The first of its kind in Canada, Tyndale University now offers an accelerated pathway combining liberal arts and theological education.

The five-year BA + MDiv dual degree allows students to earn both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biblical Studies and Theology (BSTH) and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree in just five years of full-time study.

“Many universities, especially in their Faculties of Education, offer concurrent degrees for teacher candidates,” says Professor Daniel Scott, Associate Professor of Christian Ministries. “Now, those called to ministry can be educated and equipped in a program specifically designed for them.”

“While not all students in the BA Biblical Studies and Theology plan to go into ministry, not all students who think about ministry plan to continue their education at a seminary,” says Benjamin E. Reynolds, Professor of New Testament. “We have more and more pastors and those in ministry without seminary education. My hope is that, by shortening the program – from seven years to five – and merging the best parts of Tyndale's liberal arts BA degree with the seminary’s MDiv program, we will be able to offer the best pastoral training we can, and to more students who might not otherwise have considered a Seminary education.”

The entire joint program includes 53 courses (159 credit hours) made up of 35 BA BSTH courses (105 credit hours) and 18 MDiv courses (54 credit hours). This compares to 67 courses and 201 credit hours if a student was to take these programs separately.

Students who take this new degree merge prerequisite courses for both degrees. They will be required to complete a minor in their BA program in either Business, English, History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy or Psychology. The BA core requirements and minor requirements will provide students with a broader education than studying theology alone.

In addition to the BA core courses, a depth of knowledge will be achieved through learning the content and story of the Bible, theological doctrines, the history of Christianity, world religions, theology of worship, practical theology and other electives. Through internships, students will practise oral communication with those outside the classroom.

“The additional breadth will prepare them for thinking and engaging with the church and the world,” Reynolds says.

“Plus, they have the benefit of studying with two distinct and outstanding groups of professors—undergraduate and seminary,” says Scott.

Students will begin taking seminary courses at the end of their third year or the beginning of their fourth year. At the same time, Tyndale already has joint-listed courses (university courses that seminarians take and seminary courses that undergrads take). These courses are often in the languages and theology.

“Because seminary students do not often come to an MDiv or Master of Theological Studies (MTS) with previous study of biblical studies or theology, undergraduate students usually come to classes with a greater theological and biblical understanding of course subject matter,” Reynolds says. “Since seminarians are typically studying with a plan to enter ministry, and often have not entered their program directly from university, seminary students’ questions can be more practically oriented than those of undergraduate students. The benefit to both students in joint-listed classes is the different perspectives and life stages that they bring to the classroom.”

“Given the faculty and programs in the Tyndale University departments of Biblical Studies and Theology and Christian Ministries, and in Tyndale Seminary, not creating a dual degree program like this just wouldn’t make sense,” Reynolds concludes.

Students desiring further study, or an ongoing pathway, may choose an MA program or MTS after completion of the new 5-year BA + MDiv program.