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Cross-Cultural Ministry Degree

Earn a degree in Christian ministry with an emphasis in cross-cultural ministry

Do you have a heart for ministry and a passion for working with people from a variety of backgrounds? Do you want to participate in missions work here in the United States? SBU's Cross-Cultural Ministry concentration within the Christian Ministry degree will equip you with training in discipleship, evangelism and ministry.

Put your learning into action through apprenticeships, volunteering at local churches and participating in student service activities such as the Center for Global Connections projects.

This degree also is an option for students interested in the Intercultural Studies degree who are unable to complete that program's semester abroad requirement.

The Cross-Cultural Ministry program is offered through SBU's College of Arts and Sciences

Resources

Major Map (PDF)

Degree plan

75%
ministry
placement
rate

(In the past two years, 75% of cross-cultural ministry graduates have been placed in full-time ministry positions either in the U.S. or overseas.)

Youth playing with bubbles machine

The SBU Advantage

  • Earn degree credit through participating in domestic and international missions projects with the SBU Center for Global Connections.
  • Many local churches provide volunteer and internship opportunities for you to gain ministry experience while pursuing your degree.
  • Each year, more churches seek to hire our graduates than the number of students in our program, creating great job placement opportunities.

Faith Integration

The integration of Christian faith and academic discipline is inherent in the Cross-Cultural Ministry program. Students receive superior academic training in Biblical studies through core classes such as Methods of Biblical Interpretation, Christian Heritage, Christian Doctrine, and Disciple-Making and Evangelism. The courses required by each concentration provide excellent career and ministry preparation with the goal of nurturing your personal faith while also equipping you to nurture the faith of others.

Careers

Our graduates are equipped to immediately enter cross-cultural ministry careers including:

  • Missions service with International Mission Board and other organizations
  • Staff roles in local churches
  • Nonprofit organization leaders

Graduate Schools

With SBU's Master of Arts in Christian Ministry 4+1 program, you can complete both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in just 5 years!

Other graduate schools and seminaries or Biblical Studies students later attend include:

  • Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • University of Aberdeen (Scotland)

Scholarships

While earning your cross-cultural ministry degree, you will be eligible for the Church Related Vocation (CRV) scholarship, which is currently valued at $2,000 per year. To maintain this scholarship, you must be enrolled in a ministry-related degree program, submit the necessary application and references, participate in SBU's in-service training program and complete any other requirements.

Several privately funded scholarships are also available by application to students preparing for service in missions and evangelism.

Christian Ministry: Cross-Cultural Ministry (B.A.) Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

BIB 1013 Old Testament History 3
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
SPF 2032 Spiritual Formation for Ministry 2
MAT 1243 Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling 3
PSY 1013 General Psychology 3
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
Total hours 15

Spring Semester

BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
ICS 2911 Cross-Cultural Service Project 1
ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
UNI 1121 Introduction to Critical Thinking 1
Total hours 15
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

BIB 2093 Methods of Biblical Interpretation 3
CHR 3023 Introduction to Preaching or  
CED 2033 Principles of Teaching in the Church 3
HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
PHS 1004 Introduction to Physical Science 4
ICS 2013 Anthropology for Cross-Cultural Service 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

COM 1103 Foundations of Speech Communication 3
CIS 1103 Computer and Information Management 3
CHR 3073 Disciple-making/Evangelism 3
ICS 3033 Introduction to Missions 3
ICS 2911 Cross-Cultural Service Project 1
THE 3113 Christian Doctrine 3
Total hours 16
 

Junior

Fall Semester

ICS 3023 Cross-Cultural Life & Service 3
THE 3773 Christian Heritage 3
ECO 2003 LIFE Economics 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
Total hours 18

Spring Semester

ICS 4313 World Religions 3
ICS 4023 Indigenous Christian Comm or 3
ICS 4123 Urban Ministries 3
THE 3023 Baptist Heritage 3
KIN 1162 Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness 2
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
Total hours 17
 

Senior

Fall Semester

  Upper-level Bible elective 3
  Foreign language 3-4
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
Total hours 15-16

Spring Semester

COM 3033 Cross-Cultural Communication 3
  Foreign language 3-4
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
Total hours 15-16

This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements.
Southwest Baptist University reserves the right to make changes to degree plans without advanced notice or obligation.
The student is responsible for understanding and completing all general education, degree, departmental and graduation requirements.

Download in PDF format:
Cross Cultural Ministry (B.A.) Plan (PDF)