Minimum 150 hours of classroom time

The following ten classes are required.

Five electives are also required (to be approved by the BSC Education Director)

1) Introduction to Apologetics

Students will discover what apologetics is and why every believer needs it. This foundational course explores the biblical mandate for defending the faith (1 Peter 3:15), examines classical, evidential, and presuppositional approaches, and equips students to respond to skeptics with both truth and grace. Learners will understand how apologetics strengthens personal faith, removes barriers for seekers, and prepares Christians to engage confidently in today’s marketplace of ideas.

2) Cultural Apologetics

This course trains students to recognize and engage the dominant worldviews shaping contemporary culture. Students will learn to identify the philosophical assumptions underlying media, entertainment, education, and social movements, then develop strategies for presenting biblical truth in ways that connect with postmodern, secular, and pluralistic audiences. The focus is on understanding the cultural moment and speaking persuasively into it without compromising biblical conviction.

3) Historical Reliability of Scripture

This course provides a robust defense of the Bible’s trustworthiness by examining manuscript evidence, archaeological discoveries, and historical corroboration. Students will explore textual criticism of both Testaments, address common objections about contradictions and legendary development, and gain confidence that Scripture has been accurately preserved and faithfully transmitted. The course equips believers to respond to skeptics who challenge biblical authority.

4) Logic & Critical Thinking

Students will develop essential reasoning skills to identify logical fallacies, construct sound arguments, and evaluate competing truth claims. This course covers deductive and inductive reasoning, the laws of logic (especially non-contradiction), and practical application to everyday conversations and apologetic encounters. Emphasis is placed on thinking biblically and arguing persuasively without being argumentative.

5) Old Testament Survey

Using The Bible Project’s comprehensive framework, students will journey through the narrative arc of the Hebrew Scriptures from Genesis to Malachi. This course emphasizes understanding the Old Testament’s literary design, major themes, historical context, and how each book points forward to God’s redemptive plan. Students will gain confidence in the reliability, unity, and authority of the Old Testament as foundational to Christian faith.

6) New Testament Survey

Building on The Bible Project’s approach, this course explores the life of Christ, the birth of the Church, and the theological foundations laid by the apostles. Students will examine the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation, understanding how the New Testament fulfills Old Testament promises and establishes the framework for Christian doctrine, practice, and mission. Emphasis is placed on the unity and historical reliability of the New Testament canon.

7) Who is Jesus? / The Life of the Messiah

Students will examine the person and work of Jesus Christ through biblical, historical, and theological lenses. This course addresses the deity of Christ, His fulfillment of messianic prophecy, the historical evidence for His life and resurrection, and the uniqueness of His claims. Learners will be equipped to articulate why Jesus is not merely a moral teacher or prophet, but the incarnate Son of God and the only Savior.

8) Biblical Worldview

This course examines the ten essential elements of a coherent Christian worldview (theology, anthropology, epistemology, ethics, ontology, teleology, cosmology, politics, economics, and sociology). Students will learn to think comprehensively and consistently from a biblical framework, recognizing how Scripture speaks to every area of life. The goal is to equip believers to live out and articulate a fully integrated Christian worldview in a fragmented culture.

9) Comparative Worldview

Students will analyze the core tenets of competing belief systems including Islam, Marxism, secular humanism, postmodernism, and Eastern religions. Using the ten-category worldview framework, learners will identify internal inconsistencies within these systems and demonstrate why Christianity provides a more coherent, livable, and truthful understanding of reality. The course prepares students to recognize what they’re being sold and respond with both clarity and compassion.

10) The Greatest Commandment: A Deep Dive into 1 Corinthians 13

This course explores how God—who is love—reveals Himself perfectly in Jesus Christ, with each characteristic of love in 1 Corinthians 13 embodied in Christ’s life. Because the Holy Spirit dwells within believers, God’s agape love becomes the transforming power enabling us to fulfill both the greatest and second-greatest commandments. Students will learn that effective apologetics requires speaking truth from hearts overflowing with Christ’s patience, kindness, and humility—demonstrating that the most compelling defense of Christianity is best delivered from a heart of God’s agape love.

Beyond these ten required classes, students must choose five other classes to take (electives). Multiple BSC classes apply, as do many classes from the Bible Project and Hillsdale college, among other education institutions. Electives chosen by the student must be approved by the Education Director at the BSC to count toward the Certificate in Apologetics.