A Bachelor of Theology or BTh is a 3-year undergraduate course that has been designed to equip students for Christian ministry and to lead people with spiritual discipline and knowledge. The program seeks to provide a thorough understanding of the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.
Students who have completed their 12th with an aggregate of minimum 50% marks are eligible for this course. Students who have obtained an ATA diploma in theology are also eligible for this course.
ATA is Asia Theological Association. The association is responsible for providing quality theology education through various christian missionaries and seminaries. It offers various diploma and degree programs on Theology.
Check Top B.Th colleges in India.
Key Highlights of BTh course
- Full Form: Bachelor of Theology
- Duration: 3 years
- Eligibility: 12th from a recognized board
- Admission Process: Merit based
- Top Colleges: Discipleship Bible College, Grace Bible College, Hindustan Bible Institute & College, etc
- Average course fees: INR 10,000 to INR 1,00,000 per year.
- Job Options: Healthcare Worker, Relief Worker, Religious Teacher, Children Pastor, etc
- Average Salary Package: INR 3 to 5 Lakhs
- Top Recruiting areas: Educational Institutes, NGO's, Workplace, Religious Organisations, Financial and Legal Firms, Charities, Churches, Schools etc
Admission to the course is mainly offered on a merit based criteria. However there are some colleges which conduct a written test or personal interview round pertaining to the teachings mentioned in the holy bible.
The table given below mentions some of the top colleges offering Bachelor of Theology courses.
| ATA (Asia Theological Association) 2020 Rank | College Name | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Discipleship Bible College | Merit based | INR 29,000 |
| 36 | Grace Bible College | Merit and test based | INR 13,400 |
| 40 | Hindustan Bible Institute & College | Direct admission | INR 20,000 |
| 43 | India Bible College And Seminary | Direct admission | INR 19,910 |
| - | Bethel Bible Institute | Merit based | INR 25,800 |
The average tuition fee charged by the colleges or universities for this course ranges from INR 10,000 to 1 Lakh, it depends on the type of the institution.
After the successful completion of this course, the student will be a graduate who has knowledge in theological studies. They can work in NGOs, as priests, etc.
An initial BTh Salary of around INR 3 lakhs can be expected by any fresh graduate of the course. It is based on the experience level of the graduate.
Further study options available after the completion of B.Th. include Masters in Theology and Ph.D in the choice of disciple of theology science that you want to specialize in.
Bachelor of Theology Admission Process
- Admission to the course is mainly offered on a merit based criteria. However there are some colleges which conduct a written test or personal interview round pertaining to the teachings mentioned in the holy bible.
- Most of the colleges have online application systems. But some colleges do prefer offline registration by the candidates.
- Application is processed based on the marks obtained by the candidates in the qualifying examination along with their character certificates and letter of recommendation.
Bachelor of Theology Eligibility
Students who wish to pursue this course must meet up with the following eligibility criteria.
- One must have passed their 12th examinations with a minimum 50% marks from any recognized board.
- Applicants who possess a diploma in theology are also eligible for this course.
Bachelor of Theology Entrance Exams
Admission to the course is mainly offered on a merit based criteria. However there are some colleges which conduct a written test or personal interview round pertaining to the teachings mentioned in the holy bible. No separate entrance exam is conducted for admission into this course.
How to Get Admission in a Good BTh college?
- Follow all the rules and regulations regarding the admission process carefully without any mistake.
- Make sure all the required documents are there and that those documents are up to date.
- In case of doubt, call the management and get updated information.
- Ensure that you attempt your board exams well.
- Attend seminars and biblical classes to gain more awareness about the religious theories.
Bachelor of Theology: What is it about?
- The course is beneficial to the students as it provides an opportunity for an intellectually rigorous study of the Christian faith from the perspective of Christian traditions and thought.
- The course also provides a thorough grounding where it recognizes the diversity of the Christian tradition.
- It also focuses on exegesis and hermeneutics and related subjects in Christian Theology.
- The course equips students to study the Bible, so they are in a position to explain what it says and means.
- This course is perfect for those who want to learn more about spirituality and how churches, etc. came into existence.
- This course will also equip students with the skills to teach others regarding spirituality and the simple way of life.
Bachelor of Theology: Course Highlights
The following table shows some of the major highlights of this course in India.
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Full Form | Bachelors of Theology |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination Type | Semester/Year wise |
| Eligibility | 50% in 12th |
| Admission process | Merit based |
| Course fees | INR 10,000 to INR 1 Lakh |
| Average Salary | INR 2 to 3 Lakhs |
| Top Recruiting areas | Educational Institutes, NGO's, Workplace, Religious Organisations, Financial and Legal Firms, Charities, Churches, Schools etc |
| Job position | Healthcare Worker, Relief Worker, Religious Teacher, Children Pastor, etc |
Why study Bachelor of Theology?
- The course helps one to fulfill their spiritual longings.
- Students extensively learn about the concepts of theology. They are taught the implementations of these concepts in one's day to day life.
- The course comes with various career opportunities. Students can either choose to work or to pursue further education in the respective field.
- The course imparts a wide variety of skills. Some of the skills imparted through the course are critical thinking, clear writing, problem solving and analysis of social and historical trends.
Course Comparison
Sometimes knowing about different courses helps one in selecting the right one. To ease the process, two similar looking courses have been compared below based on various parameters.
B.Th vs. B.Div.
B.Th and B.Div. are two similar looking courses. But the subjects and insights they offer are different. For making the difference quite visible, these two courses have been compared based on various parameters.
| Parameters | B.Th. | B.Div. |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Bachelor of Theology | Bachelor of Divinity |
| Course Overview | It’s an under-graduation degree which will give you an in-depth understanding of the disciple of theology and how the church functions, it's origin and history, etc. | It’s an undergraduate degree program which caters to one’s spiritual quest. It imparts knowledge about religion and various aspects related to it. |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 10,000 to 1 Lakh | INR 20,000 to 2 lakhs |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 2 to 3 lakhs | INR 2 lakhs to 5 lakhs |
| Top Job Profiles | Healthcare Worker, Relief Worker, Religious Teacher, Children Pastor, etc | Pastor, Religion Leader, Educator, Scholar, and such. |
| Top Recruiting Areas | Educational Institutes, NGO's, Workplace, Religious Organisations, Financial and Legal Firms, Charities, Churches, Schools etc | Churches, schools, Warner university, Indiana Wesleyan university, etc |
| Colleges | Logos College Of Theology, Madras Assembly Of God Bible College, Maharashtra Bible College, New Life College, Olive Theological Institute | Aizawl Theological College, DHIU, Faith Theological Seminary, Dharma Jyoti Vidya Peeth, Southern Asia Bible College |
Check Top B.Div. colleges in India
Bachelor of Theology Top Colleges
There are various colleges which offer Bachelor in Theology degree programs across the country. Bachelor of Theology admission are offered either on the basis of the score obtained in an entrance examination and the physical screening test or on the basis of the marks obtained by the candidate in the qualifying exam.
| College Name | Location | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Bharat Bible College | Rangareddy | INR 38,000 |
| New India Bible Seminary | Kottayam | INR 19,900 |
| Brethren Bible Institute | Pathanamthitta | INR 20,000 |
| Clark Theological College | Mokokchung | INR 59,700 |
| South India Baptist Bible College and Seminary | Coimbatore | INR 15,000 |
| Bethel Bible Institute | Salem | INR 25,800 |
| Discipleship Bible College | Nagaland | INR 29,000 |
| Grace Bible College | Manipur | INR 13,400 |
College Comparison
Selecting among different colleges can be a difficult task at times. Hence, a comparison among the best colleges offering B.Th. in India is given below.
| Parameters | Grace Bible College | Discipleship Bible College | India Bible College And Seminary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | A christian theological seminary. The college is located in New Lamka in the North-Eastern part of India. The college was established on July 4, 1981 with the motto: each, Entrust and Witness. | Discipleship Bible College is located in Dimapur, Nagaland. DBC is one of the oldest colleges in Nagaland. The college efforts at spiritually nurturing mankind. The college believes that growth and development opportunities should be available to all equally without caste and creed. | India Bible College And Seminary is a Christian college in Kerala. Till date, the college has trained over 14,000 church leaders, pastors, missionaries, evangelists and lay people belonging to various denominations. |
| Ranking | 36 | 21 | 43 |
| Location | Manipur | Nagaland | Kerala |
| Eligibility | 50% marks in 10+2. | 50% marks in 10+2. | 50% marks in 10+2. |
| Admission Process | Merit | Merit | Merit |
| Average Fees | INR 54,700 | INR 46,200 | INR 29,313 |
Bachelor of Theology Syllabus
The table given below mentions the semester wise breakup of the course's syllabus:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| English I | English 2 |
| OT Survey I | OT Survey 2 |
| Life of Christ | Book of Acts |
| Bible Geo & Christ | Teaching Methods |
| Personal & Child Evan.& Missions | Comparative Religions |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| English 3 | English 4 |
| OT Survey 3 | Theology 2 |
| Theology 1 | Greek Grammar |
| NT Survey | Sunday School & VBS |
| General Epistles | Prison Epistles |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Hermeneutics | Theology 4 |
| Theology 3 | Greek Grammar 3 |
| Isaiah &Jeremiah | History of Fundamental |
| Homiletics 1 | Homiletics 2 |
| Greek Grammar 2 | History of Israel 2 |
Bachelor of Theology Jobs and Career Prospects
Bachelor in Theology course comes with various jobs and career opportunities. Fresh graduates of the course can easily expect a salary of INR 2 to 3 Lakhs per year.
The salary offered is proportional to the experience earned in the field. The salary offered increases with increase in the experience in the field.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Worker | Healthcare workers have a wide range of tasks and duties to perform depending on their employer and specific job title. Their major responsibility includes promotion of health and nutrition, making people aware about hygiene, etc. | INR 2 Lacs |
| Relief Worker | Relief Workers are responsible for assessing emergency situations. They work closely with other staff members located within the area or other emergency departments. They are also responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of volunteers, managing budgets, managing the implementation of emergency activities and monitoring their effectiveness. | INR 3 Lacs |
| Religious Teacher | Religious Teachers evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers. They promote healthy discussions among the students. They impart valuable knowledge to students by preparing lectures and delivering them in the class. they are also responsible for conducting various forms of examinations in order to evaluate students. | INR 7 Lacs |
| Children Pastor | Children Pastors oversee and develop the ministry, discipleship, pastoral care & mission amongst young people within the life of the church. They encourage all to embrace the Christian Gospel and recognize and respond to God’s kingdom at work within their lives. Also, they develop, encourage and train teams to work with young people. | INR 6.5 Lacs |
The graph given below shows the salary trend for various job profiles available to professionals with Bachelor in Theology.
Bachelor of Theology Future Scope
- Bachelor in Theology degree program comes with various jobs and career opportunities. The course helps one fulfill their spiritual longings. It helps one in deeply knowing the concepts of theology.
- The degree is apt for students who want to engage in social work in the future. It can help them grasp the very basics of it. With increasing interest of students in the subject, the scope of the course seems ever increasing.
- After successfully completing the course, one can work as a Pastor, Minister, social activist, in NGOS, Colleges, Health Care, and Religious Institution, a theology professor or researcher.
- The scope of the course is just not limited to securing jobs, it offers some other options as well. Apart from seeking jobs, students can also choose to pursue higher education in the respective field. They can pursue Masters in Theology and PHd in Theology after completing Bachelor in Theology.
Bachelor of Theology FAQs
Ques. Is there any entrance exam for admission into bachelor in theology course?
Ans. No, admission to the course is done on merit based criteria.
Ques. What are the eligibility criteria one must fulfill in order to pursue a bachelor in theology course?
Ans. Students who wish to pursue bachelor in theology must have passed their 12 board examination with a minimum score of 50%.
Ques. What is the duration of this course?
Ans. Bachelor in Theology is a three year undergraduate degree program.
Ques. How much does it cost to pursue a bachelor in theology degree program?
Ans. The average tuition fee charged by colleges or universities for this course in India lies anywhere in between INR 10,000 to 1 Lakhs.
Ques. Which are some of the most popular colleges offering bachelor in theology course?
Ans. Some of the most popular colleges offering bachelor in theology degree program are Bharat Bible College, New India Bible Seminary, Brethren Bible Institute, Clark Theological College, South India Baptist Bible College and Seminary, etc.
Ques. What are the various job positions available to a fresh bachelor in theology graduate?
Ans. Some job positions available to fresh bachelor in theology graduates are Healthcare Worker, Relief Worker, Religious Teacher, Children Pastor, etc.
Ques. What salary can a fresh bachelor in theology graduate expect?
Ans. Fresh graduates of this course can easily expect compensation of INR 2 to INR 3 Lakhs per year.
Ques. Which stream should I opt for my 10+2 if I want to pursue a Bachelor in Theology course in the future?
Ans. One should choose humanities.
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