTENT EXAM
Students must attempt to pass the Bible Content Exam during their first semester of coursework; prior to graduation all students must pass the Bible Content Exam.
FIELD EDUCATION
For the MABTS only the Church Planting Track option carries a Field Education requirement; no other tracks for the program require it. For the Church Planting Track 300 hours of supervised practical ministry experience, the Field Education Practicum class, and the Theology of Work module are required for graduation with Field Education Office approval.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Accredited Bachelor’s Degree, with minimum 2.25 GPA
MABTS COURSE LIST AND SEQUENCES
The chart below shows the course groupings for the standard 1-language on-campus option for the MABTS. The PDF Course Sequences linked here show other available options. (Sequences not linked will be available for download soon.) For more details on customizing the degree, talk with your Academic Advisor.
- MABTS 1-Language (Greek) – On-Campus
- MABTS 1-Language (Greek) – Online
- MABTS 1-Language (Hebrew) – On-Campus
- MABTS 1-Language (Hebrew) – Online
- MABTS 2-Languages – On-Campus
- MABTS 2-Languages – Online
- MABTS 2-Languages + Thesis – On-Campus
- MABTS 2-Languages + Thesis – Online
- MABTS 2-Languages + Church Planting Track – On-Campus
- MABTS 2-Languages + Church Planting Track – Online
- MABTS 2-Languages + Church Planting Track + Thesis – On-Campus
- MABTS 2-Languages + Church Planting Track + Thesis – Online
| Category | Course Name and Number | Credit Hours |
| Applied Theology | Cohort I – AT305 | 0 |
| Cohort II – AT306 | 0 | |
| Biblical Languages | Greek I OR Hebrew I – NT/OT302 | 4 |
| Greek II OR Hebrew II – NT/OT304 | 2 | |
| Greek in Exegesis OR Hebrew in Exegesis – NT/OT305 | 3 | |
| Church History | Ancient & Medieval Church History – CH310 OR Reformation & Modern Church History – CH320 | 3 |
| New Testament | Gospels – NT220/320 | 3 |
| Acts & Pauline Epistles – NT230/330 | 3 | |
| Pastoral & General Epistles & Revelation – NT250/350 | 3 | |
| Old Testament | Pentateuch – OT220/320 | 2 |
| OT Historical Books – OT230/330 | 3 | |
| Psalms & Wisdom Literature – OT240/340 | 3 | |
| Prophetical Books – OT250/350 | 3 | |
| Biblical & Systematic Theology | Covenant Theology – ST300 | 3 |
| Christian Ethics – ST360 | 3 | |
| God & Humanity: Foundations of Counseling – ST310 | 3 | |
| Sin, Christ & Salvation – ST330 | 3 | |
| Spirit, Church & Last Things – ST350 | 3 | |
| MA Capstone | Capstone – AT499 | 1 |
| (Thesis) | (Optional: 4-credit hour MA Thesis** – MA397 Thesis Supervision I, MA398 Thesis Supervision II; these credits come from the total elective hours) | (4) |
| (Church Planting) | (Optional: 5 credit hours of Church Planting courses + 5 credit hours of Applied Theology courses*** = CG505 Church Planting Foundations (1), CG506 Resiliency in Church Planting (1), CG515 Church Planting Field Trip (1 x 2 times), plus 1 other church planting elective (1) + AT310 Christian Formation and Calling (3), AT411 Field Education Practicum (2) = 10 credits; these credits come from the total elective hours) | (10) |
| Electives | Electives* | 18 (14)* |
Degree Total | 66 | |
* Electives without Church Planting Option:
- For students choosing to do only one language, 4 of the electives must come from the following classes.
- For students choosing to do both languages, 2 of the electives must come from the following classes.
- For students choosing to do both languages and a thesis, 1 of the electives must come from the following classes.
- AT300 Christian Formation & Calling – 3 credits
- AT340 Theology of Ministry & Worship – 3 credits
- CC310 Foundations of Apologetics & Outreach – 3 credits
- CM310 Communicating the Scriptures + CM321 Communicating the New Testament – 3 credits
- CO320 Counseling in the Church I – 3 credits
- EM301 Educational Foundations – 3 credits
- WM310 God’s World Mission – 3 credits
** Thesis Option: Students wishing to do a thesis must complete both language sequences: NT301, NT302, NT303 and OT301, OT302, OT303. *** Electives with Church Planting Option:
- Students choosing to do only one language will have only 13 elective hours left after the Church Planting classes; of those remaining hours, 4 must come from the following courses.
- Students choosing to do both languages will have only 4 elective hours left after the Church Planting classes; of those remaining hours 1 must come from the following courses.
- Students choosing to do both languages and a thesis will have no free electives remaining.
- AT340 Theology of Ministry & Worship – 3 credits
- CC310 Foundations of Apologetics & Outreach – 3 credits
- CM310 Communicating the Scriptures + CM321 Communicating the New Testament – 3 credits
- CO320 Counseling in the Church I – 3 credits
- EM301 Educational Foundations – 3 credits
- WM310 God’s World Mission – 3 credits