The BA/MA 4 + 1 academic pathway is for students interested in optimizing their investment time by earning a 60-credit-hour MA degree just one year after completing their Briercrest undergraduate degrees.
The 4 + 1 academic pathway offers the quickest, most cost-effective, and most extensive route to a bachelor’s degree and master’s qualification at Briercrest.
This opportunity is for BA Biblical Studies students interested in earning their master’s degree in less time and for less investment. In partnership with the Seminary, Briercrest’s Department of Biblical and Theological Studies has developed a one-year pathway for its grads to complete their master’s degree.
The Biblical Studies 4 + 1 academic pathway combines Briercrest’s Biblical Studies four-year Bachelor of Arts courses with Master of Arts Courses, allowing students to add master’s qualifications to their bachelor’s degree in just one additional year.
Students will receive the same comprehensive education, recognized as excellent graduate-level ministry training, with some of today's most well-respected Canadian scholars in biblical studies, theology, and ministry.
What is the 4 + 1 Academic Pathway?
The BA/MA 4 + 1 academic pathway optimizes investment time by allowing students to earn a 60-credit-hour MA degree just one year after completing their Briercrest undergraduate degrees.
The 4 + 1 academic pathway offers the quickest, most cost-effective, and most extensive route to a bachelor’s degree and master’s qualification at Briercrest.
How does it work?
Through a combination of college courses eligible for advanced standing in the seminary and “shared credit” seminary courses taken to fill college and seminary requirements at the same time, students will complete language prerequisites and up to 40 credit hours that count toward their MA program during the 120 credit hours of the Briercrest College degree. This will enable students to concentrate on writing an MA thesis during their final year of the 4 + 1 academic pathway.
Students in the pathway will also benefit from Briercrest’s innovative approach to teaching biblical languages as living languages and be prepared to complete a major graduate-level research project in their final year.
This academic pathway is open to college students with a minimum GPA of 3.3. Students in the pathway will receive specialized guidance from dedicated program sheets that will point them toward courses that are eligible for advanced standing in the seminary and courses with additional seminary requirements that they need to take as “shared credits” between the college and seminary.
Who should apply for the 4 + 1 pathway?
The five-year BA/MA Biblical Studies academic pathway will appeal to students who want to pursue further education in Biblical Studies or Theology, as well as students who simply want to develop their knowledge of the biblical languages and their skill in reading the biblical text in preparation for ministry in a lay or vocational capacity. Interested students can apply using the online 5-Year BA-MA Pathway Application form.
What degrees are available through this academic pathway?
Under this program, students can complete a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies at Briercrest College and, subsequently, a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages and Exegesis (MABLE) or Theological Studies (MATS) (Old Testament Concentration and New Testament Concentration) at Briercrest Seminary within five years.
Is there more information available?
For more information, talk to Dr. David Miller (Associate Professor of New Testament & Early Judaism) at dmiller@briercrest.ca
Or go to the Biblical Studies program page.