Programs of Study

Baldwin International Christian University (BICU) currently offers three (3) graduate degrees, two (2) undergraduate degrees and one (1) Associate degree along with a number of certificate courses (listed below). The graduate programs are: 1) The Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.) with emphasis in New Testament Studies, 2) The Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and, 3) the Master of Arts in Religion & Church Administration. The undergraduate programs are: 1) Bachelor of Arts in Religion (B.A.), and 2) The Associate of Arts in Religion.

The certificate courses are:

From the Religion Department

i. Introduction to New Testament Greek
ii. Greek for Lay Church Leaders
iii. Introduction to Hebrew
iv. Biblical Hermeneutics
v. New Testament Backgrounds
vi. Old Testament Backgrounds
vii. Form Criticism
viii. Redaction Criticism
ix. New Testament Greek Manuscript History- NT Textual Criticism
x. Orality and Scripture
xi. Old Testament Manuscript History
xii. Development of the New Testament Canon
xiii. Development of the Old Testament Canon
xiv. Righteousness by Faith
xv. Pastoral Counseling
xvi. Leadership and Denominational Administration

Practical Psychology Courses

i. Introduction to Psychology
ii. Worldviews and Psychology for Success
iii. Theories and Practices for Success

MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGION (NT Emphasis)
The Master of Arts in Religion offers a New Testament emphasis and while being a strong academic degree, it will also equip the student for Pastoral Ministry. This is so as the academic offerings of BICU are designed with a practical market relevance to the instructional framework. The degree consists of 48 credits hours structured to be accomplished in two years. However, the student has a maximum of seven years to complete the program. The MA carries the option of a major research paper or a comprehensive exam as its final requirement.

PREREQUISITES FOR THE MA IN RELIGION
Prerequisites for the MA in Religion (NT emphasis) are as follows:
1. A Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Religion or related area
2. A grade point average of at least 3.0 at the undergraduate level
3. Intermediate Greek I and II, or its equivalency with a minimum grade of “C.” The applicant may choose to sit a Greek entrance exam to fulfill this requirement.

APPLICATION PROCESS (for the M.A. in Religion, NT Emphasis)
The application package consists of the items as shown below which are to be submitted in our online portal (see “Application”)
1. Completed application form online.
2. . Official Transcripts of undergraduate degree(s) must be submitted via mail to the BICU office at: 9750 Apollo Drive, Suite B #124, Largo, Maryland 20774 or sent electronically. For students outside of the USA, be sure to utilize the World Evaluation Services ( World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation for U.S. (wes.org) for evaluating your transcripts before submission to BICU.
3. A non-refundable processing fee of $50.00
4. Three letters of recommendations (including a character reference): These letters must be from the following sources: i) the church organization to which the applicant belongs (one letter); ii) a professor who has taught the applicant at the undergraduate level (one letter) (iii) A reputable professional (one letter). The applicant will identify these referees on their application form after which a special password will be sent to the referee for he/she to complete the recommendation online.
5. Entrance interview with designated BICU officials. This will be done through our online portal. All such interviews will be recorded and archived).

M.A. IN RELIGION: GENERAL COURSES OFFERED
The Masters of Arts (MA) in religion (NT emphasis) offers a total of 48 credits. The courses are distruted as follows: New Testament (Biblical) Studies, 24 credits; New Testament Theology, 12 credits, New Testament Backgro unds, 6 credits, and Old Testament Studies, 6 credits.

NEW TESTAMENT:BIBLICAL STUDIES (24 Crs.)

OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES (6 crs)

NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY (12 crs)

NEW TESTAMENT BACKGROUNDS (6 crs)

TOTAL
Electives – i) For an elective in the Gospels, any course relating to any of the canonical gospels, can suffice, ii) For an elective in the Pauline Writings, any course dealing with any one of the Pauline writings can suffice.

Curriculum Plan

M.A. in Religion

M.A. in Religion (NT Studies)

(48 Credits)

(each course runs for 8 weeks)

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

MASTER OF ARTS IN PASTORAL MINISTRY

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry is a professional degree with a strong academic emphasis. This program serves to further equip practicing and potential pastors for Christian ministry and prepares them for post-graduate studies in ministry. The degree consists of 64 credits hours designed to be completed in two years of full-time study. However, the student has a maximum of seven years to complete the degree.

MASTER OF ARTS IN PASTORAL MINISTRY

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for this program are:

1) A bachelor’s degree in any field, or
2) At least four (4) years of pastoral ministry or seven (7) to ten (10) years of being an ordained church elder/leader)
3) A portfolio or written notarized attestation of ministry work accomplished during the above required years of ministry service
4) Beginning NT Greek and OT Hebrew are required, however, students are allowed to fulfill this requirement using at least six (6) hours of their elective hours or they can choose to sit a Greek entrance exam to fulfill this requirement.
5) A grade point average of at least 2.50 at the undergraduate level

Admission Procedures for M.A. in Pastoral Ministry

The application package consists of but not limited to the items as shown below which are to be completed and submitted online at www.xxxxxxx:

1. Completed application form.
2. Official transcripts of undergraduate degree(s) submitted via mail to the BICU mailing address at: 9750 Apollo Drive, Suite B #124, Largo, Maryland 20774 or electronically. For students outside of the USA, be sure to utilize the World Evaluation Services (World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation for U.S. (wes.org) for evaluating your transcripts before submission to BICU.
3. A non-refundable processing fee of $50.00
4. A written portfolio outlining and demonstrating the applicant’s work in various church capacities. If the applicant has never been involved in church work, a plan outlining the applicant’s vision for ministry should be submitted.
5. Three letters of recommendations/character reference: These letters must be from any two of the following sources: i) the church organization to which the applicant belongs (one letter), ii) a professor who has taught the applicant at the undergraduate level (two letters), iii) any reputable individual (one or two letters). The applicant will identify these referees on his/her application form after which a special password will be sent to eaxh referee for s/he to complete the recommendation online.
6. Complete entrance interview with designated BICU officials. This will be done through our online portal. All such interviews recorded and archived.

COURSES OFFERED IN THE M.A. PASTORAL MINISTRY

Below are the courses offered in the MA in Pastoral Ministry. They are distributed as follows: 24 credits in Christian Ministry, 12 credits in Biblical Studies, 12 credits in Theological Studies, 6 credits in Historical Studies, and 10 hours of electives

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY (24 crs)

BIBLICAL STUDIES (12 crs)

THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (12 crs)

HISTORICAL STUDIES ( 6 crs)

ELECTIVES (10 crs)

Can be chosen from but not limited to these courses:

CURRICULUM PLAN MASTERS OF ARTS IN PASTORAL MINISTRY

THE MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGION & CHURCH ADMINISTRATION

This MRCA offering is a 39-credit program. It is designed for those seeking advanced theological education combined with professional skills in church leadership and administration. The curriculum aims to equip students with both a deep understanding of Christian doctrine and practical tools for managing the complex operations of modern churches. Graduates will be prepared to serve as senior church leaders, administrators, or consultants, equipped with the knowledge to lead in various ministry contexts while ensuring healthy organizational practices, ethical decision-making, and sustainable growth.

Three (3) courses per module will be offered and two (2) modules per semester. Each course will be offered over an 8-weeks period in fully online, virtual or blended formats.This program is for a duration of 18 month (including at least one summer session).

PREREQUISITES FOR THE MRCA

Prerequisites for the MRCA are as follows:

1. A bachelor’s degree and transcript, preferably in Religion or Church Administration or a related area.
2. A grade point average of at least 2.67 at the undergraduate level
3. A an undergraduate course in at least four (4) Religion courses or a combination of Religion courses and Church Administration courses. Where none of these courses are reflected on the transcript, students will be asked to complete four such courses before proceeding to the MRCA program.

APPLICATION PROCESS for the MRCA Degree

The application package consists of the items as shown below which are to be submitted in our online portal (see “Application”).

1. Completed application form online
2. Official transcripts of undergraduate degree(s) must be submitted via mail to the BICU mailing address at: 9750 Apollo Drive, Suite B #124, Largo, Maryland 20774 or electronically. For students outside of the USA, be sure to utilize the World Evaluation Services (World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation for U.S. (wes.org) for evaluating your transcripts before submission to BICU.
3. A non-refundable processing fee of $50.00
4. Two letters of recommendations: These letters must be from any two of the following sources: i) a professor who has taught the applicant at the undergraduate level (one letter), ii) a reputable professional (one letter). The applicant will identify these referees on their application from after which a special password will be sent to the referee for he/she to complete the recommendation online.
5. A Statement of Purpose outlining why the student would like to pursue the MRCA program and how this degree will be utilized after the completion of the degree.
6. Complete an entrance interview with designated BICU officials. This will be done through our online portal. All such interviews are recorded and archived.

COURSES OFFERED IN THE MRCA PROGRAM

CORE COURSES

Year 1

Fall Semester

Elective or Specialized Course (3 credits)

An elective could be in areas such as church marketing, missiology, pastoral care, or any specific area relevant to the student's career goals. It can also be used for a specialized topic of interest in church administration.

Year 2

CAPSTONE (6 Credits)

Curriculum Plan: Master of Religion and Church Administration

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN RELIGION

The Bachelor of Arts in Religion consists of 120 credit hours. The student has the choice to accomplish this program in three or four years (see Curriculum Plan below). The program is so designed as to lay a solid academic foundation for continued study in Religion at the graduate level while at the same time prepares the student for general Pastoral Ministry. Thus, there are two primary areas: i) Biblical/Theological Studies (core curriculum) and ii) Pastoral Ministry (concentration).The courses offered in Comparative and Cultural Studies are designed to enhance the Pastoral (professional) Ministry emphasis. Additionally, students in this program are required to be involved in church activities, for example, evangelistic efforts, church administration, group bible study, lay pastorship, et cetera. These activities are incorporated into the courses taken in Christian Ministry namely, Evangelism and Denominational Practices, Leadership and Denominational Administration, Seminar in Denominational Culture and Practices, Worship and Church Music, Pastoral Counseling and Homiletics.

The practical involvement of the student during these course serves as a form of internship. The above courses (especially the Seminar in Denominational Culture and Practices) also ensure that students must do research specific to the unique theological, historical, philosophical, and cultural practices of their respective denomination. The credits for this degree are distributed as follows: General Education 35; New Testament Studies 31; Old Testament Studies 21; Theological Studies 12; Church History 9; Mission Studies 12. The specific courses are shown below.

PREREQUISITES

The following prerequisites are required for matriculation into the Bachelor of Arts in Religion program:

1. A certified copy of high school diploma/certificate and ACT or SAT results of at least 1050. Certification must be done by a notary public or Justice of the Peace.
2. For students in the Caribbean at least five CXC subjects or its equivalent. These too must be notarized by a notary public/Justic of the Peace.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE B.A. RELIGION PROGRAM

The application package consists of the following items which are to be completed and submitted online at www. xxxx:

1. Completed application form
2. Official transcripts of high school grades sent directly from the applicant’s institution electronically on the BICU portal or in a sealed envelope via mail to BICU at: 9750 Apollo Drive, Suite B #124, Largo, Maryland 20774. For students outside of the USA, be sure to utilize the World Evaluation Services (World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation for U.S. (wes.org) for evaluating your transcripts before submission to BICU. 3. A non-refundable processing fee of $50.00
4. Three letters of recommendations. One each from any of the following sources, i) the church organization to which the applicant belongs, ii) a local church Pastor/ Elder/Leader, iii) high school principal or guidance counselor or iv) high school teacher who has taught the applicant.
5. Complete entrance interview with designated BICU officials. This will be done through our online portal. All such interviews are recorded and archived.

GENERAL EDUCATION (45 crs)

NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES (29 crs)

OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES (21 crs)

THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (8 crs)

CHURCH HISTORY (6 crs)

MISSION STUDIES (12 crs)

B.A. in RELIGION (Accelerated 3-year Program)

CURRICULUM PLAN: B.A. IN RELIGION

BACHELORS OF ARTS IN RELIGION & POLITICS

The Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Politics consists of 120 credit hours. The student has the choice to accomplish this program in three years (see Curriculum Plan below). The program is so designed to lay a solid academic foundation for continued study in Religion &/ or Politics at the graduate level, while at the same time that it prepares the student for Pastoral Ministry or entry into Politics. Students in this program are required to be involved in church activities (for example, evangelistic efforts, church administration, group bible study, lay pastorship, et cetera) and political activities that are wholesome and legitimate (such as socially uplifting communitybased activities, representation to Political leaders, youth rallies, socially supportive political issues, etc.). The credits for this degree are distributed as follows: General Education 45; New Testament Studies 18; Old Testament Studies 12; Theological Studies 15; Politics & Business Relations 12; Political Management 9 crs; Politics & Action, 9.

PREREQUISITES

The following prerequisites are required for matriculation into the Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Politics:

1. A certified copy of high school diploma/certificate, ACT or SAT. Certification must be done by a notary public or Justice of the Peace.
2. For students in the Carribbean at least five CXC subjects or its equivalent. These too must be notarized by a notary public or Justice of the Peace.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE B.A. in RELIGION & POLITICS The application package consists of the following items which are to be completed and submitted online at www. xxxx:

1. Completed application form
2. Official transcripts of high school grades sent directly from the applicant’s institution in a sealed envelope to the BICU mailing address at: 9750 Apollo Drive, Suite B #124, Largo, Maryland 20774 or electronically. For students outside of the USA, be sure to utilize the World Evaluation Services (World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation for U.S. (wes.org) for evaluating your transcripts before submission to BICU.
3. A non-refundable processing fee of $50.00
4. Three letters of recommendations. One each from any of the following sources, i) The church organization to which the applicant belongs, ii) A local church Pastor/ Elder/Leader/Community Leader, iii) High school principal or guidance counselor or, iv) High school teacher who has taught the applicant. These letters of recommendation should speak to the student’s ability to lead, participate actively in teamwork and advocate for community issues.
5. Complete entrance interview with designated BICU officials. This will be done through our online portal. All such interviews will be recorded and archived.

B.A. DEGREE IN RELIGION & POLITICS (120 crs.)

GENERAL EDUCATION (45 crs)

NEW TESTAMENT (18 crs)

OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES (12 crs.)

THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (15 crs.)

POLITICS & BUSINESS RELATIONS (12 crs)

POLITICAL MANAGEMENT (9 crs)

POLITICS & ACTION (9 crs)

B.A. in RELIGION AND POLITICS

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN RELIGION

The Associate of Arts degree in Religion is a two-year program designed to equip lay pastors for ministry and also to provide a solid academic base to pursue the Bachelor’s degree in Religion. The maximum time in which the program can be completed is five (5) years. This Associate degree consists of a total of 60 credits as follows:12 hours in New Testament Studies, 12 hours in Old Testament Studies, 9 hours of Theological Studies, 12 hours of Mission Studies, and 15 hours of General Education Studies. The specific courses offered in the program are outlined below.

PREREQUISITES FOR THE ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN RELIGION

Prerequisites for the Associate in Religion are as follows:

1. High school diploma or ACT/SAT score of 1050
2. At least five (5) Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) subjects for Caribbean students.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN RELIGION

The application package consists of the following items which are to be submitted online at www.xxxxx or to the mailing address at: 9750 Apollo Drive, Suite B #124, Largo, Maryland 20774.

1. Completed application form to be submitted online.
2. Official transcripts of the applicant’s high school grades, sent directly in hard copy or electronically from his/her institution. Send hard copies to the mailing address of BICU at: 9750 Apollo Drive, Suite B #124, Largo, Maryland 20774. For students outside of the USA, be sure to utilize the World Evaluation Services (World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation for U.S. (wes.org) for evaluating your transcripts before submission to BICU.
3. A non-refundable processing fee of $50.00
4. Three letters of recommendations. These letters must be from the following sources respectively: 1) high school principal or guidance counselor, ii) high school teacher who has taught the applicant, and iii) Minister of Religion or a local church elder/leader.
5. Complete entrance interview with designated BICU officials. This will be done through our online portal. All such interviews will be recorded and archived.

COURSES OFFERED

The courses offered in the Associate of Arts degree in Religion according to their respective areas are as follows:

GENERAL EDUCATION (36 crs)

NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES (9 crs)

OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES (9 crs)

MISSION (9 crs)

CURRICULUM PLAN: ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN RELIGION