Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry: Pastoral Ministry
Bolivar, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 28,656 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* total including room, board, and fees will be $40,342
Introduction
SBU's Pastoral Ministry concentration within the Christian Ministry degree will prepare you to lead and serve as a pastor in a local church or in other ministry leadership roles. Coursework in Biblical studies, evangelism, and preaching, combined with a ministry apprenticeship, will give you both the academic background and practical skill set needed either to enter the pastoral ministry immediately after graduation or to complete a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry.
Many pastoral ministry students choose to add another major or minor in another academic discipline, such as psychology, communication, English, or business. Adding another area of study will enhance your skill set for ministry and equip you for bi-vocational ministry roles.
The SBU Advantage
- As a pastoral ministry student at SBU, you will take Advanced Public Speaking and two required preaching classes. SBU is the only undergraduate pastoral ministry program out of 100+ CCCU schools to require advanced communication courses, preparing you with vital skills to effectively serve in pastoral ministry.
- SBU pastoral ministry students have opportunities each semester to practice preaching at local churches during Ministry Education days.
Curriculum
Freshman
Fall Semester
- BIB 1013 Old Testament History 3
- CIS 1103 Computer and Information Management 3
- ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
- MAT 1243 Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling 3
- POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
- UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
Total hours 16
Spring Semester
- BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
- COM 1103 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
- ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
- HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
- PSY 1013 General Psychology (or SOC 1003) 3
- UNI 1121 Introduction to Critical Thinking 1
Total hours 16
Sophomore
Fall Semester
- BIB 2093 Methods of Biblical Interpretation 3
- CHR 2043 Introduction to Evangelism 3
- GRE 2014 Elementary Greek I or
- HEB 2014 Elementary Hebrew I 4
- KIN 1162 Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness 2
- SPF 2032 Spiritual Formation for Ministry 2
- THE 3023 Christian Heritage 3
Total hours 17
Spring Semester
- COM 3313 Advanced Public Speaking 3
- FAR 10_3 Introduction to Fine Arts 3
- GRE 2024 Elementary Greek II or
- HEB 2024 Elementary Hebrew II 4
- PHI 2013 Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview 3
- THE 3023 Baptist Denomination (if a Church-Related
- Vocation Scholarship recipient) 3
Total hours 16
Junior
Fall Semester
- Bible Elective 3
- BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
- CHR 3013 Introduction to Ministry 3
- CHR 3023 Introduction to Preaching (fall, even) 3
- CHR 3783 Worship and Song in the Church 3
Total hours 16
Spring Semester
- CHR 3073 Disciple-making/Evangelism 3
- CHR 4003 Expository Preaching (spring, odd) 3
- ECO 2003 LIFE Economics 3
- ICS 2901/2911 Culture Service Project 1
- Physical Science 4
- Counseling Elective 3
Total hours 17
Senior
Fall Semester
- COM 2393 Interpersonal Communication or
- COM 3383 Small Group Communication 3
- SOC 2012 Human Diversity 2
- Redford Elective 3
- Elective 3
- Elective 2
Total hours 16
Spring Semester
- CHR 4983 Christian Ministry Apprenticeship 3
- Elective 3
- Elective 3
- Elective 3
- Elective 3
Total hours 15
This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements.
Career Opportunities
Most pastoral ministry graduates have gone on to serve as pastors or in other ministry leadership roles in local churches. Recent graduates are serving in churches in:
- Arkansas
- California
- Kansas
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Texas
Graduate Schools
Pastoral ministry graduates have pursued further education at a variety of graduate schools and seminaries including:
- Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
- Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- University of Aberdeen (Scotland)
- University of Exeter (England)
- Wheaton College
Through SBU's Master of Arts in Christian Ministry 4+1 program, you can complete a bachelor's degree and master's degree in just 5 years.
Scholarships and Funding
As a pastoral ministry student, you will be eligible for the Church Related Vocation (CRV) scholarship, which is currently valued at $2,000 per year. To maintain this scholarship, you must be enrolled in a ministry-related degree program, submit the necessary application and references, participate in SBU's in-service training program and complete any other requirements.
Several privately funded scholarships are also available by application to students preparing for service in missions and evangelism.
Admissions
Gallery
English Language Requirements
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