Undergraduate Programs

General: Part of our mission at SFBC is to develop the whole person. We accomplish this by tailoring a degree program especially for you.

Core Curriculum: With the exception of our Associate degree, all degree programs at SFBC have core requirements. These consist of at least thirty-six (36) credit hours of general education, and thirty (30) or more credit hours each in biblical and professional education. Some programs have additional requirements such as practicums, labs, and research. A portion of the academic criteria may be fulfilled through "challenge" examinations. Regardless of the program pursued, you will be challenged and fulfilled by a course of study specifically designed for you.

Programs:  SFBC offers eight degree programs as follows:

Biblical Studies (A.A.) -- 60 Credit hours

Biblical Studies (B.A.) -- 120 Credit hours

Christian Business Management (B.A.) -- 120 Credit hours

Christian Clinical Counseling (B.A.) -- 120 Credit hours

Christian Counseling (B.A.) -- 120 Credit hours

Pastoral Ministry (B.A.) -- 120 Credit hours

Religious Education (B.A.) -- 129 Credit hours

For more information on the SFBC undergraduate programs, click on the A.A. Degree,  Admissions,  B.A. Degree, and  Catalog links.

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Graduate Programs

Class Standings:   This is based on your program. There are two classifications:

Masters:     Baccalaureate degree, enrolled in Masters Program

Doctorate:  Masters degree, enrolled in Doctoral Program

30 hour program -- 2 years

60 hour program -- 4 years

90 hour program -- 6 years

30 hour program -- 3 years

60 hour program -- 4 years

Purpose of Seminary Graduate Programs:  Some Seminary Graduate Programs are designed specifically to prepare students for full-time ministry.   All seminary academics are compiled toward producing a highly qualified, full-time minister of the Gospel.

Final Assessment: The Final Assessment of each student’s record offers the Thesis Review Committee an opportunity to review and assess the results of all completed course work assignments, as well as the Dissertation portion of each student’s program. The Final Assessment is intended to determine whether the student’s demonstrated level of competence and learning outcomes are, in fact, comparable to those expected from a student in a more traditional setting.

Upon successful completion of the review and assessment, the student will receive immediate acknowledgment, by letter, of satisfaction of all graduation requirements. A formal Thesis Review Committee Report will be placed in the student’s records. The degree and an official transcript will be mailed to the graduate upon receipt from the engraver. The process normally requires four weeks.

For more information on the SFTS graduate programs, click on the Admissions, Catalog, Doctoral Degree, and M.A. Degree  links.  Additional information about the Doctoral degrees is provided below.

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The  G.R.E.A.T  Award

 Graduate Recognition for Exceptional Academic Thesis

A master's thesis represents the culmination of a long and arduous process; however, it also represents the pinnacle of the master's program.  The master's thesis is the crowning jewel in every student's pursuit of a master's degree and, therefore, becomes each student's permanent, written legacy.  Every student should strive to create an eloquent, authoritative, and inspiring legacy for themselves, and for future students.

To reinforce this point,  SFBC&TS has instituted a masters-only award called The G.R.E.A.T Award, which stands for Graduate Recognition for Exceptional Academic Thesis. 

The G.R.E.A.T Award is bestowed on one masters-level student whose thesis reflects the highest standards of professional writing, creativity, research, form, subject depth, and intellectual contribution to the seminary and society.

The G.R.E.A.T Award program is designed to (1) implement a highly prestigious and difficult-to-earn award; (2) foster a friendly competitive spirit among masters-level students who are required to write theses; (3) establish the standard for seminary-level authorship at SFBC&TS; (4) raise the quality of SFBC&TS documents available in the South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary Library; and (5) increase the number of published authors who matriculated at SFBC&TS.

The G.R.E.A.T Award is not automatically awarded annually, but is bestowed only after the SFBC&TS Awards Committee determines (1) there are one or more viable theses in the graduating class; and (2) all promising masters-level candidates are in good standing with the seminary.

Any faculty or administration member may nominate a master’s candidate for The G.R.E.A.T Award.  The award recipient will be publicly acknowledged by the SFBC&TS’ president during graduation ceremonies.  A notation will be made on the student’s official transcript indicating the student received The G.R.E.A.T Award.  In addition, a permanent recognition shall be listed on SFBC&TS’ web site.

The SFBC&TS Faculty and Administration members encourage all masters students to perform at the highest standards of excellence, therein placing their thesis work within the arc of opportunity for nomination for The G.R.E.A.T Award.

Fortune favors the prepared mind.    Louis Pasteur

Please direct any questions you may have regarding The G.R.E.A.T Award to your faculty advisor or to the Dean of Admissions.  Good luck!

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Need help or advice with your Master's Thesis? 

Through SFBC&TS, fee-based thesis assistance and coaching is available.  Utilize

the services as little or as much as you need.  For more information, email DocCoach

and find out if this service can help you!

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Doctoral Degrees

The Doctoral degrees are the culmination of Seminary studies. The Doctoral degree is a professional degree, specifically designed to equip the prospective student in the areas of Pastoral, Evangelistic, Missiology, and Seminary teaching ministry, Counseling, and Christian Psychology.

Historically, in Europe, the doctorate degree was given primarily to men who were educators in the universities, or in the churches. These early doctorates were based predominantly upon the completion of studies by these men while they were engaged in their respective vocations. These men would complete their studies under one or two professors or qualified individuals working under the auspices of the university. Upon entering a doctorate program, the student would either choose or be assigned to a faculty advisor who would oversee his reading, research, and writing projects. Most of these courses were completed by independent study. Having completed his courses of study, the student would be given oral or written examinations for evaluating his knowledge of the subject matter covered in the courses of study assigned to him. Upon satisfactory examination, the student would then proceed to write his dissertational project. Once the dissertation had been completed, the student would then submit the project to his advisor and the university. The student would then be assigned an appointed time at which he would give an oral defense of the doctoral dissertation. Upon acceptance of the completed project and defense, the student would be awarded the distinct honor of "Doctor." These same practices are, to a lesser degree, still being carried on in the European schools today.

The doctoral programs of South Florida Theological Seminary have been designed generally upon the structure and format of the European system. Each degree offers the flexibility to accommodate the needs of individual students, without compromising academic standards.

The Final Assessment of each candidate’s records offers the Doctoral Review Committee an opportunity to review and assess the results of all completed course work assignments, as well as the Dissertation portion of each candidate’s program. The Final Assessment is intended to determine whether the candidate’s demonstrated level of competence and learning outcomes are, in fact, comparable to those expected from a candidate in a more traditional setting.

As a vital part of the Final Assessment Process, the candidate will be asked to present himself/herself before the Committee Chairman and/or selected committee members for the purpose of orally responding to committee member questions as they pertain to the candidate’s Dissertation.  Historically, in completing the Final Assessment Portion before the committee, the graduate considered this oral examination as a time of sharing and exchange of ideas and concepts in which both the candidate and faculty benefited greatly.

Upon successful completion of the review and assessment, the SFTS candidate will receive immediate acknowledgment, by letter, of satisfaction of all graduation requirements. A formal Doctoral Review Committee Report will be placed in the candidate’s records. The diploma and an official transcript will be mailed to the graduate upon receipt from the engraver. The process requires approximately four weeks.

The Seminary’s degree programs are not designed to meet any particular local, state, or national licensing or credentialing laws, nor to meet any requirements established by any private, independent, or professional associations. Prospective students are advised to check with their respective states, school districts, professional associations, and government agencies when licensing and/or credentials are the eventual objective of the prospective student.

It should be noted, however, that the College’s academic requirements for the Doctoral degree program in Christian Psychology have been designed to essentially correspond to those set forth by the American Psychological Association.

For more information on the SFTS graduate programs, click on the Admissions,  Catalog,  Doctoral Degree, and  M.A. Degree  links.

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Need help or advice with your Doctoral Dissertation? 

Through SFBC&TS, fee-based doctoral assistance and coaching is available.  Utilize

the services as little or as much as you need.  For more information, email DocCoach

and find out if this service can help you!