The Accelerated BA + MDiv Program is designed to equip students through a concentrated program, dedicated to producing God-called, biblically-equipped servants of Christ. In as little as five years, students can earn their bachelor's and master's degrees.
The goal of the Accelerated BA + MDiv Program is to send out servants who embrace devotion, truth, and mission. This direct path to the place of their calling is not a short-cut but an intensified time of preparation to get them on the field faster, saving both time and money. Our goal is to train the next generation of servants and to send them out equipped and ready to answer God's call.
The Accelerated BA + MDiv Program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College is uniquely designed to give each student an opportunity for flexibility in his or her educational pursuit. Each student can select any desired undergraduate major and any MDiv specialization. See more about these opportunities in our online catalog .
The Accelerated BA + MDiv Program is a great opportunity for students to save money in two ways:
1. The MDiv Track allows students to begin taking graduate courses while they are completing their undergraduate degree and count those courses towards their degree.
2. The Accelerated MDiv Program offers students the opportunity to earn their MDiv faster, based on their undergraduate studies, while saving money in the process. For more information, visit our Accelerated MDiv Website .
Completing the degrees at an accelerated pace will enable the student to begin full-time ministry faster without compromising academic qualifications.
BA + MDiv Program students must be willing to devote themselves to a time of intense study in order to complete the accelerated program in as little as five years. Students must also achieve and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to be accepted into the BA + MDiv Program.
In addition to the Leavell College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Accelerated MDiv admission requirements, a student pursuing the MDiv track must also complete the following phases of admission:
Introduction Phase: Entry into the BA+MDiv program will be permitted upon the successful completion of 60 credit hours. At this phase, students should use the Accelerated MDiv checklist as a guide for maximizing the opportunities offered. Academic advisors will direct students toward qualifying Accelerated MDiv courses in the early stages of their degree. Students who desire to complete both degrees in 5 years should register for 15-18 hours per semester.
BA+MDiv (Upon completion of 60 credit hours): Upon completion of 60 hours, students will apply for the MDiv program in order to begin enrollment in graduate-level courses required for the MDiv Track. In addition to acceptance into the MDiv program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, students must achieve and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in order to be accepted into the BA+MDiv program. At this stage, students begin enrolling in graduate courses that satisfy the core component hours of the MDiv Track while continuing to enroll in undergraduate courses.
Masters Phase: Upon completion of their Leavell College degree, students should contact the Accelerated Masters Program office to inquire about receiving graduate credit for completed undergraduate coursework.
Program Director - Dr. Charlie Ray, III
Dr. Charlie Ray, III is the Program Director for the Accelerated BA + MDiv and Assistant Professor of New Testament and Greek. Before assuming his current role, he spent 11 years as a pastor on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Dr. Ray is passionate about equipping God-called servants of God to serve in the local church. He earned his BA from Baylor University in 3 years, giving him personal experience with an accelerated education. He also holds MA, ThM, and PhD degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Lisa, have three kids whom they adopted through foster care.
Email: cray@nobts.edu
Administrative Assistant - Joshua Brittain
Email: ba.mdiv@nobts.edu
If you are interested in our Accelerated Programs, fill out the interest form below and you will be contacted with more information.
The BA + MDiv is designed to prepare students to get out into the field of their calling faster, saving time and money. The accelerated component of the program targets students who thrive in a challenging academic environment and who exemplify strong self-discipline to succeed in the accelerated course load.
The Accelerated BA + MDiv Program is a great opportunity for students to save money in two ways:
1. The MDiv Track allows students to count down hours from the graduate-level courses toward their undergraduate degree.
2. The Accelerated MDiv Program offers students the opportunity to earn their MDiv faster, based on their undergraduate studies, while saving money in the process.
Completing the degrees at an accelerated pace will enable the student to begin full-time ministry faster without compromising academic qualifications.
Students in the Accelerated BA + MDiv program will be advised by the program director, Dr. Charlie Ray. Dr. Ray completed his undergraduate degree in 3 years and has over 10 years of ministry experience, so he knows first hand how to advise students in accelerated programs as well as students who are pursuing a call to ministry.
Each student’s experience is largely dependent on their willingness to engage in social activities and ministry opportunities. The school offers many recreational activities and two weekly chapel services. In addition, Leavell College has developed a House System for students to promote fellowship and community and foster spiritual growth.
Students both on-campus and off-campus are encouraged to consider the Accelerated BA + MDiv Program. Because our program offers great flexibility, any student from any learning format including online and extension centers can utilize the Accelerated BA + MDiv Program.
