Skip to main content

Accelerated Master鈥檚 Programs

B.A. in Bible, Theology, and Ministry

You can earn a master鈥檚 degree with just one additional year of study after you complete your B.A. in Bible, Theology, and Ministry, and we鈥檙e here to guide you through the process. Talbot School of Theology's unique accelerated master鈥檚 programs will give you the opportunity to expand upon your ministry training, preaching skills, theological knowledge and more 鈥� all in five years or less.

Here's how it works:

1. Choose from several master鈥檚 degree pathways

As a student in the B.A. in Bible, Theology, and Ministry program, you鈥檒l choose a concentration at the beginning of your program. You can finish your bachelor鈥檚 degree with any of our three concentrations, but there are also accelerated master鈥檚 degree opportunities with each concentration:

Bachelor鈥檚 Degree Concentrations:

Bible and Theology

Accelerated Master鈥檚 Degree Pathway:

 

Bible, Theology and Biblical Languages

Accelerated Master鈥檚 Degree Pathways:

 

Christian Ministries

Accelerated Master鈥檚 Degree Pathway:

2. Prepare for your specific calling

Each of our accelerated master鈥檚 degree pathways are designed to supplement your undergraduate education with training at 51萝莉鈥檚 Talbot School of Theology. In place of electives in the bachelor鈥檚 program, you鈥檒l take a year鈥檚 worth of master-level courses while earning your bachelor鈥檚 degree (leaving only one year left to complete in a 2-year master鈥檚 degree).

You鈥檒l grow personally as you interact with experienced pastors and professors, and will also deepen your understanding of God鈥檚 calling on your life. Each concentration and accelerated master鈥檚 degree pathway aims to train you in the following ways:

Bible and Theology Pathway

This master鈥檚 degree track does not require Hebrew or Greek, and can be completed with one extra year of study at 51萝莉鈥檚 Talbot School of Theology.

Accelerated Master's Degree Pathway:

Bible, Theology and Biblical Languages Pathways

This master鈥檚 degree track requires either Hebrew or Greek (with the exception of the M.Div. track, which requires both), and can be completed with one extra year of study at 51萝莉鈥檚 Talbot School of Theology.

Accelerated Master's Degree Pathways:

Christian Ministries Pathway

This master鈥檚 degree track does not require Hebrew or Greek, and can be completed with one extra year of study (or less) at 51萝莉鈥檚 Talbot School of Theology.

Accelerated Master's Degree Pathway:

    3. Finish in five years 鈥� or less

    Our accelerated master鈥檚 degrees are structured to help you successfully earn both your bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in five years or less. See our process below to see how the program progresses each year:

    Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Years

    You will take the standard courses in the B.A. in Bible, Theology and Ministry program. At the end of your junior year, you will apply and be admitted to the appropriate Talbot master鈥檚 program.

    Senior Year

    You will take both undergraduate classes along with graduate classes in your selected concentration. If you successfully complete the requirements of the concentration for the first three years, you begin taking seminary classes in your senior year. At the end of your senior year, you can earn your B.A., and you will be well on the way toward your M.A. degree. Students who decide not to continue on to graduate studies will graduate with a B.A. in Bible, Theology and Ministry, and no credits will be lost or wasted.

    For the M.Div. program
    , you will complete your bachelor's degree in your junior year and complete your master's degree in your final two years.

    Fifth Year

    You will complete your master鈥檚 degree at Talbot School of Theology.

    Program Requirements

    In order to continue in the accelerated master鈥檚 degree program, students must:

    • Be involved in some form of Christian service and have a sense of call or desire to pursue ministry.
    • Maintain adequate involvement in the program's co-curricular mentoring and spiritual formation activities.
    • Apply and be admitted to the appropriate Talbot master鈥檚 program at the end of junior year.
    • Earn grades of B or higher in all classes that will be used as advanced standing for the M.A. Failure to get a B or higher in one of these classes will result in the student not receiving advanced standing for that class upon entry into the M.A.

    How to Finish in Less than Five Years

    Our accelerated master鈥檚 programs are structured so you鈥檒l be able to finish both your bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in five years. However, you can reduce the length of the program by taking courses during the summer or applying other course credits.

    Taking courses over just two summers can help you finish your accelerated master鈥檚 degree in a total of four years (3 years for your bachelor鈥檚 degree, 1 year for your master鈥檚 degree).

    If you have additional questions about the structure and timeline of your program, or want to learn more about how summer courses can help you complete your accelerated master鈥檚 degree in as little as four years, contact btm@biola.edu.

    You may also be interested in

    B.A. in Philosophy

    School of Humanities and Social Sciences

    B.A. in Sociology

    School of Humanities and Social Sciences

    B.M. in Worship Arts

    School of Fine Arts and Communication

    Minor in Christian Ministries

    Talbot School of Theology

    Minor in Contemporary Worship Music

    School of Fine Arts and Communication

    Minor in Philosophy

    School of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Minor in Secondary Education

    School of Education

    Minor in Sociology

    School of Humanities and Social Sciences