BA Christian Ministry

Purpose

The Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry (BACM) is a 120-credit program designed for individuals who have a minimum of two years full-time ministry experience or five years of active lay-ministry experience. The BACM is designed to develop the individual’s biblical and theological knowledge, encourage spiritual and character growth, and deepen the person’s convictions and ministry skills.

Target Group

The BACM is appropriate for adults with proven ministry experience who serve in contexts where a Bachelor’s degree would enhance their ministry.  A minimum of two years full-time or five years of active lay-ministry is required prior to admission.  Graduates from the BACM program serve as pastors, cross-cultural missionaries, church staff members, and as Christian educators.

Admissions Requirements

The individual applying for the BACM must follow the usual EAST application process and meet the BACM admissions standards. Both are stated in the “Admissions” section of this Prospectus. Additional admissions information for international students is explained in the “International Students” section of the Prospectus.

Program Explanation

The BACM program includes 15 credits of Foundation Subjects. These Foundation Subjects allow mature learners with ministry experience to reflect upon and document prior learning.

Individuals who completed an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, A-Level, or Polytechnic in Singapore may transfer up to 26 credits and reduce the length of the BACM program. ^[1]

EAST Aleph (Summer)	Introduction to LF420 Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking (continued during semester)	1 (of 3cr)
	IS400 Evangelism and Follow Up Seminar	NC
1st Year	1st Semester		2nd Semester
	LF420 Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking (continued from EAST Aleph)	2 (of 3 cr)	BS413 Biblical Foundations 2 OR TS410 Theological Foundations	3
	LF510 Christian Leadership Foundations	3	TS432 Spiritual Life and Transformation	3
	IS501 Building Spiritual Movements	3	LF560 Christian Marriage and Family in Asia	3
	IS409 Missions Foundations OR BS412 Biblical Foundations 1	3	Foundation Subject #2	3
	Foundation Subject #1	3	Foundation Subject #3	3
	LF570 Mentoring Group 1	1	LF570 Mentoring Group 2	1
	TOTAL	15	TOTAL	16
EAST Aleph (Summer)	LF500 Research and Writing for Christian Leadership[2]	2 (see footnote)
2nd Year	1st Semester		2nd Semester
	BS410A Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics	3	OT410 Old Testament Narratives	3
	TS460 Worldview and Biblical Decision Making OR IS520 Contextualisation	2	BS413 Biblical Foundations 2 OR TS410 Theological Foundations	3
	Emphasis Course	3	IS510 World Missions	2
	IS409 Missions Foundations OR BS412 Biblical Foundations 1	3	LF580 Cross-Cultural Team Internship 1[3]	1 (see footnote)
	Foundation Subject #4	3	Foundation Subject #5	3
	LF570 Mentoring Group 3	1	LF570 Mentoring Group 4	1
	TOTAL	15	TOTAL	13
Summer	LF581 Cross-Cultural Team Internship 2	2
3rd Year	1st Semester[4]	(see footnote)	2nd Semester
	TS410A Theology 1	3	TS411 Theology 2	3
	OT411 Old Testament Poetry, Wisdom and Prophets	3	NT411 New Testament Epistles and Revelation	3
	NT410 New Testament Narratives	3	Emphasis Course	3
	Emphasis Course	3
	LF530 Teaching and Learning 1 OR LF555 Expository Preaching 1	2	Emphasis Course	3
	LF570 Mentoring Group 5	1	LF570 Mentoring Group 6	1
	LF582 Field Practicum & FIRM 1 – one credit per semester			2
	TOTAL	16	TOTAL	14
4th Year	1st Semester		2nd Semester
	Emphasis Course	3	Emphasis Course	3
	Emphasis Course	3	Emphasis Course	3
	Emphasis Course	3	Emphasis Course	2
			LF597 Summative Learning Project	1
	LF570 Mentoring Group 7	1	LF570 Mentoring Group 8	1
	LF483 Ministry Internship[5] & FIRM 2 – three credits per semester			6
	TOTAL	13	TOTAL	13

Emphasis Courses

Based on the student’s area of interest, 29 credits of emphasis courses may be selected from courses offered in biblical studies (BS, OT, NT), theological studies (TS), intercultural studies (IS), as well as leadership and formation (LF). Credits considered/transferred for prior learning may reduce the number of emphasis credits to be completed.

Foundation Subjects

BACM students may select up to a maximum of five (5) Foundation Subjects. To complete a Foundation Subject, the student will be required to reflect on and document previous ministry experience. It is recommended that the student select the first two Foundation Subjects from subjects with an asterisk (*).

IS402             Evangelism* (3 credits)

IS403             Discipleship* (3 credits)

LF405             Personal Development* (3 credits)

LF406             Christian Service* (3 credits)

LF407             Specialized Ministries (3 credits)

LF408             Fund Raising (3 credits)

LF410             Ministry Development and Leadership (3 credits)

LF430             Leading and Teaching Groups (3 credits)

TS430             Spiritual Life and Growth* (3 credits)

TS431             Prayer and Christian Disciplines* (3 credits)

Course Description Information

For further information and description of each of the BACM courses, refer to the appropriate section of the “Course Descriptions” section of this Prospectus.

Distribution Requirements

Biblical Studies (BS, OT, NT)                                                       21 credits

BS410A, BS412, BS413, OT410, OT411, NT410, NT411

Intercultural Studies (IS)                                                              8 or 10 credits*

IS400, IS409, IS501, IS510, IS520*

Leadership Studies (LF)                                                              13 credits

LF420, LF500, LF510, LF560, LF530 or LF555

Formation (LF)                                                                            20 credits^

LF483, LF570, LF580, LF581, LF582, LF597

Theological Studies (TS)                                                            12 or 14 credits*

TS410, TS410A, TS411, TS432, TS460*

Foundation Subjects                                                                  15 credits

Christian Ministry Emphasis Courses                                        29 credits^

                                                                                                120 credits

* Distribution within Intercultural Studies and Theological Studies will vary as the student selects either TS460 Worldview and Biblical Decision Making or IS520 Contextualisation.

^ Distribution requirements may be reduced in these areas for students who complete an IB Diploma, A-Level, or Polytechnic in Singapore and transfer up to 26 credits. Contact the Registrar for further details.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

A student has a maximum of seven (7) years to complete a BACM from the date of matriculation at EAST.

Graduation Requirements

The following are requirements in order to graduate with a BACM:

• Completion of all coursework (120 credits) with a grade of C- or higher
• Cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher
• Demonstrate character and ministry skills appropriate for an EAST graduate
• Approval by the faculty
• Payment of all fees

[1] Individuals who completed an IB Diploma, A-Level or Polytechnic in Singapore should contact an EAST Admissions Officer for further details about eligibility for transfer of up to 26 credits towards the BACM degree. An official transcript will be required for a credit transfer to be processed.

[2] Three Foundation Subjects must be completed prior to the start of LF500 Research and Writing for Christian Leadership.

[3] Fourth Foundation Subject must be completed prior to the start of LF580 Cross-Cultural Team Internship 1.

[4] Fifth Foundation Subject must be completed prior to the start of the fifth semester of classes.

[5] The six-credit Ministry Internship would extend over two consecutive semesters and include 15-16 hours per week of vocational ministry involvement at an approved church or para-church ministry. Aspects of ministry exposure to be included and competencies to be attained would be determined prior to the start by the EAST Field Education Director, the student, and the Ministry Mentor/Supervisor. The desired outcomes are reviewed at the end of the first semester and adjustments made, if needed, for the second semester.