Biblical Studies Certificate

Upon completion of our two-year biblical studies associate degree, you will have gained a general but vital understanding of every book of the Bible. Through this course, your skill in properly interpreting and applying the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testament will be greatly enhanced. This systematic study of the Scriptures will increase your knowledge of Bible history and the original context of many key passages which are used to teach Christian doctrine and prophecy, thus strengthening your own faith and making you a more effective teacher of the Word of God. 

Core experience/competence: 27 quarter-credit

(Click on the class title to read class description.)

Major classes: 45 quarter-credit

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Each student will be required to complete 24 credits of internship, which requires 16 weeks of full-time ministry related activities (minimum of 38 hours weekly), or if done part-time (minimum of 19 hours weekly) the requirement can be accomplished in 32 weeks. The Curriculum Committee of Hartland College must approve the internship site. More than one internship site may be approved. Internship sites could be SDA churches, and/or supporting ministries of the SDA Church. The following activities will count as part of the internship experience:

• Teaching and preaching: teaching Sabbath School lessons; preaching regularly in church services; training and equipping church members for evangelism.
• Involvement in all the phases of church life and activities: attending church board and business meetings, pastoral and elder meetings, worship committee, participation in the communion service and other services such as funeral, baby dedication, etc.
• Administering Bible studies.

Recommended activities during internship:

• Practical colporteur experience either in a structured canvassing program or under the mentorship of an experienced colporteur (highly recommended).
• Prison ministry may be part of the internship activities if it is part of the approved internship site’s regular activities.

Other requirements:

• Completed reading of the following books: The Old Testament of the Holy Scriptures, Patriarchs and Prophets, and Prophets and Kings.*

Over the years, many individuals have desired to attend Hartland’s campus-based program, but due to various reasons were not able to enroll as students. Young men and women from overseas have had visas denied, and thus could not come to study. Others, due to the fact that they have families and jobs, were not able to interrupt their plans and enroll as students. Whatever the reasons, now we have a solution for those who want to enroll, but are unable to participate in our campus-based program.

The main differences between the On-campus Associate of Bible Instruction and the Online Associate of Christian Discipleship:

The first is taken on campus and the second online.

The first has PRTR in the curriculum and the second does not.

The first requires one credit per term of Evangelistic Ministries (total of 6 credits) and the second requires 3 credits of Evangelistic Ministries—Bible Outreach I, II, and III.

The first has a 10-week internship requirement and the second has a 16-week internship requirement.

Recommendation of who should take this degree instead of an on-campus degree offered by the Religion Department of Hartland College:

A student who cannot take classes on campus and is self-motivated.

A student who has a career or employment that cannot be interrupted in order to study on campus.

A married student with family responsibilities who would have difficulty relocating.

* To supplement the curriculum of the Associate of Christian Discipleship degree, the Religion Department has chosen these books as required readings in order to provide a base knowledge of the Old Testament of the Holy Scriptures.