Courses | Master of Arts (Bible Exposition)
Below are the course requirements for this academic program. For more program details, including graduation requirements and learning outcomes, visit Biola's academic catalog.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must possess a Bachelor of Arts degree or its academic equivalent from an accredited college with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Additionally, applicants should have completed an accredited course in Old Testament survey and in New Testament survey prior to matriculation. If the prerequisite courses are not completed prior to matriculation, the student is required to take TTBE 519 and TTBE 520 as elective credits during their program.
All applicants must submit a written statement outlining their vocational objectives and how the degree might relate to those objectives.
Graduation Requirements
- Satisfactorily complete 49 credits as outlined in the curriculum requirements below. The rate of progress for many students is 12–13 credits per semester, allowing the program to be completed in two years.
- Students without previous courses in Old Testament Survey and New Testament Survey must take TTBE 519 and TTBE 520, which are not for credit unless taken in place of elective credits.
- Complete the online introduction to theological research and writing by the end of the second semester.
- Submit an acceptable capstone project, as determined by the department of specialization. Students will receive specific directions about their capstone project from their respective departments.
- At least 24 of the total credits required for the degree program must be completed in residency at Biola. Advanced Standing, Reduction and transfer credit are not considered residency credits.
- Obtain a 3.0 average with no grade below a "C-" in all courses to be credited toward graduation.
- Complete the entire program in no more than five years.
- Meet with a graduate academic records and degree specialist in the Office of the Registrar one year prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See Graduate Graduation Check description in the Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section.)
Specialization Requirements
Program Structure
The academic program leading to the degree Master of Arts with a specialization in Bible Exposition is comprised of 49 credits, including:
- Biblical and theological foundations.
- Spiritual Formation Focus (SFF).
- Academic specialization in one of four disciplines requiring biblical language studies, or general studies in which biblical languages are not required.
- Additional elective courses determined by the student in consultation with the advisor.
Students may complete the specializations in Bible Exposition, Old Testament, New Testament, Philosophy, and Theology online, on-campus, or by a combination of those two modalities.
Combined B.A. - M.A. Program
Students in Biola University's Bachelor of Arts in Bible, Theology, and Ministry with a concentration in Bible Exposition may take graduate courses in their senior year, allowing the completion of a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in an accelerated format. See the Bachelor of Arts in Bible, Theology, and Ministry for the undergraduate portion of the accelerated B.A. - M.A. program.
Advanced Standing
Applicants who have taken undergraduate courses in biblical or theological studies may request advanced standing based on collegiate work. See Talbot Admissions Requirements for details. Note: if master's level courses are given advanced standing based on undergraduate coursework, some Ph.D. programs may require additional graduate courses in order to meet doctoral program requirements.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Courses | ||
| Old Testament Survey 1 | ||
| New Testament Survey 1 | ||
| Program Courses | ||
| TTBE 517 | Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods | 3 |
| TTSF 501 | Introduction to Spiritual Theology and Formation | 3 |
| TTSF 503 | Personal Foundations for Spiritual Formation | 3 |
| TTSF 504 | Spiritual Formation, Vocation, and the Disciplines | 1 |
| TTSF 505 | Talbot Spiritual Direction I | 0 |
| TTSF 506 | Talbot Spiritual Direction II | 0 |
| TTTH 521 | Theology I: God, Scripture, Creation | 3 |
| TTTH 522 | Theology II: Christ, Humanity, Sin, Salvation | 3 |
| TTTH 623 | Theology III: Spirit, Church, Last Things | 3 |
| Bible Exposition Specialization Courses | ||
| TTBE 530 | Elementary Principles of the Biblical Languages | 3 |
| TTBE 745 | World of the Old Testament | 3 |
| TTBE 780 | Teaching Scripture | 2 |
| TTBE 790 | Bible Exposition Capstone | 1 |
| TTNT 701 | The World of the New Testament | 3 |
| Elective Courses 2 | ||
| Bible Exposition elective courses covering OT | 6 | |
| Bible Exposition elective courses covering NT | 6 | |
| General elective courses (TTOT, NT, BE) 3 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 49 | |
- 1
May be used to fulfill the specialization electives.
- 2
Students may take up to 6 graduate elective credits in other schools of Biola University with advisor's approval. Elective courses covering OT may include TTBE 519, TTBE 602, TTBE 604, TTBE 650, TTBE 722, TTBE 731, TTBE 750, and TTBE 760. Elective courses covering NT may include TTBE 520, TTBE 610, TTBE 620, TTBE 630, TTBE 722, TTBE 726, TTBE 732, and TTBE 770.
- 3
Students may count TTBE 519 and TTBE 520 towards their elective courses.