Christian Studies

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (NKJV) Proverbs 3:5-6.

Contact Information

Sheffield-Thompson Building
Phone: (706) 233-7472

Major Areas of Study
Minor Areas of Study
Mission Statement
Vision Statement
General Purpose
Specific Goals
What can I do with a Christian Studies Major?
Honors Society and Student Organization
Christian Studies Fact Sheet
Related Links
Activities

Major Areas of Study

Christian Studies

• Christian Studies – Curriculum
• Bachelor of Arts, Christian Studies – Course List
• Bachelor of Science, Christian Studies – Course List
  
• Online: Associates of Science in Christian Studies
• Online: Bachelor of Science in Christian Studies

Youth Ministry

• Bachelor of Arts, Youth Ministry – Course List
• Bachelor of Science, Youth Ministry – Course List

MINOR AREAS OF STUDY

• Christian Studies
• Biblical Languages
• Christian Apologetics and Philosophy
• Christian Leadership
• Christian Missions
• Christian Worship

Course list for all minors

MISSION STATEMENT

The School of Christian Studies exists to train servant leaders for worldwide ministry through biblical scholarship, evangelism, spiritual growth, and Christian service in order to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).

VISION STATEMENT

Our desire is to be on mission with God in order to bring all peoples of the world to saving faith in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 1:8).

GENERAL PURPOSE

Our purpose is to evangelize those who do not yet know Christ, to equip those who do know Christ to become effective leaders who can articulate and demonstrate the absolute importance of a biblical worldview, to edify believers by encouraging personal spiritual growth, and to expand the ministry horizons of believers to global proportions.

SPECIFIC GOALS

The School of Christian Studies plays a pivotal role in the life of Shorter University and seeks to reinforce the mission of the university through the accomplishment of five major goals:

1. To equip students who desire to enter Christian ministry with a scholarly study of the various aspects of the Christian faith.  The curriculum is biblically-based and courses are taught from a distinctively Christian perspective.
2. To provide the necessary preparation for those students who will enter seminary or other graduate programs in Christian Studies/Religion.  Such preparation should help students to qualify for advanced standing in many graduate degree programs in the seminaries.
3. To offer students majoring or minoring in our area of study the academic training and practical experience essential for effective ministry in local churches, denominational institutions, and any other sphere of Christian service.
4. To provide a thorough training for those who will directly enter the ministry upon graduation, thus ending their formal educational preparation.  Students will be afforded a balanced program to train them for multi-faceted ministry.
5. To give basic Christian instruction to all students in the university through the required survey courses.  Careful attention will be given to the biblical perspective of God’s purposes in the world with relation to the nature and destiny of humanity.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A CHRISTIAN STUDIES MAJOR?

While many local churches, denominational organizations, and missionary agencies require a seminary degree beyond the bachelors program in Christian Studies or Youth Ministry for employment, others do not. Our Christian Studies and Youth Ministry programs are designed primarily to provide a foundation for ministry and a stepping stone to specialization at the seminary / graduate level.

Many of the areas of service listed below will necessitate ministerial training beyond the college experience, although some may be entered immediately upon graduation from our program. Moreover, having a double major could enhance a student’s knowledge and prepare him or her for a special field of service (for example, a double major in Christian Studies and Business Administration would be beneficial for those desiring to serve as a Church Administrator or wishing to work in the business office of a denominational agency).  Students should contact particular agencies, institutions, and churches in order to obtain the specific prerequisites for employment within these organizations.

The following lists offer a sampling of possibilities in the area of Christian service, and certainly are not intended to be exhaustive in nature.

If you have any questions regarding career choices or ministerial calling, please contact a faculty member of our School of Christian Studies, email Dr. Kellett at ekellett@shorter.edu or call 706-233-7472.

HONORS SOCIETY AND STUDENT ORGANIZATION

Theta Alpha Kappa Honors Society

Theta Alpha Kappa is the honor society for the School of Christian Studies, and is a related scholarly organization of the American Academy of Religion, and affiliate society of the Council of Societies for the Study of Religion, and a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.  The purpose of Theta Alpha Kappa is to honor those who have shown excellence of achievement and promise of continued growth in the disciplines of Religious Studies and Theology.  The Society aims to further the disciplines of Christian Studies by encouraging research, good teaching, publication, and an intellectual and social exchange among students, teachers, and writers of the disciplines.

RELATED LINKS

Southern Baptist Convention
International Mission Board
North American Mission Board
Georgia Baptist Convention
The Christian Index
Baptist Press
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

Activities

Spring 2017

CST 1012 New Testament Survey class with Dr. Alan Hix takes advantage of a warm Spring day to meet outside.  Student groups studied and presented various aspects of Paul’s Pastoral Epistles.

The Christian Studies Department took students to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary March 23-26 to attend the Seminary’s preview weekend and participate in the Greer Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum.  Students attending were: Harley Channell, Jack Dodge, Sarah Johnson, Macon Jones, and Brooke Renfroe.  They were accompanied by Dr. and Mrs. Earl Kellett, Dr. Alan Hix, and Rev. Steve and Vickie Gandy.

CLOTH
April 2014

Mission Alaska 2014
February 26 – March 7, 2014