Academic Programs
Ascent College offers three different programs of study to prepare students for their chosen field of ministry. These programs not only equip students professionally, but also assist them in viewing academic and professional subjects in light of their Christian faith.
Bachelor’s Degree in Ministry Leadership (4-year program)
The four-year program is designed to prepare the student for leadership positions in the chosen field of ministry. The program not only equips the student academically, but also is designed to prepare the student spiritually and practically with various Christian service requirements and mentoring opportunities. Ascent College offers eight areas of concentration for those seeking a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership.
Select from one of eight areas of concentration
Ascent College offers eight areas of concentration for those seeking a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership. In addition, there are two areas of focus for the Christian Counseling concentration: Psychology and Pastoral Counseling.
Ministerial Leadership
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The Bachelor of
Arts in Ministry Leadership with a concentration in Ministerial Leadership is a four-year program that is designed to prepare the student for leadership positions in their chosen field in ministry. The program not only equips the student academically, but also is designed to prepare the student spiritually and practically with various Christian service requirements and mentoring opportunities. This program specializes in providing opportunities for practical experience and training in the student’s chosen career focus. This concentration is 36 additional credit hours, for a total of 120 credit hours.
Biblical Studies
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The Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership with a concentration in Biblical Studies is a four-year program that is designed to prepare the student for teaching positions in the biblical/theological fields in a church ministry and for further graduate studies in biblical/theological fields. The program not only equips the student academically, but also is designed to prepare the student spiritually and practically with various Christian service requirements and mentoring opportunities. This program specializes in providing opportunities for practical experience and training in the student’s chosen career focus. This concentration is 40 additional credit hours, for a total of 124 credit hours.
Children's Ministry Leadership
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The Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership with a concentration in Children’s Ministry Leadership is a four-year program that is designed to prepare the student for leadership positions in children’s ministry. The program not only equips the student academically, but also is designed to prepare the student spiritually and practically with various Christian service requirements and mentoring opportunities. This program specializes in providing opportunities for practical experience and training in the student’s chosen career focus. This concentration is 37 additional hours, for a total of 121 credit hours.
Christian Counseling
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The Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership with a concentration in Christian Counseling is a non-licensure, non-clinical four-year program that is designed to prepare the student for advanced studies in the Christian Counseling field or for pastoral care positions. It not only equips the student academically, but also is designed to prepare the student spiritually and practically with various Christian service requirements and mentoring opportunities. This program specializes in providing opportunities for practical experience and training in the field of Christian Counseling with the expectation that students would pursue additional studies for licensure or would be prepared for pastoral care positions.
The program does not meet the requirements for a Virginia professional counseling license. This concentration is 36 additional credit hours for a total of 120 credit hours.
Intercultural Studies
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The Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership with a concentration in Intercultural Studies is a four-year program that is designed to prepare the student for a career on the mission field. The program not only equips the student academically, but also is designed to prepare the student spiritually and practically with various Christian service requirements and mentoring opportunities. This program specializes in providing opportunities for practical experience and training in the student’s chosen career focus. This concentration is 36 additional credit hours for a total of 120 credit hours.
Worship Leadership
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The Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership with a concentration in Worship Leadership is a four-year program that is designed to prepare the student for a leadership position in the area of worship in a church ministry. The program not only equips the student academically, but also is designed to prepare the student spiritually and practically with various Christian service requirements and mentoring opportunities. This program specializes in providing opportunities for practical experience and training in the student’s chosen career focus. This concentration is 39 additional credit hours for a total of 123 credit hours.
Youth Ministry Leadership
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The Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership with a concentration in Youth Ministry Leadership is a four-year program that is designed to prepare the student for a leadership positions and preaching responsibilities in Youth ministry. The program not only equips the student academically, but also is designed to prepare the student spiritually and practically with various Christian service requirements and mentoring opportunities. This program specializes in providing opportunities for practical experience and training in the student’s chosen career focus. This concentration is 36 additional credit hours for a total of 120 credit hours.
Associate’s Degree in Ministry Leadership (2-year program)
The Associate of Science degree is a two-year degree program for students interested in pursuing a foundational education in ministry leadership. This program also incorporates general education requirements which prepare the student for further study toward the bachelor degree.
Diploma in Ministry Leadership (1-year program)
The Diploma in Ministry Leadership is a one-year program that will provide the student with basic educational courses to prepare for entry-level ministry in various fields. This program will also provide the educational requirement for the certified level of credentialing with the Assemblies of God.
Equivalencies
Face-to-Face Format (on campus)
For each semester hour of credit, classes must include a 50-min period w/instructor and 2 hours outside of class work for at least 15 weeks. 1 credit hour=50 min contact+120 min outside work over 15 weeks for a total of 2,550 min of student effort
Distance Education (online)
For each semester hour of credit, classes must include 3 hrs of work per wk for at least 15 wks. 3 hrs include interactions with faculty, other students in online discussion forums and other formats, and additional course work outside interactive formats. 1 credit hour=assignments equaling 170 min per week over 15 weeks for a total of 2,550 min of student effort.
Any off-cycle course (i.e., 8 week course)
Must be equivalent in both contact and outside work totals as a semester-length course.
We use the Federal Definition of Credit Hour.
The amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
- One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks
- Or at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other activities as established by an institution, including lab work, internships, practice, studio work and other academic work leading toward the awarding of credit hours.
Learn More About Ascent
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Our college and career advisors can review your options at Ascent, answer questions, and share program details.
EXPLORE OUR BEGINNINGS
Ascent College began as a pilot program at Bethel College in Hampton, VA. See the About: History page (top) for more info.
Ascent.edu/About
Ascent College's financial aid school code is 041538. It may display as Bethel College, the former name of Ascent College.
Ascent College admits students of any race, color, nationality, or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other school-administered programs.