Bachelor Of Arts Program
Our programs provide the best of theological education that can stand all the context based challenges of ministry and life.
Bachelor of Arts
General Description: The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is a three-year program. CBTS offers four areas of concentration in the B.A. program. These are: Biblical and Theological Studies, Evangelism and Missions, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Bible Translation, Christian Education, and Music. Students in the B.A. program are expected to complete 89 hours of core courses and 29 hours in one of the areas of concentration, including 6 hours for thesis writing, for a total of 118 hours (128 for Translation, and 134 for Church Music concentrations (see section for the particular concentration). A student in good academic standing can complete the program in three years taking 16-17 credit hours per semester, assuming modular courses are taken in the January and summer sessions.
Purpose: The primary purpose of the B.A. program is to equip students for ministry as pastors, teachers, pastoral counselors, missionaries, Bible translators, and chaplains. In addition, the B.A. program aims to provide the biblical and theological training that is necessary for other church-related ministries as well as for roles that require advanced theological education. It is critical that persons of Christian character, commitment, and integrity be developed for these ministries.
Entrance Requirements (see section under Admission)
Objectives of the B.A. Program: Studies in the B.A. program are offered to equip qualified students for the practice of effective Christian ministry. The general objectives of this program are for each student:
- to understand himself or herself as a called disciple and minister of Jesus Christ, serving his Kingdom with obedience and joy
- to possess a deep and growing love for God, reverence for His holy character, and commitment to follow His wise and good ways without compromise
- to possess an abiding love for people and the work of Christian ministry in the context of the Cameroon Baptist Convention and the Church in general, and be equipped to engage in Christian ministry
- to embrace whole-heartedly and bear witness to the truth of Holy Scriptures and the power of the gospel
- to embrace and maintain the historic principles of the Christian faith and of the Baptist heritage
- to embrace and live consistently with the moral imperatives of the Kingdom of God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures
- to integrate theological understandings with human need in the contemporary world.
Core Courses for the B.A. Program (89credit hours)
All students no matter their area of concentration must take the core courses. These courses are designed to give students a broad knowledge base before they branch out into areas of concentration.
Bachelor of Arts Concentrations
Biblical and Theological Studies Concentration
Purpose. The Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies is designed to offer ministry training to those who want to serve in the church in the areas of preaching and teaching. A concentration in Biblical and Theological Studies provides students with the foundation they need to effectively minister in the church. Thus, the purpose of this concentration is to provide biblical, theological, historical, and practical training for persons who desire to be better equipped to do ministry in the local church. It is also a preparation for students desiring to further their studies in the area of Biblical and Theological Studies.
Content. In addition to the 89 credit hours of core courses, students in the Biblical and Theological Studies concentration are required to complete an additional 29 credit hours. These courses are listed below.
Course | Credit Hours | Course | Credit Hours |
Hebrew Exegesis | 3 | Pastoral Theology | 3 |
Greek Exegesis | 3 | Elective | 3 |
Pauline Theology | 3 | Elective | 2 |
New Testament Theology | 3 |
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Old Testament Theology | 3 | Thesis | 6 |
Total for BA Biblical and Theological Studies Concentration | 29 | ||
Evangelism and Missions Concentration
Purpose: The purpose of this concentration is to prepare students for ministry as pastors, teachers, evangelists, and missionaries, ministers in cities, church planters, and workers for the denomination. In additional, a concentration in Evangelism and Missions prepares students for all other church related ministries that emphasize missions, evangelism, and church planting. Students in this concentration receive a sound biblical foundation while at the same time getting practical training in ministry.
Content: In addition to the 89 credit hours of core courses, students in the Evangelism and Missions concentration are required to complete an additional 29 credit hours. These courses are listed below.
Course | Credit Hours | Course | Credit Hours |
Biblical Foundations for Missions | 3 | Cultural Anthropology or Sociology | 3 |
Contextualization | 3 | World Religions and Cults | 3 |
Cross Cultural Communication | 3 |
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Urban Missiology | 3 | Elective | 2 |
Church Planting Strategies | 3 | Thesis | 6 |
Total for BA Evangelism and Missions Concentration | 29 | ||
Pastoral Care and Counseling Concentration
Purpose: The Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling is designed to prepare students for a ministry of biblical counseling to individuals, couples, and families in the local church. Students who plan to do a significant amount of counseling in the church should choose this concentration. The concentration provides a biblical foundation on which Pastoral Care and Counseling is based.
Content: In addition to the 89 credit hours of core courses, students in the Pastoral Care and Counseling concentration are required to complete an additional 29 credit hours. These courses are listed below.
Course | Credit Hours | Course | Credit Hours |
Introduction to Pastoral Care | 3 | Pastoral Theology | 3 |
Theories of Counseling | 3 | Spiritual Warfare | 3 |
Marriage and Family | 3 | Supervised Ministry I | 1 |
Crisis Counseling | 3 | Supervised Ministry II | 1 |
Managing Conflict & Controversy | 3 | Thesis | 6 |
Total for BA Pastoral Care and Counseling Concentration | 29 | ||
Bible Translation Concentration
Purpose: The purpose of the Bachelor of Arts in Bible Translation is to prepare students with basic formal training to lead Bible translation and literacy projects. They will be equipped to undertake basic descriptive linguistic analysis and translate the Bible into African languages. The program is interdisciplinary, combining biblical, linguistic, missiological, and ministerial training. The program will prepare students for leadership in the ministry of Bible translation, either as mother tongue or other tongue translators, or pastoral ministry. Students in this concentration receive a sound biblical foundation while at the same time getting practical training in ministry.
Content: In addition to the 89 credit hours of core courses, students in the Bible Translation concentration are required to complete an additional 39 credit hours. These courses are listed below.
Course | Credit Hours | Course | Credit Hours |
Discourse Analysis | 3 | Translation Principles 2 | 3 |
Sociolinguistics | 3 | Translation Principles 3 | 3 |
Cultural Anthropology | 3 | Introduction to Language | 3 |
Semantics and Pragmatics | 3 | Biblical Customs | 3 |
Morphology & Syntax 1 | 3 | Literacy and Project Management | 3 |
Morphology & Syntax 2 | 3 | Project (linguistics & translation) | 3 |
Total for BA in Bible Translation Concentration | 39 | ||
Christian Education Concentration (CE)
Purpose: The purpose of the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education is to equip students for service as church ministers of education, minister to Youth, minister to Children, or administration in the local church setting, a missionary in the area of education, a teacher, and administrator in a church related area. Two courses are specifically listed that address women’s issues.
Content: In addition to the 89 credit hours of core courses, students in the Christian Education concentration are required to complete an additional 29 credit hours. These courses are listed below.
Course | Credit Hours | Course | Credit Hours |
Christian Education of Preschoolers/Children | 3 | Educational Psychology | 2 |
History of Education | 2 | Principles and Dynamics of Teaching | 3 |
Christian Education of Adults | 2 |
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Christian Education of Youth | 2 |
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Developmental Psychology | 3 | Teaching Practice | 3 |
Church Education Administration | 3 | Thesis | 6 |
Total for BA Christian Education Concentration | 29 | ||
Church Music Concentration
Purpose: The purpose of the Bachelor of Arts in Church Music is to equip students as worship leaders and musicians with a strong scriptural and theological understanding of their role. The program seeks to equip students with skills in music and leading worship while building on the rich musical heritage of the Christian faith.
Content: In addition to the 89 credit hours of core courses, students in the Music concentration are required to complete an additional 45 credit hours. These courses are listed below.
Course | Credit Hours | Course | Credit Hours |
Music 1 | 3 | Music 2 | 3 |
Keyboard 1-6 (1 hour/semester) | 6 | Voice 1-4 (1 hour/semester) | 4 |
Choral 1-4 (1 hour/semester) | 4 | Conducting (1 hour/semester) | 4 |
Musical Instruments 1-3 (1 hour/semester) | 3 | Private Instruction 1-6 (1 hour/semester) | 6 |
Survey of Contemporary Music | 3 | Praise and Worship | 3 |
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| Project or Thesis | 6 |
Total for BA Church Music Concentration | 45 | ||