Associate of Arts Biblical Studies
On Campus
Advisor:
Layton Friesen, PhD
Biblical foundations and ministry formation for campus students.
The Biblical Studies program is intended for students desiring to engage more deeply in the Scriptures and to establish a path of following Jesus in all of life. The program equips servant leaders with biblical foundations, an understanding of our world, and ministry focus areas. This program highlights spiritual formation and intercultural ministry experiences in urban, northern, and international communities.
Zach's Story
“I’m doing the two year Associate of Arts, Bible-Theology degree.
Isaiah is one [course] that I’m really enjoying. The professor does a really good job; he understands the book very well and how many other places in the Bible use Isaiah as a reference.
Next semester I’m lined up to take Ethics. I’m excited about digging into some of the questions that are not ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers and some of them don’t even have an answer. For me, I love that type of question, so I’m really excited about that too. Just working through some of those questions, finding a biblical basis and why even different groups or Christians come up with different answers.
A Highlight: The way the professors read through the Bible and they see God’s hand through it all. Right from Old Testament: which often is a book that seems irrelevant. It’s actually incredibly relevant. That’s another thing that I’ve learned in SBC: seeing God’s faithfulness throughout the Old Testament is truly amazing. God is the same today, yesterday and always. It’s amazing to find that God made promises that He’s stayed true to His word.
I want to be able to really read the Bible and connect things that I haven’t [connected] before.... Seeing God’s promises in the New Testament and the Old Testament too: That God has held true to His word here, here and here. Why won’t he do the same now? To be able to do that and be able to encourage others to dig deeper into the word and ask tough questions."
Career & Ministry Opportunities
Graduates serve in their churches in areas of teaching, children’s ministry, counselling, missions, pastoral, worship, and youth ministries. Graduates serve their communities in areas such as education, nursing, business, social work, TESOL, agriculture, and domestic life.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge of the Bible and evangelical Anabaptist theology.
- Display competent biblical interpretation and practical application.
- Practice the spiritual disciplines necessary for a lifelong faith commitment.
- Develop critical thinking, researching, writing, and communication skills.
- Implement problem solving skills in interpersonal and intercultural contexts.
- Demonstrate servant leadership skills for ministry and work.
Program Requirements
Year One: Engage
Biblical & Theological Studies (12 credits)
BI105
Biblical Interpretation
After a brief historical overview of the interpretation of the Bible in the Church, the key principles of interpretation are studied through their application to a variety of biblical texts. The course is designed to prepare students for exegesis courses as well as giving them the tools for doing inductive Bible interpretation. (3 credits)
This course is scheduled to be available online for the following semesters:
- 2020-2021 Semester 1 (Sep 14, 2020)
- 2021-2022 Summer (May 3, 2021)
- 2021-2022 Summer (May 3, 2021)
- 2021-2022 Summer (May 3, 2021)
- 2022-2023 Summer (May 2, 2022)
- 2023-2024 Summer Online (May 8, 2023)
- 2024-2025 Summer (May 6, 2024)
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BI111
Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament
An introductory study of the historical and geographical background of the Old Testament and an overview of major themes developed within the various sections of the Old Testament. (3 credits)
This course is scheduled to be available online for the following semesters:
- 2020-2021 Semester 1 (Sep 14, 2020)
- 2021-2022 Semester 1 (Sep 13, 2021)
- 2022-2023 Semester 1 (Sep 12, 2022)
- 2023-2024 Semester 1 (Sep 11, 2023)
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BI121
Introduction to the Bible: New Testament
An introductory study of the historical and cultural background of the New Testament and an overview of major emphases of each book within the New Testament. (3 credits)
This course is scheduled to be available online for the following semesters:
- 2019-2020 Summer (May 4, 2020)
- 2020-2021 Semester 2 (Jan 11, 2021)
- 2021-2022 Semester 2 (Jan 10, 2022)
- 2022-2023 Semester 2 (Jan 16, 2023)
- 2023-2024 Semester 2 (Jan 15, 2024)
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TH231
Christian Theology
An introduction to Christian theology through its disciplines, conversations, and applications to ministry. Reflection on major Christian doctrines including God, creation, sin, Scripture, Jesus Christ, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and last things. (3 credits)
This course is scheduled to be available online for the following semesters:
- 2019-2020 Semester 2 (Jan 6, 2020)
- 2019-2020 Summer (May 4, 2020)
- 2022-2023 Semester 2 (Jan 16, 2023)
- 2023-2024 Semester 1 (Sep 11, 2023)
- 2024-2025 Summer (May 6, 2024)
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Arts & Sciences (6 credits)
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Communications Elective
Choose from the following courses:
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EN111
English Literature and Composition I
An introduction to the critical analysis of English Literature in the genres of novel, short story and poetry. This course will focus on two objectives: to develop skills in becoming a thoughtful, analytical reader and a clear, articulate writer. (3 credits)
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EN212
English Literature: Faith and Fiction
This course is an introduction to the critical analysis of English Literature selected from the genres of novel, short story, and poetry. This course focuses on two objectives: to develop skills in becoming a thoughtful, analytical reader, and a clear, articulate writer in response to literature written from a Christian faith perspective. (3 credits)
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FA271
Christianity and Imagination
A survey of the arts in the western world and a study of the relationship between Christians and culture. The course will provide students with a perceptual framework for evaluating various artistic traditions such as painting, sculpture, architecture, film, theatre, literature, music and dance. Class work will involve interaction with representative works. (3 credits)
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HU202
Art of Persuasion
This course will provide a space of learning where students will unbox some of the styles and techniques of rhetoric used to convince and persuade people in order that they may understand and interpret the world around them, and in the process, become better at communicating their own ideas and convictions. (3 credits)
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WA222
Drama Production
Students, under the direction of the drama faculty, rehearse and present a major drama. This class is responsible for all aspects of the drama, such as acting, props and set. (3 credits)
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Interpersonal Elective
Choose one of the following courses:
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SS223
Interpersonal Processes
This course helps develop the skills to communicate effectively in interpersonal, group, and intercultural contexts, and to learn to approach conflict in transformative ways. (3 credits)
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SS225
Marriage and Family
A study of the family in contemporary society. The course includes topics like the nature of the family, sexuality, love, relationship building, weddings, parenting, birth order, and divorce/remarriage. While the course has a significant theoretical component, it also provides practical elements to help students reflect on their own families of origin and their own relational contexts. (3 credits)
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Professional Studies (14 credits)
CM101
Ministry 1: Introduction to Ministry
(3 credits)
This course is scheduled to be available online for the following semesters:
- 2020-2021 Semester 2 (Jan 11, 2021)
- 2022-2023 Semester 2 (Jan 16, 2023)
- 2023-2024 Semester 1 (Sep 11, 2023)
- 2024-2025 Summer (May 6, 2024)
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CM114
Spiritual Formation
This course seeks to help us better understand how spiritual formation takes place, while examining some of the key spiritual disciplines and faith traditions that provide some strong moorings for Christian spirituality today. (3 credits)
This course is scheduled to be available online for the following semesters:
- 2021-2022 Semester 1 (Sep 13, 2021)
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Focus/Minor or Open Elective
Choose any 3 credits. (3 credits)
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Open Electives
Choose any 5 credits. (5 credits)
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Service Learning (2 units)
Complete 2 units of Service Learning - non-academic credit.
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SM100
Service Learning
Service Learning involves a practical field experience, which supplements and applies regular classroom study. In order to gain one non-academic unit, a student must successfully complete the equivalent of ten Service Learning assignments (or 20 hours of ministry) per semester in a ministry mutually agreed upon by the student and their Faculty Advisor. (0 credits)
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Year Two: Establish
Biblical & Theological Studies (12 credits)
BI221
Life and Teachings of Jesus
A study of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the first three Gospels, with an inductive study of one of the Gospels. Current literary and historical approaches to the gospel narratives will be examined. (3 credits)
This course is scheduled to be available online for the following semesters:
- 2021-2022 Semester 1 (Sep 13, 2021)
- 2022-2023 Semester 1 (Sep 12, 2022)
- 2023-2024 Summer Online (May 8, 2023)
- 2023-2024 Semester 2 (Jan 15, 2024)
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OT Prophets Elective
Choose one of the following courses:
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BI215
OT Prophets: Hosea - Malachi
A study of the prophets from Hosea to Malachi, identifying who the prophets were, where and when they lived, and the nature of their writings. Select passages will be exegeted. (3 credits)
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BI411
OT Prophets: Isaiah
(3 credits)
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BI412
OT Prophets: Jeremiah
(3 credits)
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NT Bible Elective
Choose one of the following courses:
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BI223
NT History: Acts
The book of Acts will be studied to understand the formation and expansion of the early church. Major themes are the work of the Spirit, Christian witness, leadership, and the life and ministry of Paul. (3 credits)
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BI225
NT Letters: Galatians - Philemon
(3 credits)
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TH3-
TH300 Theology Elective
Choose one of the following: (3 credits)
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Arts & Sciences (12 credits)
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English Literature Elective
Choose one of the following courses:
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EN111
English Literature and Composition I
An introduction to the critical analysis of English Literature in the genres of novel, short story and poetry. This course will focus on two objectives: to develop skills in becoming a thoughtful, analytical reader and a clear, articulate writer. (3 credits)
| |
EN212
English Literature: Faith and Fiction
This course is an introduction to the critical analysis of English Literature selected from the genres of novel, short story, and poetry. This course focuses on two objectives: to develop skills in becoming a thoughtful, analytical reader, and a clear, articulate writer in response to literature written from a Christian faith perspective. (3 credits)
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HU222
Anabaptist History
A study of the origin, development and spread of the Anabaptist movement, with special emphasis on history, doctrine and biography. (3 credits)
This course is scheduled to be available online for the following semesters:
- 2021-2022 Semester 1 (Sep 13, 2021)
- 2021-2022 Summer (May 3, 2021)
- 2022-2023 Summer (May 2, 2022)
- 2022-2023 Semester 2 (Jan 16, 2023)
- 2023-2024 Semester 1 (Sep 11, 2023)
- 2024-2025 Summer (May 6, 2024)
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Arts & Sciences Elective
Choose from the following course categories:
EN/FA/HU/MA/SC/SS (3 credits)
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World Cultures Elective
Choose from the following courses:
HU241
World Religions
(3 credits)
This course is scheduled to be available online for the following semesters:
- 2019-2020 Semester 2 (Jan 6, 2020)
- 2020-2021 Semester 1 (Sep 14, 2020)
- 2022-2023 Semester 2 (Jan 16, 2023)
- 2023-2024 Semester 1 (Sep 11, 2023)
- 2024-2025 Summer (May 6, 2024)
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HU231
Introduction to Philosophy
An examination of deeper human thinking in its endeavour to provide answers to the questions of life, reality, society and God. Historical development and modern trends, as well as methods and systems, will be explored and critically evaluated from the standpoint of the Christian faith. (3 credits)
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SS211
Cultural Anthropology
An introduction to cultural and social anthropology designed to raise awareness of local culture, the dynamics of cultural change, and the contribution anthropology can make to cross-cultural communication. Through the course, the student is introduced to doing basic anthropological research. (3 credits)
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HU212
Greek I
An introductory course in the basic elements of New Testament Greek, with emphasis on grammar and vocabulary, as well as rudimentary reading and analysis of selected passages from the Greek New Testament. (3 credits)
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HU213
Greek II
A continuation of the study of the basic elements of New Testament Greek, with emphasis on grammar and vocabulary, as well as rudimentary reading and analysis of selected passages from the Greek New Testament. (3 credits)
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Professional Studies (8 credits)
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CM201
Ministry 2: Intercultural Ministry
(3 credits)
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Focus/Minor or Open Elective
Choose any 3 credits. (3 credits)
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Open Electives
Choose any 2 credits. (2 credits)
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Service Learning (2 units)
Complete 2 units of Service Learning - non-academic credit.
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SM100
Service Learning
Service Learning involves a practical field experience, which supplements and applies regular classroom study. In order to gain one non-academic unit, a student must successfully complete the equivalent of ten Service Learning assignments (or 20 hours of ministry) per semester in a ministry mutually agreed upon by the student and their Faculty Advisor. (0 credits)
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Total Requirements (64 credits)
Course is available to be taken online.
