Find your mission as you follow your passion to study God’s Word. Immerse yourself in theological topics. Interpret biblical passages and discover their relevance to life. See how church history shaped theology. Read the Bible in its original languages. Get cultural perspective on people and customs in the Bible. Enrich your experience by studying abroad in Israel. Be rewarded for excellence in your studies.
Biblical and theological studies may be the right degree for you if you
- love to study the Bible
- are interested in theology and how to live out your faith
- want to learn biblical languages like Greek and Hebrew
- are seeking excellent preparation for seminary or graduate school
Why choose biblical and theological studies at Northwestern?
Be prepared for a meaningful career using advanced training in biblical interpretation and theology. Collaborate with faculty on research projects and build your resume. Establish a solid biblical foundation so you can serve God wherever He leads you. Get equipped for graduate school and earn related degrees like MATS, M.Div., MAML, and more.
Study Scripture in-depth as you gain knowledge of New Testament Greek. Learn from Christian scholars with expertise in Bible translation techniques.
Discover theological insights by studying themes (“biblical theology”) and categories (“systematic theology”). Find out how these ideas have been shaped over time (“historical theology”). Discuss ideas with your classmates and professors.
Expand your cultural awareness about the customs, context, and geography of the Bible. Understand how personal and cultural biases affect biblical interpretation.
Get personalized career advice from your faculty advisor. Graduates of this program have found jobs as pastors, professors, missionaries, Bible translators, teachers at Christian high schools, chaplains, youth pastors, leaders in para-church organizations, communication directors, and more. Some jobs require additional education.
Consider enhancing your major with a minor in Ancient & Classical Languages, Communication, History, Intercultural Studies, Linguistics, Philosophy, Science and Theology, Writing, or another area of interest.
Experience more
There’s more to experience outside the classroom:
- Present a paper at the Undergraduate Theology Conference
- Discover first-hand what it’s like to do archaeological excavation
- Get involved in local ministry
- Collaborate with faculty on research and publication projects
You may qualify for induction into our local chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society. You may also receive an award for outstanding work in Greek, Hebrew, and theology.
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Accelerated Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS)
Planning on graduate school? An affordable option is to combine an undergraduate B.A. degree in Biblical and Theological Studies with an accelerated Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS). Apply through the Biblical & Theological Studies department for this track designed to save you time and money. You’ll complete 14 credits of the MATS degree during your undergraduate program. You can complete the remaining 22 credits during one extra year of graduate study on campus or online. You have the option to culminate your MATS program with the writing of a thesis guided by a faculty member. This accelerated pathway saves you 14 credits of graduate tuition expense as you add a MATS degree to your portfolio in one year.
Ways to save on tuition
Take advantage of opportunities to save money as a Biblical and Theological Studies major:
- Take free test-out exams for Survey of the Old Testament and New Testament (earn up to 6 credits)
- As a Biblical and Theological Studies major, you may qualify for select ministry scholarships and more
My senior year I went on a once in a lifetime trip to Israel. As a Biblical and Theological Studies major, I saw all my hours of work and studying come to life in a way that has forever impacted how I read the Bible. My favorite memories include being baptized in the Jordan River, taking a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, swimming in the Dead Sea, touching the water from the pool of Gideon, wandering the ruins of King Herod’s fortress at Masada, walking through the field where David killed Goliath, and retracing Jesus’ steps through Jerusalem.
I am grateful for the foundation laid by the Bible professors at Northwestern. God gave me a clear sense of a call to vocational ministry. Part of this came through my time at Northwestern and in seminary, but this primarily has come through my time as a member of a local church. God has used and continues to use his people to affirm the ways they see God's grace in my life. In addition, the elders of my local church have affirmed a call to vocational ministry and continue to walk through life with me as I pursue this call.
Getting my degree in Biblical and Theological Studies was foundational in leading me toward my calling. I knew that I wanted to pursue ministry, but I had no idea what form that would take. My professors at Northwestern introduced me to so many different options from scholarly work to teaching; pastoral leadership to Christian counseling. In the end, my degree equipped me with the skills I needed to land an administrative job at my church, and I couldn’t be happier!
Being at a school like UNW has allowed me to dive right into my major. For example, I started studying Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, during my freshman year. I have also been given the opportunity to work with Dr. Seevers, an Old Testament professor, on a joint research project studying ancient Israelite religious practices as well as potentially participate in an archaeological dig in Israel next summer. My experience so far has pushed me to grow intellectually and spiritually while learning from excellent professors who truly care about their students.
Pursuing the Bible academically can be difficult at times, especially when studying and reading became part of my homework. I really had to focus and ask how a particular passage would affect me personally and not just what it meant academically. I learned to keep my academic time different from my personal time with the Lord.
Careers in biblical and theological studies
A variety of career and academic pathways will emerge for you with a degree in biblical and theological studies.
What types of work are related to this degree?
- Pastoral ministry
- Bible translation
- Leadership in nonprofit organizations
- Research and writing
- Theological librarian
- Chaplain
- University professor
- Para-church ministry
- Christian education
- Missions
- Communication
- Camp ministry
- Bible teacher
What will I learn?
You will learn to perform advanced biblical interpretation, evaluate current issues using theological methods, explain Christian theology, and develop your skills in communication, research, and analysis.
BIA 3236
Biblical Customs and Geography
A study of the geography of the Fertile Crescent with special emphasis on Israel and Judah. Selected customs of the ancient Hebrews and surrounding peoples are studied for the light that they shed on Scripture.
BIA 3235
Second Temple Judaism
A study of Jewish civilization from 538 B.C. to A.D. 135 as an aid to understanding both the formation of the Old Testament and the rise of Christianity. Primary emphasis is on political and social history, with considerable attention to the literary materials of the period.
BIB 4460
Biblical Theology
The study of theology that identifies the themes emerging from the various books of the Bible and explains their contribution to the progress of divine revelation.
ACL 2001
Elementary Greek I
The first course in a year-long sequence introducing elements of Classical and Koine Greek morphology, syntax and vocabulary. Emphasis is on reading classical and New Testament Greek.
BIB 4835
Seminar in Theological Method
An integration of the historical, methodological and hermeneutical aspects of theology as well as a survey of its various methods and trends, enabling the student to begin constructing his/her own theological methods for doing systematic theology within the life and mission of the Church.
Still have questions about this program or how to apply?
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Discover the Department of Biblical & Theological Studies
Professors at Northwestern are focused on their students first. Our faculty include experts in their respective fields who want to help you grow in your faith while you earn your degree.
