Biblical & Theological Studies

Department Overview

Illuminate Truth, be a light for Christ.

No matter your career path, you will be trained to be a light in a world that desperately needs Christ — the source of all Truth. By pursuing a biblical and theological studies degree, you will grow in your love for and knowledge of the Bible, which serves as a foundation for all areas of life. Our small class sizes create an environment in which you will be encouraged to ask hard questions and dig deeper with peers and professors through rigorous study and discussion. As you acquire the tools to think critically and solidify your faith, you will also cultivate the virtue of understanding others, allowing you to engage with other perspectives in a way that is charitable, biblically sound, and theologically astute.

Grow in your gifts.

Our program is designed to give you freedom to develop your gifts through a combination of foundational courses, dynamic concentrations that will facilitate and guide your desired career path, as well as the flexibility to add a second major in another area of study. Major-related courses such as Scripture, Text, and Canon, Christian Doctrine, Interpreting the Bible, and Spiritual Formation will provide you with a well-rounded education that suits your personal and vocational needs. You will also have the opportunity to study abroad. Some of our students study theology at Oxford University for a semester, while others venture to the very places where biblical history took place — Jerusalem and Athens.

Be mentored by leaders in the field.

Faculty are drawn to Grove City College primarily for the privilege of teaching the thoughtful, motivated students who thrive in our learning community. Coming from remarkable educational and professional backgrounds, our faculty are notable scholars, pastors, ministry workers, and professors — from Carl Trueman to David “Duffy” Robbins and others. With great fidelity to biblical teaching, faculty are committed to seeking Truth and fostering curiosity, humility, and discernment. As you study the Bible and gain insight from Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and other great thinkers, you will be encouraged to evaluate different perspectives and further solidify your own faith — “viewing the Christian perspective not as an ideology that predetermines all answers, but rather as a foundational framework that informs and shapes the practice of scholarship” (James Williams ’14).

Advanced pre-seminary preparation.

You will be well prepared for seminary-level training in any one of our five specialized concentrations, designed to specifically match your interests — biblical exegesis, biblical studies, pastoral and theological studies, global Christianity, or Christian ministry. Any of these concentrations may be easily added to your biblical and theological studies major and will place you ahead of your peers in graduate school. Many of our faculty have taught at some of the best seminaries in the world, so they understand how to prepare you for the next step in your spiritual and intellectual formation. Further, we have established memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with several leading seminaries. These MOUs allow seminary-bound students to save money by earning advanced placement credits at Grove City College and enter seminary with a head start of a semester or more. In preparation for seminary or post-graduate employment, you will also have opportunities to conduct research or do an independent study with faculty in areas such as historical theology, textual criticism, Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic, among other subjects.

Internships and ministry experience.

We encourage all our students to gain practical ministry experience through internships, apprenticeships, and work opportunities, most of which are paid. Whether you are seeking ordination or simply want to integrate your faith into all of life, you will find numerous ways to serve with local churches (perhaps your home church during the summer), youth and educational ministries, and nonprofit and missionary agencies around the globe. Our student-led Inter-Community Outreach (ICO) program empowers students of all majors to serve on short-term mission trips in the U.S. and abroad, and our Red Box GO program funds summer-long mission trips for select students considering full-time mission work. With close to 20 campus ministries available, there are countless ways to grow in ministry and leadership.

Amazing outcomes.

Like 96% of Grove City College graduates, you will leave here well equipped to serve in churches, camps, or nonprofit organizations or to thrive in graduate programs at the best seminaries and universities around the world. Regardless of your calling, you will have developed a thorough understanding of Scripture, communication and listening skills, work ethic, and Christ-like compassion to proclaim the gospel and influence lives for eternal purposes.

Department Fact Sheet