IRVING, Texas (August 20, 2020) – The B.H. Carroll Theological Institute has created a new Ministry Certificate program for students who have not yet completed an undergraduate degree. The program is designed to prepare the student for service in the local church and, potentially, for entry into a master’s-level program of study.
At its founding, B.H. Carroll provided a diploma program for undergraduate students. Changing guidelines from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) now make it possible for a student to enter graduate-level education after providing evidence of their ability to complete the work.
Since B.H. Carroll no longer offers its diploma program (a model of undergraduate education), students who enter the 16-unit Ministry Certificate program will be provided general admission for academic study in master’s-level courses.
At the halfway point in progressing toward the Ministry Certificate, students who have maintained a B average (3.0 GPA) may be invited, upon the recommendation of a faculty member, to pursue master’s-level study in a specific master’s degree program. Students who do not maintain a B average and are not interested in pursuing further study will be awarded the Ministry Certificate upon the completion of the 16-unit course of study.
B.H. Carroll President Dr. Gene Wilkes said the new ATS standards now provide “a pathway to admitting a limited number of students who have not completed an undergraduate degree into our master’s programs.”
“The purpose of our diploma program has always been to prepare students for entry into one of our master’s programs, for our primary mission is graduate-level theological education. We have maintained this program for some time, hoping it would flourish, but the time has come for us to make some changes in our program offerings.”
Wilkes said he believes the Ministry Certificate program will appeal to students who are more engaged with the ministry of their churches later in life, as well as to middle-aged adults who have been career-focused but who now want to pursue training for ministry.
“God doesn’t always call the college graduate into ministry. Sometimes, he calls after a career or welding, ranching, or waiting tables. Sometimes he calls the stay-at-home mother whose children have recently moved out. Those calls are just as valid as when he calls the graduate of a prestigious university.”
In the Ministry Certificate program, students will begin study in the Carroll Gateway Course, which helps develop proper research and writing skills, followed by seven courses from the B.H. Carroll core. Afterward, they will move forward into seven courses in the B.H. Carroll core clusters (Scripture & Witness, Faith & Heritage, Ministry & Formation, and Worship & Mission).
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