Continuing education

Life-Long Learners have three options of education tracks: degree, certificate, or audit.

  1. Degree: taking a class for full credit means that 3 units of college credit are given at the completion of the course. The student must do all homework, exams, and reading and will receive a grade. These courses can then be counted toward a degree: Associate of Arts or Bachelor of Arts. (For more info on the degrees…)
  2. Certificate: certificate level means the student does all of the course work, including the final exam, but does not receive college credit toward a degree program. At the completion of the course a certificate of completion is granted. Students who take 15 courses participate in the graduation ceremonies. This is not a college degree, but is a rigorous and thorough study of the Bible. (See below for more about the Certificate Program).
  3. Auditor: the student attends only for their personal enrichment. They are not required to do the coursework or take the final exam. There is no credit given. (See below for more about auditing).

(See the fees page for the difference in pricing.)

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Certificate Program

Why get a Certificate?

1)    Providing an understanding of Apologetics and Christian Counseling skills

2)    Preparing students to for either a part-time or full-time career in professional ministry.

3)    Enabling students already employed in Christian Education to earn “continuing education units” to satisfy their ACSI requirements.

Certificate in Biblical Studies

The Certificate in Biblical Studies program is for those persons seeking formal recognition of their commitment to systematically study the Bible, yet not pursuing a formal accredited degree. The student is required to complete any 15 of the courses offered by NCBC with full participation in the assignments and exams. The completion of the Certificate program leads to participation in the graduation ceremony while being awarded a diploma that reads, “Certificate in Biblical Studies.” The cost for this program is about one-half the tuition price for accredited classes. 

Recommended Courses: Life of Christ 1, Life of Christ 2, Acts, Genesis, Life of Moses, Life of David, Spirit of Man, Spirit of God, Book of Revelation, New Testament Survey, Old Testament Survey, Romans, Prison Epistles, Christian’s Mental Health, Hebrews.

Auditing

Why audit courses?

The student takes the class for their own personal enrichment; no course work or final exam is required. This allows students to learn and engage with the Biblical content without having the homework or exams. There is no credit given but the reward is personal. 

This program is substantially less in cost and allows students to explore all of the coursework. The lessons can be watched on their own time or listened to while driving. This is a way for Lifelong Learners to receive from some amazing teachers, pastors, and professors of the word of God and full of the Spirit.

Check out both the Upcoming LIVE courses and the full catalog of Distance courses.

More great benefits…

If you are considering entering into a systematic study of Scripture, you will find NCBC affordable, aligned with today’s culture, doctrinally supportive of the Spirit, and rich in biblical revelation. For live or livestream courses offered at any of our San Francisco Bay Area locations, students can attend the first class with no obligation to enroll. 

What if I already have a Bachelor’s degree?

Continue on and earn your Master’s Degree! Our Master of Arts in Biblical and Practical Theology has a two-fold purpose: (1) to provide a strong grasp of the factual contents of the Bible, interpreted in a sound, scholarly, and spiritual manner and (2) to prepare students for a professional calling in part or full-time ministry. 

Spirit and Truth: The degree is meant to balance a Spirit and Truth pursuit with the Practical Ministry and Theology combined. The transformational aspect of Biblical Truth will be balanced to not just produce head knowledge but active servants working in power.

Describe a typical NCBC student

The typical NCBC student is a bit older than a typical student you might find roaming around any of the local campuses, although we do have younger students as well. Most students have a full or part-time job, often rearing a family, serve as a ministering member of their local church, but have an insatiable desire to study God’s word.

We offer no student housing, as students live at home; we don’t have a football team or any form of collegiate athletics. Most students are busy with their lives and attend part-time, taking anywhere from 1-3 classes per quarter. Some drive over an hour to class each way; others live close by. Some students live as far away as Ireland, Australia, or Africa.

Students come from all walks of life; some are highly professional, others pastor churches, others work regular secular jobs; many are single, some are married. We even have students attending from behind bars in state prisons; some have come out of a lifestyle on the streets; most, however, feel some kind of a call of God to prepare for some type of ministry in the future.

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Christ-centered spiritual education

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Dedicated professors and pastors

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Accredited education with no debt