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Academics

Programs & Degrees

A clear path from your first Bible course to a completed doctorate.

Independent Baptist Seminary offers undergraduate certificates and degrees, master’s programs, and doctoral study. Credits transfer forward, so a certificate today can become a degree tomorrow. Every program can be studied online, by module, by correspondence, or in person.

Undergraduate

30credit hrs

Bible & Theology Certificate

A foundational, college-level Bible education for the church member who wants to be grounded before moving into a degree program.

  • Core Bible and doctrine survey
  • Fully online or by correspondence
  • Credits apply toward a degree
64credit hrs

Associate of Biblical Studies

Two-year track · 62 core + 2 workshop

A two-year foundation in the English Bible, doctrine, and practical ministry — completed in person or remotely.

  • English Bible survey, Old & New Testament
  • Bible doctrines I–II
  • In person or remote
90credit hrs

Theology Degree

Three-year track · 88 core + 2 workshop

A three-year, ministry-focused degree with no general-education requirements — every hour is Bible, doctrine, and ministry.

  • No general-education requirements
  • Deep doctrine and Bible study
  • Prepares for full-time ministry
120credit hrs

Bachelor Degree

Four-year track · 112 core + 6 internship + 2 workshop

A complete four-year undergraduate degree that pairs classroom study with a supervised six-week local-church internship.

  • Full undergraduate curriculum
  • Six-week ministry internship
  • General education from a biblical worldview

Graduate

36credit hrs

Master's Degrees

28 core + 6 thesis + 2 workshop

Graduate study offered in four tracks — Bible, Theology, Baptist History, or Ministry — culminating in a written thesis.

  • Tracks: Bible · Theology · Baptist History · Ministry
  • Six-hour thesis
  • Online, module & correspondence

Post-Graduate

30credit hrs

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

A practitioner's doctorate for the seasoned pastor — requires a Master of Bible plus at least five years of ministry experience.

  • Requires Master of Bible + 5 years ministry
  • Advanced pastoral and doctrinal study
  • Built around the working pastor
60credit hrs

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The seminary's terminal research degree, with concentrations in Biblical Studies, Pastoral Ministry, or Religious Education.

  • Concentrations: Biblical Studies · Pastoral Ministry · Religious Education
  • Advanced research and writing
  • Terminal degree

This Term · 2026

What’s being taught this year.

The 2026 online, module, and correspondence offerings — each taught by a proven professor-pastor.

On-Campus Modules

April 7–9, 2026

Philosophy of Ministry

Dr. Mike Edwards, Dr. Alton Beal & Pastor T. H. Moore

Capitol Baptist Church, Dover, DE

September 14–17, 2026

A Biblical Design for Ministry

Tom Knickerbocker

Capitol Baptist Church, Dover, DE

Online Classes (34)

BI 5033 credits

Apologetics

Pastor Dave Mallinak

Equips the student to defend the Bible and Christianity against modern attacks on the church.

PA 5003 credits

The Art of Pastoring

Dr. David Sorensen

Three generations of pastoral experience on the duties, demands, and difficulties of pastoring — from a man who served over 50 years.

CE 1003 credits

Baptist History (Undergrad)

Dan Armacost

Baptist principles and distinctives from the Dark Ages separatists through the Anabaptists and Baptists to the present day.

PA 5523 credits

Baptist History III

Ted Alexander

Close attention to key figures in the Baptist denomination and how Baptist doctrine is built on the Word of God.

MU 5023 credits

Basics of Church Music

Scott Heishman

A foundation for identifying biblical music and administering it in the church service.

PA 5303 credits

Introduction to Biblical Counseling

Dr. Rick Carter

A biblical approach to counseling that avoids the humanistic principles prevailing today.

PA 5313 credits

Biblical Counseling: Destructive Thought Patterns

Dr. Rick Carter

Addresses destructive thought patterns — expectations, blame-shifting, extreme thinking, and victimhood.

MI 5003 credits

Biblical Missions in the Old Testament

John O'Malley

Develops a biblical theology of missions, focusing on the theme of missions in the Old Testament.

PA 6103 credits

Biblical Time Management

Dr. Steve Damron

Time management from a biblical perspective — becoming more efficient and productive in the Lord's work.

BI 5653 credits

Bibliology: The Text Issue

Dr. David Sorensen

Why the text matters, the historical dominance of the KJV position, and the critical text controversy.

PA 5403 credits

Children & Youth Ministry

Various

Subjects that help a church leader guide Christian young people toward a better walk with the Lord.

BI 5123 credits

Christology

Pastor Dan Armacost

The doctrine of Christ studied through the Old and New Testaments.

BI 5043 credits

Christian Warfare

Dr. Steve Damron

The spiritual warfare a Christian enters at salvation, Christ's example, and the armor of Ephesians 6.

CE 2003 credits

Creation Science

Jennifer Wright

A biblical view of creation from Scripture and science.

PA 5563 credits

The Dangers of Calvinism

Phil Stringer

The dangerous theology within the five points of TULIP and modern Reformed trends in Baptist ranks.

MU 5043 credits

Discerning Right and Wrong Music

Pastor Tom Brennan

A biblical philosophy of music, the meaning of worship, and promoting God-honoring church music.

BI 5143 credits

Advanced Ecclesiology

Dr. T. H. Moore

A doctrinal study of the church — what it is, its officers, and its duties.

BI 5083 credits

The Great Commission, Pt. 1

Pastor T. H. Moore

Biblical doctrines of salvation and the believer's responsibility to share the gospel and make disciples.

PA 5323 credits

Healing the Fractured Home

Dr. Rick Carter

God's design for the home, the roots of family dysfunction, and pastoral strategies to confront them.

PA 6043 credits

Hermeneutics

Pastor T. H. Moore

Proper biblical interpretation, with difficult passages examined and false methods exposed.

PA 5513 credits

History of Calvinism & Reformed Theology

Dr. Bob Dalton

The dangers of Reformed theology and Calvinism throughout history and their subtle attacks on the church.

PA 5503 credits

The History & Theology of the Baptists

Dr. Bob Dalton

Baptist history and the theology that shaped it — including modern trends that have crept into Baptist churches.

BI 5103 credits

Advanced Homiletics

Various

An advanced study of preaching that begins with the soul of the pastor, then various types of preaching.

BI 3033 credits

Life of Christ, Pt. 1

Pastor Tom Brennan

The life of Christ from the Gospels, from the Old Testament preparations through the Feeding of the 4,000.

BI 3043 credits

Life of Christ, Pt. 2

Pastor Tom Brennan

The life of Christ following the Feeding of the 4,000 through His ascension, emphasizing Passion Week.

BI 3313 credits

The Majesty of the Psalms

Dr. David Sorensen

Selected 'mountaintop' Psalms, taught from an Independent Baptist perspective with a biblical worldview.

BI 4013 credits

Parables of Jesus (Undergrad)

Dr. Clint Schreiber

Each of the parables of Jesus with emphasis on doctrine and application.

BI 5133 credits

Pneumatology

Dr. Steve Damron

A thorough study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

MU 5033 credits

Rightly Dividing the Sound

Alan Ives & John Randall

A biblical study of music throughout Scripture and sound principles for church and personal music.

BI 5113 credits

Advanced Soteriology

Pastor Tom Fryman

The doctrine of salvation — justification, redemption, regeneration, sanctification, propitiation, and more.

BI 1003 credits

Systematic Theology I

Dan Armacost

The first of a three-part study of the doctrines of Scripture — Bibliology through eschatology.

BI 1013 credits

Systematic Theology II

Dan Armacost

Continues the study of the doctrines of Scripture from Systematic Theology I.

BI 1023 credits

Systematic Theology III

Dan Armacost

Concludes the three-part study of the doctrines of Scripture.

BI 5403 credits

I & II Thessalonians

Dr. Steve Damron

The themes of 1 & 2 Thessalonians, their impact on end-times doctrine, and dispensationalism.

Correspondence Classes

PA 5073 credits

The Doctrine of Sanctification & Personal Separation

Correspondence

The doctrine of sanctification and the biblical demand for personal holiness, studying Brennan's 'Freed from Sin' and Corle's 'The Chemistry of Separation.'

PA 5533 credits

Why We Are Baptists

Correspondence

What makes Baptists distinct from Protestants and Evangelicals — the history and the theological differences.

MU 5003 credits

Music in the New Testament Church

Correspondence

Following God's directives in church music, studying works by Foster, McCandless, and Fisher.

PA 5013 credits

A Study of Suffering

Correspondence

What the Bible teaches about suffering and persecution, developing four teachable lessons.

Browse the full course catalog.

See every course in every department — Bible, pastoral theology, Christian education, music, missions, and more.