General information about this course
The B.D. Degree course is designed to equip persons for essential functions and ministries of the Church in India/South Asia who could commend their faith with relevance in the context of a pluralistic world. It aims at an integrative and interdisciplinary approach among the biblical, theological, historical, and religious fields with involvement in practical aspects of life and ministry in the regional, social, and cultural contexts of India/South Asia. It also ensures adequate grounding in the discipline of linguistics for the study of texts and provides hermeneutical tools and skills for understanding and interpreting the context of ministry. It is three and half year to four years programme.
Admission Requirements for the BD Degree:
A candidate at the time of admission to the Bachelor of Divinity degree program must satisfy the following conditions, as the case may be:
- A candidate who has completed a Bachelor’s or Post Graduate degree from a recognized University shall be admitted to the 1st year of 4 year BD degree program.
- A candidate who has passed the Higher Secondary examination (Class 12thor PUC or PDC with a total of 12 years of schooling starting from standard one) or its recognized equivalent program (e.g., all Diploma courses, after completing 10thstandard) with a minimum of 2 years duration, such as ITI, Nursing, Hotel Management, etc., recognized by the Govt. Education Department, considered to be equivalent to 12thstandard). Such a candidate shall be admitted to the 5 year BD degree program.
- A mature candidate is one who:-(1) has attained 25 years of age; (2) has the minimum qualification of 10th standard; (3) has three years of ministerial experience; and (4) has passed “Mature Candidate Entrance Examination” of the Senate of Serampore College; he/she shall be admitted to the 1st year of 4 year BD degree programme. Mature Entrance Examination held in the month of October/November and March/April every year.
B.Th., B.Miss and B.C.S. to BD Upgrade:
- A degree holder of a Bachelor of Theology/Bachelor of Missiology/ Bachelor of Christian Studies, irrespective of their overall grades, shall be enrolled in the 3rd year of 4 year BD degree program. Further, they have to fulfil the following requirements:
- A BTH/BMISS/BCS graduate shall complete BOS11 [English I] and BOS12 [English II] during BTH/BMISS/BCS studies. Otherwise, before admit to 2 year BD degree program, he/she has to complete BOS11 & BOS12 under the Senate examined Qualifying examination, held in Oct/Nov.& March/April every year.
- Further, BOS11 & BOS12 can be exempted, if the candidates have passed the Class XII examination with English as a compulsory subject under the Board Examination (including Vernacular medium).
- In the case of Pre. Greek (BBN01) and Pre. Hebrew (BBO11) for B.Th.& B.Miss. pass candidates, if they have not done these subjects at the B.Th. & B. Miss., level, they have to do the same during their BD studies. If a candidate intends to do other exegetical subjects in Greek and or Hebrew at BD level, he/she has to complete Adv. Greek (BBN02) and Adv. Hebrew (BBO12) as per his/her choice.
- BCS candidate has to do BBN01-Preliminary Greek and BBO11-Preliminary Hebrew during his/her BD studies.
- An ATA B.Th., the candidate has to pass BD Qualifying Examination (8 papers, including BOS11 & BOS12) of the Senate of Serampore College, held in the month of October/November and March/April. Additionally, he/she has to do BBN01 and BBO11 during his/her BD studies.
Dip. C.S. to BD:
- A Candidate having Diploma in Christian Studies from the Senate of Serampore College, securing an overall 40% average with Higher Secondary (HSE/PU/PDC) or its equivalent qualification, are eligible to register in 1styear of 4 year BD degree program. Also he/she has to pass the Senate examined English Qualifying Examinations (held in the month of October/November and March/April), i.e., BOS11 [English I], BOS12 [English II], separately before joining the BD degree program.
- Further, BOS11 & BOS12 can be exempted, if the candidate has passed the Class XII examination with English as a compulsory subject under the Board Examination (including Vernacular medium).