Biblical Studies (AA) | Online
Built on a strong Bible curriculum, the Associate in Biblical Studies degree prepares students with a foundation of scripture and theology, while also giving a broad and wide-ranging general education, appropriate for further undergraduate study or for a career.
Why Associate of Biblical Studies?
When you earn your Associate in Biblical Studies from Cairn University, you’ll be equipped with a strong foundation to study the Scriptures and apply biblical truth to your life and ministry, resulting in spiritual growth and maturity. You’ll learn to integrate the truths of God’s Word into your life, while developing the skills needed to succeed in an academic setting. With practical training from our expert faculty, you’ll gain competency in your understanding of the Bible, biblical theology, church history, evangelism, and discipleship.
Building a foundation of understanding in multiple disciplines—especially Bible and theology— an associate’s degree is a great educational route for (1) those who are still deciding the correct higher education path for them or (2) those who know what they want to do and know they don’t need a four-year degree to get there. Of course, one of the best things about an associate’s degree is the low-cost compared to a four-year program and it results in an in-hand diploma after just two years of study.
If you choose to remain at Cairn for further study, this program integrates seamlessly with the BS in Biblical Studies program and with most other bachelor’s programs.
Associate in Biblical Studies Degree from Cairn
Biblical Integration
Receive a foundational education in Bible and theology, including a survey of the entire Old Testament and the Gospels where all instruction is grounded in the timeless Truth of God’s Word. No matter what your intended career path or field of study, Cairn is committed to helping professionals think about their current and future work through a biblical worldview.
Academic Opportunity
If you choose to remain at Cairn for further study, this program integrates seamlessly into the BS in Biblical Studies and with most other online bachelor’s degree programs.
Experienced Faculty
Our online courses are taught by faculty who not only have successful in ministry but also are committed to your professional and spiritual growth. You don’t just have professors, you have mentors who invest in you throughout the program and often remain connected long after graduation.
Global Community
Effective learning happens in a community. Participate in interactive learning activities with peers around the globe who have chosen to walk a different path for Christ.
Character Development
The Cairn mission statement begins with education and ends with character because we believe that education should change not only what you know, but who you are and what you do. Faculty members understand that education involves more than the transfer of ideas, but also the giving of themselves to teach, train, and inspire their students both in and out of class.
Flexibility
Complete coursework from anywhere through our asynchronous course design, reinforced by substantive faculty engagement and weekly course requirements.
Affordability
Cairn University students earn more than a professional credential – you develop a solid foundation for all of life and learning. Wherever you go after you graduate from Cairn, you go prepared and ready to make a difference in your workplace, your community, your church, and around the world. And our competitive tuition rates and financial aid packages help to keep your education costs reasonable.
more Details
Get an inside look at our Biblical Studies Program
There are over 70 unique programs at Cairn to choose from! Not sure if this is the best program for you? Here are some more details to help you decide.
Required Credits: 60
Curriculum Highlights:
- BIB 202 Narrative of Redemption
- BIB 204 The Old Testament
- BIB 261 Biblical Hermeneutics
- BIB 303 The Gospels
Further education
Administrative roles in a church or other ministry
Cairn University is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Cairn Online has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which regionally oversees postsecondary online education.
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An Affordable Education
While the cost of a Cairn University education is competitive with similar institutions, we realize you may need financial assistance to take this journey. You are not alone. 97% of our full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance.
Featured Faculty Member
Brian Luther
Professor of Old Testament, School of Divinity
Dr. Brian Luther teaches various Bible classes, including Pentateuch, Old Testament, wisdom literature, and the Gospels. His research interests include ancient Jewish and Christian biblical interpretation, as well as interpreting and applying biblical narrative today.
Before pursuing biblical studies, Dr. Luther earned his doctorate in electrical engineering. Among more serious pursuits, this background prepared him to coach a high school robotics team, an opportunity that he looks forward to having again someday.
What Our Students Have To Say
Tirzah Grace Arquette
The Biblical Studies program has blessed me with more knowledge of the Bible and a deeper relationship with God. My classes, caring professors, and loving advisor have all helped me in my journey through this program. I have appreciated how the Bible is integrated into the course. Whether it's homework for the week or in class, I am immersed in the Word of God daily.
Cairn Online Frequently Asked Questions
The tuition for post-secondary education has become expensive in general. However, Cairn Online programs rank amongst the most affordable online bachelor’s and master’s programs. While the tuition costs vary by program level, the rate is typically $425 per credit or 12K per year for A.A. and B.S. programs and $300-$725 per credit for graduate programs.
The current tuition rates are available from this page. Scholarships and financial aid are also available.
Currently there are over 6 million online learners in the United States, and those numbers are growing every day. Online degrees that have regional accreditation are held to the same standards as traditional universities, ensuring that students earn a valuable degree that will prepare them with the skills and credentials for their career. Do research to find an online degree that is accredited and reputable, such as those offered at Cairn University.
Cairn Online courses based on Cairn’s 100+ years tradition of excellence in biblical education. Our on faculty has carefully designed them taking into consideration what works best for the online learner. The modular design and asynchronous delivery enable you to complete your studies while you pursue your career, ministry and spend time with your family.
Courses typically contain seven units and are delivered in 7-week terms*. Each unit contains 5-7 modular activities. Each learning activity includes instructional videos accompanied by reflections, quizzes, discussion forums and other assessments. Courses also utilize adaptive learning technologies such as Cerego for long-term retention of concepts and VoiceThread for enhanced collaboration.
The asynchronous delivery provides flexibility around your daily busy schedule. In most courses, interactive activities are typically due by Wednesday while the rest of the unit’s work is due by Sunday night. The MBA, M.A. in Music and Criminal Justice programs use the 7RD2 process and require the completion of certain activities daily to optimize learning.
Our own Cairn faculty intentionally participate in the course throughout the week to provide you with an incarnational experience.
*Few capstone courses are intentionally offered in 14 weeks to optimize student learning.
A.A. programs usually take 2 years and B.S. and B.A. programs typically take 3-4 years to complete.
Graduate programs vary in length by program. As an example, Cairn’s traditional MBA typically takes 20 months to complete but then there is also the accelerated One-Year MBA that you can complete in 12 months.
If you are looking to complete your program sooner, you can consider taking more 7-week courses at a time.
All courses are developed by one or more course developers and taught by our own faculty. The instructors are also intentionally involved in the course throughout the week by providing direction in the course activities, participating in the forum discussions, grading the student work and providing substantive feedback. Most courses also offer optional office hours weekly via Zoom or similar video conferencing tools.
Our instructional design team works very closely with the course developers and carefully plans the courses to balance the technology requirements. Most courses use the eLearning platform for hosting the course materials, Panopto for video capture and storage, VoiceThread for enhanced discussion forums, and Cerego for adaptive learning. Zoom is used at times for virtual office hours. These sessions are optional.
Except for the Hebrew and Greek language courses for the B.S. in Biblical Studies program, typically there are no required meeting times for the completing the course activities.
The course transfer depends on where you are transferring from, and what program you are transferring to. If you are coming to Cairn Online from another institution, it is very likely you will have some credits that will transfer. Because there are so many options, we encourage you to talk to an enrollment counselor. If you are transferring out, Cairn is a regionally accredited school and some credits should transfer with relative ease. Each college sets their own transfer criteria, so be sure to check their policies for specifics.
Cairn Online offers a variety of options for prior learning and experience. You can receive up to 6 credits for prior learning for graduate programs. At the discretion of the program advisor, three to six credits for prior learning (CPL) can be awarded for students with extensive background in areas addressed by specific courses. Additionally, advance standing may be granted for Bible or theology credits earned at an accredited Bible college, Christian liberal arts college or university, or seminary. Credits will be granted on a course by course basis.
Cairn is approved to offer financial aid because of its regional accreditation. There are many options available and typically students qualify for at least one type of federal aid. Many students receive scholarships and grants that make earning their degree even more affordable. Cairn offers a variety of scholarships and discounts in addition to options for loans and grants. Please refer to this page for details.
The requirements depend on the program you are considering. Please refer to this page for details.
