Accelerated Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts (Intercultural Studies)

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) and Trinity College offer a unique opportunity for qualified Trinity students who have demonstrated a heart for missions and desire to pursue intercultural studies. This accelerated degree program is open to any student pursuing a bachelor's degree and is particularly appealing to current students in the Bible and Ministry major, as well as to those who are thinking in terms of social issues, MK or expatriate education, tent-making and micro-enterprise. It also has tremendous benefits for students’ financial situation by potentially saving a semester’s tuition cost.

An undergraduate student may earn a master's degree in intercultural studies as early as the fall following the senior year by taking graduate-level courses beginning the junior year. Nine hours of course work from the MA/ICS meets requirements for the BA. In this manner, the program accelerates the BA and MA/ICS. These nine overlapping graduate hours are taken as part of the undergraduate load, resulting in a savings of graduate tuition and an enrichment of the student’s educational experience.

Qualified applicants must have a Trinity GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (see admission requirements and prerequisites below) and 70 hours of undergraduate coursework. Students may apply for acceptance to the accelerated degree through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; a positive recommendation from the academic advisor is required. Transfer students may apply for the program if they have 70 hours of undergraduate course work and a positive recommendation from a former professor or their academic advisor and a 3.0 GPA for all transferred college work and 3.0 GPA in Trinity coursework. Students are advised to apply to the program as early as possible to allow for expedient course planning and to assure that overlapping course requirements can be planned and scheduled. See below for further details regarding qualifications and curricular plan.

MA/ICS Accelerated Degree Program for Trinity College Students

Trinity College students may apply for the accelerated TEDS MA/ICS program upon completion of 70 hours of undergraduate work. The following are also required:

  • A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • A recommendation from the undergraduate academic advisor and the TC program chair
  • A completed TEDS application
  • A personal interview with a MA/ICS faculty member
  • Completion of 8 hours of undergraduate missions and social science courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA in each
  • Completion of a minimum of 9 hours of undergraduate Bible and theology through BI 105, BI 115, and BI 211 with a minimum 3.0 GPA in each
  • Completion of an intercultural experience of at least two weeks consisting of mission-type activities

MA/ICS Concentration Graduation Requirements

In addition to the “General Graduation Requirements for All Master’s Programs," the following are required for the MA/ICS:

  1. Complete all coursework in the program, including required field education, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5, with no coursework below a “C-” applicable to the degree. A minimum of 18 hours must be taken on the Bannockburn campus with the remaining hours available as arranged in field based, independent study, and other concentration specific experiences.
  2. Completion of general comprehensive requirements in Old Testament, New Testament, and two in systematic theology are met through required coursework in these areas.
  3. Successfully write the major comprehensive exam.
  4. Complete a Master of Arts capstone project for the MA/ICS, which is an internship (2 hours) and an integrative paper (2 hours) or a thesis (2 hours) on an approved topic, exhibiting the ability to do competent research, think critically, and communicate effectively in the area of emphasis.
  5. The student will work with department faculty or the chair to plan specific details of the program content related to academic and professional goals.