Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies

120 Credit-Hours

Fully Online

Flexible Payment Plans

With So Many Bible College Options and Religious Studies Programs to Choose from, what are the Most Critical Considerations?

An apologetics-focused B.A. will equip you to engage various cultures with the Gospel

The Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies at Southern Evangelical Bible College combines exceptional academic rigor and flexible ministry options to create a compelling value for your educational investment. This program is unique in that you will finish with a 120-hour, accredited bachelor’s degree from SES. However, 60 hours of your degree will be general education courses you complete at another accredited school of your choice (this can be done concurrently with your studies at SES). Our faculty will provide you with the Biblical and Religious Studies expertise at a remarkable value and you may complete your other course work with experts in the humanities somewhere else. It’s the best of both worlds at a very affordable tuition cost.

Read below for the details of this flexible program, and download your FREE ebook to see how such training relates to real-world Gospel issues.

Outstanding Faculty

There are no teaching assistants in our graduate programs and with the B.A. in Religious Studies program, all of your classes will be taught by graduate professors. The same instructors guiding our Ph.D. candidates and many master’s students will be mentoring you and bringing all their advanced teaching expertise to your class experience. Our professors are world-class scholars in their particular area of study.

Academic Rigor

How do you measure the quality of a school and its degrees? Academic rigor is the core standard. At SES, you will find an exceptional commitment to academic standards. The depth of content in each course is self-evident, and expectations are clear, ensuring a higher quality experience for each student. In addition, a limited number of credit hours can also be applied to future studies in the M.A. program.

Fully Immersive Digital Campus

SES has spearheaded the next generation of online learning formats through real-time, live-streamed classes. They facilitate the two-way conversations and pedagogical dialog which will turn your home into a classroom. This model brings the best of the traditional campus learning experience together with the convenience of studying wherever you are in the world.

This degree will equip you for seminary work if desired and is ideal for those preparing for Teaching, Speaking, Campus Ministry, Youth Ministry, Missions Work, Pastoral Ministry, or Personal Growth.

Your Academic Experience at SES

We aren’t catching up with the distance learning trend — SES has been breaking ground and pioneering an immersive digital campus experience for years. As a student, you'll enjoy a flexible, compelling, connected, environment for your studies. All of the easy-to-use technology you’ll need to thrive in seminary is housed in one place and accessed through a single, secure log-in.

Collaborate with your peers through our integrated approach

Interact with professors during many live-streamed classes

Conduct research in one of the most expansive theological libraries ever created

(With our membership as a supporting sponsor of the Digital Theological Library)

Learn more about the remarkable digital campus experience at SES that will help you thrive as a student and be equipped with the technology tools you’ll need in ministry.

In the B.A. in Religious Studies Program, You Will:

Demonstrate a basic understanding of both the Old and New Testaments as well as a synthetic development of the Bible
Gain a deeper understanding of Christian apologetics, philosophy, and ethics
Explore missions and evangelism and connect this work to Biblical truth, history, and issues in contemporary cultures
Have the option to apply a limited number of credit hours to future graduate work at SES, saving you time and money

Grow in your own likeness to Christ as manifested in love for God, love for others, and evidence of the fruit of the Spirit
Cultivate your understanding of world religions, as well as a Christian apologetics response to their truth claims and tenets
Demonstrate a general knowledge of Biblical languages and conduct introductory research in both Greek and Hebrew

See the Vital Need for Apologetics-Focused Education

Engaging real-world issues for the sake of the Gospel

Download Your FREE eBook Today!

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"If I knew a fraction of what I know now, it could have saved me from 10 years of atheism, and what I know now is only a fraction of what SES has to offer. I was looking for answers that no one could give me, and then I found SES."

Sean Murphy

SES Student

Courses of Interest in the B.A. in Religious Studies

World Religions & New Religions

This course will both expose the secular lie that ‘all religions are basically the same’ and give you a clear understanding of just how different Christianity’s claims are in comparison to both ancient and emerging world religions.

Intro to Christian Apologetics

How can we defend the truth of the Gospel in the turbulent, ongoing public debates about what is true and trustworthy? This course will lay a solid foundation for developing your understanding of apologetics and its many applications.

The Resurrection of Jesus

This elective course delves deeply into the proofs for the bodily resurrection of Jesus, as well as the historical and contemporary implications of this core Christian tenet.

Full Course Listing

SEMINAR – 3 hours Pass/Fail

SM501 Writing & Research Skills (3)

APOLOGETICS – 9 hours

AP302 World Religions & New Religious Movements (3)
AP401 Introduction to Christian Apologetics (3)
AP412 Ethics (3)

PHILOSOPHY – 6 hours

PH301 Critical Thinking (3)
PH302 Introduction to Philosophy (3)

BIBLICAL LANGUAGES – 3 hours

BL(GK/HB)401 Biblical Languages (3)

BIBLICAL STUDIES – 12 hours

OT301 Old Testament Survey (3)
OT400 Book Study (3)
NT301 New Testament Survey (3)
NT400 Book Study (3)

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY – 9 hours

ST301 Introduction to Theology (3)
ST302 Survey of Bible Doctrine (3)
ST303 Bible Study Methods (3)

HISTORICAL THEOLOGY – 3 hours

HT301 Church History (3)

MISSIONS & EVANGELISM – 6 hours

ME301 Evangelism (3)
ME407 (or 408) History of Missions & World Christianity (3)

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION – 3 hours

CE301 Communication in a Theological Context (3)

ELECTIVES – 6 hours

a) AP Elective (3)
b) Elective (3)

FIELD EXPERIENCE – 0 hours

FE401 Field Experience 1 (0)
FE402 Field Experience 2 (0)

B.A. TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS – 60 hours

General Education Defined Requirement – 24 hours
English (3), Writing/Composition (3), Mathematics (3), Science (3), Fine Arts (3), Behavioral/Social Sciences (3), Communications (3), History (3)
Other Undefined Courses – 36 hours

A Valuable Degree with Exceptionally Affordable Tuition

Prospective students are almost always surprised to learn how affordable we keep our degree programs at Southern Evangelical Seminary.

You need effective training for ministry — not a crippling load of student loan debt. The value of a degree here pays off through your entire career and truly has an eternal value as well.

As a result, we're delighted to tell you that you'll have a very difficult time finding a better tuition rate than what we offer at SES: $345 per credit hour.

^$345

per credit hour

Read more about our current tuition rates, flexible payment plans, and financial aid opportunities.

LET'S PARTNER TOGETHER ON YOUR TUITION

Financial Aid & Discounts

Why Should You Seriously Consider Studying at SES?

You almost certainly have at least some basic — and perhaps even advanced — knowledge of Christian apologetics. Many new students at SES have studied books like Tactics by Gregory Koukl, Lewis' Mere Christianity, or I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by SES alum Frank Turek and SES co-founder Norman Geisler. These are all very helpful resources, but perhaps you have reached that point in your self-guided research where you hit a wall or find yourself out of your depth.

Apologetics, theology, and even Bible study will never reach their potential without being grounded in sound philosophy. It's not a matter of whether you're doing philosophy. It's a matter of whether you're doing it well or poorly. You can be a good philosopher without being a good apologist or theologian, but it does not work the other way around! Giving you the philosophical foundation you need for both theology and apologetics is just one of the ways that a degree or certificate from SES will serve you well.

Built for Your Calling

Whether you are pursuing full-time vocational leadership or personal ministry growth, this program is designed to provide a path for your success.

Full-Time Ministry

Christians are called to be salt and light in our world, and leaders should be equipped to confidently engage the ideas shaping today’s culture. Apologetics training is essential for breaking down barriers and effectively leading others. As you pursue God’s calling on your life through ministry, a seminary education will maximize your impact.

Personal Ministry

If your personal study hasn’t yielded the growth you’re looking for, formal training can equip you to answer hard questions and present the truth in love. Being grounded in apologetics prepares you to be fruitful in all aspects of your personal ministry. Our apologetics program offers structured training you need to share the faith and defend truth in everyday life.

Ready to Apply Now?

Start the admission process today. You can begin in just a few minutes by filling out our initial application and it will open the door for us to have an exploratory conversation about your educational priorities and hopes for ministry. We have an entire team at SES who is ready to help you in the process of discerning your gifts and calling to ministry so you can engage our culture in the conversations that matter the most.