5-Year Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity
Earn a BA in Bible & Theology degree and a Master of Divinity degree in as few as five years.
Program Benefits
Be prepared for ministry.
- Earn a BA in Bible & Theology degree and a Master of Divinity degree in as few as five years.
- Be confident that you have been equipped with the rigor of seminary while enjoying the college experience at Calvary University.
Save time and money.
- Enter ministry as quickly as possible with only five, instead of seven, years in school.
- Save money – a potential tuition savings of $18,000 compared to completing the BA and MDiv degrees separately.
Program Learning Outcomes
- The student will be prepared to be able to assess the spiritual maturity (of self and others) to influence spiritual growth.
- The student will be able to defend the biblical worldview through the application of sound research methods and the consistent literal grammatical-historical hermeneutic.
- The student will be able to develop a biblical philosophy and strategy for Christian ministry.
- The student will be able to present biblically accurate, culturally relevant, and personally applicable ministry communication (oral and written).
- The student will be able to discover the God-given spiritual gifts, abilities, and calling (of self and others) to lead effective Christian ministry.
Entry Requirements
- Maintain high academic standards in high school (2.5 GPA or higher) (see the current Catalog for all admissions criteria).
- Apply to the 5-Yr BA-MDiv accelerated degree option in the senior year of high school.
- Be actively involved in local church/parachurch ministry.
- Follow the Catalog criteria to apply to the graduate level of the accelerated degree option after completing the pre-requisite undergraduate courses.
Continuing in the Program
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA.
- Continue local church/ministry participation.
Program Planner
Course Scheduling Options
It is university policy for all accelerated degree options (5-year bachelor’s and master’s degree combinations) that students must prioritize completion of their undergraduate courses before beginning to take a majority of graduate courses. This will allow for the adjustments to college life as well as the opportunity to get well grounded in the academic work of the University.
- To complete the accelerated degree option in 5 years, the student must take courses during the summer semester.
- While students will work with the Academic Advisor each semester to ensure proper progression through the program, the specific courses and the mix of undergraduate and graduate courses allow for some flexibility in scheduling.
- As a rule, graduate courses require more work and scholarliness. The minimum GPA requirement and application process for acceptance into the 5-Year BA in Bible & Theology and Master of Divinity accelerated degree option is designed to prepare students to thrive in their graduate courses.
- Of the options below, Options 1-3 enable the student to complete the Program in 5 years. But if the student needs to have the normal summer free for work or ministry requirements, Option 4 describes how the program may be completed in 6 years (but this would mean additional costs).
- In every session of years 1-3, the majority of course hours taken must be undergraduate hours in order to retain an “Undergraduate” status, thus ensuring eligibility for the maximum financial aid in those years.
Undergrad Hours
85
Graduate Hours
81
Total Hours
166
4 Course Scheduling Options
In every session of years 1-3, the majority of course hours taken must be undergraduate hours in order to retain an “Undergraduate” status, thus ensuring eligibility for the maximum financial aid in those years.
Option
#1
For those who want to take all undergraduate courses in the first year.
Option
#2
For those able to handle graduate work sooner (as reflected in high school GPA, reference comments, etc.).
Option
#3
For those able to handle a more demanding graduate workload sooner (as reflected in GPA, etc.)
Option
#4
For those who must allow sessions off (e.g. summers) for work / ministry, BUT this will mean 6 years (and less financial aid).
Option 1Undergrad / Grad hrs. |
Option 2Undergrad / Grad hrs. |
Option 3Undergrad / Grad hrs. |
Option 4Undergrad / Grad hrs. |
|
Year 1(Fall – Summer) |
33 / 0(33 total) |
24 / 9(33 total) |
24 / 9(33 total) |
30 / 0(30 total) |
Year 2(Fall – Summer) |
25 / 6(31 total) |
27 / 9(36 total) |
24 / 12(36 total) |
24 / 6(30 total) |
Year 3(Fall -Summer) |
24 / 12(36 total) |
28 / 9(37 total) |
24 / 12(36 total) |
25 / 6(31 total) |
Year 4(Fall – Summer) |
0 / 33(33 total) |
3 / 27(30 total) |
10 / 21(31 total) |
3 /24(30 total) |
Year 5(Fall – Spring) |
0 / 30(30 total) |
0 / 27(27 total) |
0 / 27(27 total) |
0 /24(24 total) |
Year 6(Fall – Spring |
0 / 0(0 total) |
0 / 0(0 total) |
0 / 0(0 total) |
0 / 21(21 total) |
Frequently Asked Questions
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER THIS ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION?
This Calvary University 5-Yr BA-MDiv accelerated degree option is ideal for undergraduate students who are called to ministry and who eventually desire the additional graduate training of the Seminary MDiv degree. It’s simple—the 5-Yr BA-MDiv accelerated degree option offers more training in less time and for less cost. The better question is: why would you not consider the 5-Yr BA-MDiv accelerated degree option?
CAN STUDENTS ENTER THE ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION EVEN IF THEY DON’T MEET THE MINIMUM HIGH SCHOOL STANDARDS FOR ENTRY?
Yes. Students who do not meet the minimum standards for entry into the accelerated degree option may still be admitted after completing the equivalent of one year of undergraduate study. To be considered, they must maintain a 2.5 GPA during their first year of study and go through the accelerated degree option application process.
Additionally, students must contact Dr. Dodds to apply for the program – [email protected].
CAN TRANSFER STUDENTS ENTER THIS ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION?
Yes. Transfer students can be admitted based on an academic evaluation of their transfer credit. Transfer students who have at least 12 undergraduate credits and have maintained a 2.5 GPA for that work may apply for admission to the BA-MDiv by contacting Dr. Dodds – [email protected].
WHY IS ACTIVE CHURCH/MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT REQUIRED FOR CONTINUING IN THE ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION?
The intent of the 5-Yr BA-MDiv accelerated degree option is for training individuals who are called to ministry. Therefore, demonstrated local church/parachurch ministry involvement is an essential aspect of this accelerated degree option and where you will spend a significant part of each academic year.
HOW MUCH DOES THE 5-YR BA-MDIV ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION COST?
Students who complete the accelerated degree option according to the schedule recommended by the Academic Advisor are eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate student for the first 3 years and then as a graduate student the final 2 years. The tuition & fees costs for the accelerated degree option remain vary from undergraduate to graduate status, but if completed as scheduled, the total tuition & fees cost for the entire degrees will be approximately $76,000 (per 2023-2024 school year on-campus costs for tuition and standard fees per cycle). Please see the Finances section of the website – https://www.calvary.edu/tuition-room-board-fees/ and https://www.calvary.edu/grad-tuition/ for a list of projects costs related to the total cost of attendance (i.e., housing, meal plan, books and venue in which courses are taken: in-class or online).
WHAT KIND OF ACADEMIC ADVISING IS AVAILABLE FOR ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION STUDENTS?
All students will receive world-class academic advising from the moment they enter Calvary University. Advisors help students plan a sequence of study, make course decisions, and professor selections. In addition, they provide academic guidance to help students as they pursue their BA and MDiv degrees.
ARE ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID?
Yes, students may apply for undergraduate scholarships, grants, and loans during the first 3 years of the accelerated degree option as scheduled and graduate scholarships and loans during the final 2 years.
WILL ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION STUDENTS STILL HAVE A “NORMAL” UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT EXPERIENCE?
Yes! All accelerated degree option students get the best of both worlds—the full undergraduate student life experience combined with the opportunity to achieve their academic goals more quickly. Accelerated degree option students may live in campus housing and participate in all Calvary University’s student life programs. (See the Student Life Handbook for more information.)
WHAT CLASSES WILL ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION STUDENTS TAKE?
All 5-Yr BA-MDiv accelerated degree option students complete 85 hours of undergraduate courses (the required Biblical Education courses, 3 hours selected; General Education courses for all BA degrees, 36 hours; selected undergraduate professional courses, 22 hours; undergraduate elective courses, 27 hours) and 87 hours of graduate courses (Bible and Theology courses, 36 hours; the required MDiv Professional courses, 24 hours; the required MDiv Language courses (Greek and Hebrew), 21 hours).
WHAT DEGREES WILL ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION STUDENTS EARN?
5-Yr BA-MDiv accelerated degree option students earn two degrees in as little as five years:
- Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology
- Master of Divinity
Students may also earn an undergraduate minor by using the elective hours to complete an undergraduate minor degree.
CAN THIS ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION BE COMPLETED ONLINE?
Definitely. One class, Ministry Internship, is a hands-on, supervised ministry experience. All paperwork and assignments can be turned in online; however, the actual work will take place in a ministry setting near the student’s location that the Ministry Studies Department Chair agrees to.
DO ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION STUDENTS NEED TO FINISH THE BA DEGREE COURSE WORK BEFORE THEY CAN COMPLETE THE MDIV DEGREE COURSE WORK?
No. In many semesters, students will be taking undergraduate and graduate courses at the same time. Normally the first year of the accelerated degree option will be occupied with undergraduate courses, but beginning with the 2nd year of the accelerated degree option and under the guidance of the Academic Advisor, graduate courses will be taken along with undergraduate courses. In the 5th year of the accelerated degree option only graduate courses will be taken.
WHAT OPTIONS DO STUDENTS HAVE IF THEY DON’T GET ACCEPTED INTO THE ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION?
When students are not initially admitted into the accelerated degree option, they can attempt to enter it after completing the equivalent of one full year of undergraduate study.
To apply, these students must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA during that time and go through the admissions process for this accelerated degree option.
They must also contact the program director, Dr. Dodds, at [email protected].
WHAT IF ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION STUDENTS CHOOSE TO WITHDRAW FROM THE ACCELERATED DEGREE OPTION BUT WANT TO CONTINUE WITH A BA DEGREE?
Students who choose not to continue in the accelerated degree option can at any point apply relevant earned credit toward one of Calvary University’s many BA or BS degree options.