About

About the School of Christian Studies

Rooted in faith heritage. Anchored in HBCU legacy. Built for your future.

Arkansas Baptist College · School of Christian Studies · The James & Rosa McKissic Program

"Where Purpose Is Your Major."

Program Mission

Educate. Equip. Prepare.

The School of Christian Studies at Arkansas Baptist College is designed to educate, equip, and prepare students for effective and faithful ministry in the church, community, and globally — and to prepare them for graduate-level theological education.

Grounded in the rich tradition of one of Arkansas's oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the program bridges 140+ years of covenant history with the contemporary demands of ministry leadership, worship, education, and administration.

The B.A. in Christian Studies is a 122-credit-hour degree, structured across four specialization tracks that share a common general education and Christian Studies core, then diverge into concentration-specific coursework in the junior and senior years.

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Arkansas Baptist College entrance gate with historic Old Main building

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HLC Criterion 4 — Approved for Implementation Second Adjudicator Report · February 2026 · "The program is ready for implementation."

Brand Pillars

What We Stand For

Five values that define every course, every conversation, and every calling formed at the School of Christian Studies.

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FAITH

Rooted in the Baptist tradition; spiritually formative, not just academically instructive.

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EXCELLENCE

Rigorous scholarship that honors both the intellect and the spirit.

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LEGACY

Honoring 140+ years of ABC's HBCU history and community covenant.

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PURPOSE

Equipping students with clarity of calling, not just a credential.

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COMMUNITY

Belonging to something larger: a church, a city, a movement.

Academic Excellence & Accountability

Seven Program Learning Outcomes

What will you actually be able to do when you graduate? The program's seven HLC-compliant outcomes give you the answer — in plain language.

Learning Outcome	What You'll Be Able to Do
PLO 1 Biblical Knowledge & Hermeneutics	You will know the Bible — not just the stories, but the languages, the history, and how to interpret it with confidence.
PLO 2 Theological Articulation	You will be able to explain what you believe and why — with clarity, depth, and Baptist conviction.
PLO 3 Historical & Cultural Competency	You will understand where the Black church came from — and why its prophetic witness still matters today.
PLO 4 Spiritual Formation	You will grow not just academically but personally — developing the character that ministry actually demands.
PLO 5 Ministry Practice & Leadership	You will graduate having already led — in worship, in the classroom, in the pulpit, or in the boardroom.
PLO 6 Scholarly Research & Communication	You will write, speak, and present at a level that opens doors to graduate school and professional ministry.
PLO 7 Professional Readiness	You will leave with a plan — a personal ministry philosophy, a vocational strategy, and a capstone project that proves you're ready.

Voice & Identity

Mottos, Taglines & Program Identity

PRIMARY TAGLINE

"Where Purpose Is Your Major."

Speaks directly to the student's deepest question — Why am I here? — and answers it with the program's core promise.

PROGRAM MOTTO

"Lux et Veritas — Light and Truth"

For formal institutional use — diplomas, seals, letterhead, and convocation. Latin carries academic weight alongside spiritual formation.

ALTERNATE TAGLINE

"Called. Equipped. Sent."

Three words. Three movements of Christian formation. Works as a campaign theme, a motto, and a graduation charge.

About the School of Christian Studies

Educate. Equip. Prepare.

What We Stand For

Seven Program Learning Outcomes

Mottos, Taglines & Program Identity

Your Calling Has a Classroom.