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Nurture Your Vocation
Let your passion flourish in and through a program that fosters your faith, academic achievements, and spiritual development. Our engaged faculty and vibrant, virtual Christ-centered community help guide your progress toward your career and personal goals.
Introducing
Locked-In Tuition.
Our Locked-In Tuition program guarantees you’ll pay the same price for your entire undergraduate degree.
About the Program
Energize yourself with the teachings and messages of the scriptures. As the backbone of the online Bachelor’s in Christian Service and Formation, these lessons lay the foundation for you to explore your relationship with God, assume a more Christ-like perspective, and observe the role of spirituality in the world. Through this lens, you’ll acquire key ministry skills for leading, establishing connections, and guiding others to learn everyday contemporary applications of the Bible’s principles. At ACU, we believe the best kind of spiritual formation comes from those who are tending to their own spiritual life.
Program Structure
All the Details on Your Degree
The online Bachelor’s in Christian Service and Formation takes a holistic look at the Bible, its teachings, and applications. You’ll focus on three key pillars — reading scripture, understanding your own cultural competency around its lessons, and cultivating spiritual formation.
Required Hours
Total: 120 hours
University Requirements: 56 hours
Major: 64 hours (up to 26 hours in electives)
Example Coursework
Christian Leadership
Christianity in Culture
Introduction to Biblical Interpretation
Mission as Spiritual Formation
Prophets of Israel
Department
Upcoming Start Dates
May 2, 2023
June 27, 2023
Curriculum
You’ll question and nurture your purpose, both through your identity in Christ and your God-given role for empowering and uplifting others. The road toward vocational formation starts with examining how you relate to the world and embracing your selflessness, unrelenting drive, and boundless curiosity.
The online Bachelor’s in Christian Service and Formation guides you through 64 credit hours covering:
- The Bible: Prepare for ministry and advanced biblical studies by learning the methods and tools of interpretation and teachings of the Old and New Testaments.
- Theology and History: Develop a firm foundation of Christian values to apply long-held teachings to contemporary culture and examine the evolution of faith and spirituality.
- Ministry and Mission: Familiarize yourself with the themes present in Christian ministry and the skills essential for leading others in these settings. Consider the cultural side of religion, including anthropological and sociological aspects, and how to communicate in multicultural settings.
- Spiritual Formation: View Christian spirituality from a historical perspective. Grow your understanding of teaching the gospel so you can absorb and apply its disciplines to connect with others and fully realize your role in God’s mission.
You’ll finish the program with a multipart capstone project drawing together ministry, observation, and spiritual formation. Along with all courses composing your major, students enrolled in the online Bachelor’s in Christian Service and Formation complete ACU’s general education requirements.
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Tiffany Dahlman, Bachelor of Science in Christian Service and Formation
Tiffany Dahlman is an assistant professor and the program director for the Bachelor of Science in Christian Service and Formation, Certificate in Church Leadership: Praxis, and Certificate in Church Leadership: Foundations. She received her bachelor’s degrees in English and Religious Studies from York University and earned a Master of Divinity with specializations in Old Testament and Spiritual Formation from Asbury Theological Seminary. She graduated from ACU with a Doctor of Ministry in the Preaching for Community Transformation track. Tiffany has experience in foreign missions and has served as a congregational minister since 2015. She believes in loving God with the mind, heart, soul, and body, and as program director, she seeks to help students prepare for the spiritual vocation into which they are called.
Spotlight
What is a B.S. In Christian Service and Formation?
Our world is rapidly changing. That’s why ACU is educating the next generation of ministry innovators to proclaim the Gospel and pursue the mission of Jesus wherever they are! Whether you’re in full-time ministry, church leadership, or just want to deepen your ability to serve Jesus—you should check out our B.S. in Christian Service and Formation.
Faculty Spotlight: Ben Ries
“At ACU, we don’t only care that students are intellectually developed, but that we’re helping them identify what they care about,” said Dr. Ben Ries, associate dean for vocational formation at ACU Online. But what does vocational formation look like as a student at ACU Online? Check out our faculty spotlight to hear how Dr. Ries is leading ACU students, faculty and staff alike to cultivate more grounded and centered lives connected to the mission of God.
Vocational Formation at ACU: Finding Your Purpose and Passion
Vocational formation is all about finding your life’s calling, learning how God is shaping you into the person you were born to be. You likely have a career goal or the spark of an idea of what you’d like to do professionally. ACU’s unique approach to vocational formation takes this a step further by helping you understand your deeper desire to serve others, no matter what the job title or duties entail.
Defining Meaningful Work: What Does it Mean and How is it Valuable?
Do you want to come home from work each day feeling fulfilled? Meaningful careers may be what you seek. Learn more here.
Faculty Spotlight: Tiffany Dahlman
The modern world presents unique challenges to Christians and the practice of their faith. For ACU Online Bachelor of Science in Christian Service and Formation program director, Dr. Tiffany Dahlman, that means more room for opportunity and outreach. Check out our latest faculty spotlight to learn more about her story and how she’s equipping students to minister to our ever-changing world.
Dedicate yourself to vocational ministry or other church or nonprofit work where you’ll both support and inspire others by illuminating the way forward with Christ’s teachings. Help others in your organization, community, and across the globe nourish their faith, realize their vocation, and receive spiritual direction as they pursue their relationship with God.
Potential opportunities after earning a Bachelor’s in Christian Service and Formation include:
- youth pastor;
- disciple pastor;
- associate or administrative pastor;
- group leader;
- parachurch professional; and
- Christian nonprofit professional.
To be considered for admission, students must:
- Submit official high school and/or college transcripts.
- Complete the online program application accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
Students are not required to submit ACT or SAT test scores.
Graduation Requirements: Students must earn a 2.0 GPA or higher to meet graduation requirements and complete at least 33 advanced hours.
Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of ACU.
Abilene Christian University enjoys a strong national reputation as one of the leading private Christian universities in the west and southwest, indicated by various ratings (such as U.S. News and World Report and other reports).