Darren Duerksen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies and Christian Ministries, Program Coordinator
Where can God take you when you dedicate yourself to understanding God's Word and knowing Him better?
Anywhere.
Biblical and theological study is both academic and deeply personal. It equips us to consider and develop key questions, like who is God and what is the purpose of humanity?
As a biblical and theological studies major at Fresno Pacific University, you’ll engage a wide array of ideas, while using biblical text as a primary source. You may reenact first-century Jerusalem in full costume or study environmental issues through a faith-based lens. You'll take courses taught by well-traveled faculty with expertise in pastoral ministry, literature, missions and archeology.
Through the study of Scripture, your faith will come alive as you learn to think deeply about what it means to live a God-Centered life, thereby building a strong foundation for life and potential ministry.
Program Highlights
- Deepen Your Understanding of Scripture – Engage in rigorous biblical study, exploring the Old and New Testaments with scholarly and faith-filled insight.
- Strengthen Your Theological Foundation – Develop a Christ-centered worldview through courses in Christian doctrine, ethics, and church history.
- Integrate Faith and Life – Prepare to grow spiritually and intellectually as you learn how theology shapes personal faith and daily living.
- Be Equipped for Kingdom Work – Prepare for ministry, missions, or further theological study with a strong biblical and theological education.
Faculty
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Program Director: Darren Duerksen, Ph.D.
Overview
The biblical and theological studies major nurtures faithful and critical reflection on Christian tradition through three primary lenses: the study of Scripture, the study of theological and ethical discourse, and the study of other religious traditions. Students are invited to delight in a richer understanding of and witness to the Scriptures in conversation with both the Christian church and the world. A majority of graduates pursue careers in church or church-related ministry or mission; some pursue graduate studies in Bible, theology, or religious studies. Other graduates have been successful in careers in law, community transformation, business, consulting, and teaching.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Biblical Literacy & Interpretation: Students will demonstrate both knowledge of Old and New Testament biblical texts (with reference to their literary, historical, and social settings) and the application of appropriate exegetical methods to their interpretation of these texts while generating theological syntheses from those texts.
- Theological, Ethical, & Moral Reasoning: Students will exhibit competency in critical assessment of Christian theological and ethical positions within their contexts, with a special focus on Anabaptist perspectives.
- Religious Literacy & Interfaith Perspectives: Students will demonstrate an understanding of dimensions of diverse religious traditions and the ways in which Christian and other religious communities engage each other.
- Integration: Students will integrate their academic biblical, religious, and theological learning with their faith commitments and lived practice.
Locations Offered
Main Campus Fresno
Required Core Courses (37 units)- BIB 483 - Projects in Biblical and Religious Studies Credits 1
- BIB 520 - The Church and God's Mission in the World Credits 3
- REL 360 - Religions of the World Credits 3
- REL 455 - Christians and Religious Neighbors Credits 3
- THEO 170 - Introduction to Theology and Ethics Credits 3
- THEO 425 - Theological Ethics and the Environment Credits 3
- THEO 465 - Theological Ethics of Conflict and Peacemaking Credits 3
- 9 Units of Any Biblical Literature. (6 units must be 300-400 level) Credits / Units: 3
Electives (8-10 units)Humanities
Humanities
Select one of the following humanities courses:
- ART 330 - Art and Religion Credits 3
- COM 395 - Text and Performance Credits 3
- COM 480 - Narrative Credits 3
- GRK, any course with this prefix Credits 3
- HEB, any course with this prefix Credits 3
- LIT 460 - Critical Approaches to Literature Credits 3
History
Select one of the following history courses:
- HIST 350 - American Religious History Credits 3
- HIST 365 - Ancient Rome Credits 3
- HIST 368 - Ancient and Medieval Rhetoric Credits 3
Ministry
Select one of the following ministry courses:
- MIN 330 - Disability Ministry Concepts Credits 3
- MIN 378 - Worship Ministries Concepts Credits 2
- MIN 392 - Biblical Interpretation and Teaching Credits 2
Possibilities Await
With an FPU Education
Whether you're a high school student, transfer student or parent, you'll find all the resources you need including application steps, tuition & financial aid, transfer and orientation information.
First Steps to Admission
- Submit an application for admission (online or printable mail-in)
* Admission applications are free, no discount codes required. - Send official copies of your transcripts to FPU.
- Complete the FAFSA. It can be completed starting October 1st. (FAFSA Code: 001253)
Non-traditional Admission
Four-Year Graduation Guarantee
Earning a degree in four years allows you to get a head start on achieving your goals of entering the work force or starting graduate school. FPU guarantees graduation within four years in the traditional undergraduate areas of study. We commit to providing the courses, advising, instruction and preparation. If you fulfill your responsibilities and are unable to graduate in four years, you will receive the needed courses the following semester at no cost in tuition or fees.
Cost & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
Room & Board Rates
Financial Aid
Freshman Scholarships
Based on a student’s academic GPA. Academic GPA’s are calculated by FPU on a weighted, 4.0 scaled and based on core academic classes in grades 10-12. Renewable if a minimum GPA is maintained.
| Name | GPA | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Paragon | Full Tuition | |
| President's | 4.00 GPA and above | $18,000 |
| Dean's | 3.75-3.99 GPA | $15,000 |
| Heritage | 3.50-3.75 GPA | $14,000 |
| Faculty | 3.25-3.49 GPA | $12,000 |
| Founder's | Below a 3.0 GPA | $8,000 |
Transfer Scholarships
To be considered for a Transfer Academic Scholarship, you must have 12 or more transferable, post-high school units. GPA’s are based on transferable units and calculated by FPU.
| Name | GPA | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer Scholar | 3.50 GPA and above | $14,000 |
| Transfer Achievement | 3.0-3.49 GPA | $10,000 |
| Transfer Academic | 2.40-2.99 GPA | $7,500 |
| Transfer Partnership | Below a 2.4 GPA | $6,000 |
Performance-based Scholarships
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Athletic | $500 to Full Tuition |
| Music | $400 to $10,000 |
| Theatre Arts | $500 to $4,000 |
| Art/Design | $500 to $4,000 |
Other FPU Grants and Scholarships
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| FPU Possibilities Scholarship | Full Tuition |
| Church Match | $500 to $1,500 |
| International Scholarship | up to $6,000 |
| Mennonite Brethren Award | $4,000 |
| Out of State Student Scholarship | $4,000 |
| Other Awards | $100 to $10,000 |
Federal and State Grants
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cal Grant A | $9,358 |
| Cal Grant B | $1,648 |
| Pell Grants | $750 to $7,395 |
| Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant | $1,000 |
Federal Loans and Work-Study
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal Direct | $3,500 to $7,500 |
| PLUS Loan | Up to remaining cost |
| Work-study | Contingent on employment |
Private Scholarships
Alumni, parents, friends, businesses and foundations have generously provided a special set of scholarships available to students attending Fresno Pacific.
Alexandra Green
Mathematics
The grants, the academic awards, the transfer scholarship – all of it makes it so much more affordable to attend FPU. I know that school isn’t cheap for anyone, but FPU helped me realize that I could actually come to this school because they were going to help me so much financially.
Net Price Calculator
Now that you’ve seen the financial aid opportunities available to FPU students, we can estimate what your true cost may be to attend Fresno Pacific. Please keep in mind that this is just a computer generated, general estimate and may not capture all aid available, please work with your FPU Student Financial Services advisor to discover your true net price.
Career Opportunities
With this degree, you’ll be equipped to serve the church and your community. Courses will prepare you for work in teaching, pastoral ministry, missions, non-profit and parachurch organizations, or to pursue seminary or graduate studies.
Additionally, the academic skills honed by a Biblical and Theological Studies degree are effective in preparing students for a variety of other careers. Former graduates have been successful in careers in law, community transformation, business, consulting and teaching.
Possible Careers
- Pastor
- Youth pastor
- Ministry director
- Missionary
- Non-profit director
- International relief worker
- Community transformation
Career Development Happens Here
The staff in our Career Development and Experiential Learning Center are here to help you prepare to enter the working world. Whether your a freshman or an FPU alum, there are a number of resources and trainings offered to help you find the internship and job you’re looking for.
- Resume writing classes
- Career assessments, exploration & planning
- Job search and networking opportunities
- and much more