Excel College Master's Degree

This program cultivates the vision, habits, and intellectual skills necessary for becoming successful and ethical practitioners in their chosen fields, whether within the designated BA emphasis or as engaged leaders integrating the practical training from the BA with the leadership focus of the Master’s program. The result is a new generation equipped with endurance and resilience to lead with integrity and wisdom in a rapidly changing world.

About the Program

Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree followed by a Master’s degree has historically required a significant investment of time and finances, delaying the student’s entry into the marketplace. Recognizing this, over the past decade, some colleges and universities have begun to implement dual Bachelor’s and Master’s tracks, similar to the dual enrollment familiar to most high school students earning college credit before finishing high school.

As part of our commitment to helping students enter the workforce efficiently (and debt-free), Excel College has launched a Dual Bachelor’s and Master’s degree pathway for academically driven and motivated students eager to obtain both degrees simultaneously and in a shorter time frame. This innovative program allows Excel College undergraduates to start graduate-level coursework before completing their Bachelor’s degree, ultimately merging the requirements for both degrees by extending their studies from 36 months to 39 months through the congruent dual approach.

Excel College’s efficient and affordable dual degree program is viable because both degrees relate to similar fields. They each cover critical thinking, Christian thought, philosophy, humanities subjects, hands-on experience in the marketplace, and leadership.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Students eager to grow intellectually and personally while aspiring to leadership roles in their communities and beyond. Students will immerse themselves in a vibrant academic environment that promotes critical thinking, practical skills, spiritual maturity, discipleship, and leadership.

This dual-track program is designed for students who exhibit strong academic skills, consistent study habits, and a commitment to maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.00 from their first semester onward. To remain in the dual-track program, students must uphold this GPA requirement for the entirety of their academic journey. By pursuing this accelerated path, students can earn both degrees in just 39 months, significantly reducing the duration and costs typically associated with obtaining separate Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

WHAT DO I GET UPON COMPLETION?

Students in the dual-track program will earn the Excel College Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Religious Studies, Critical Thinking, and Integrated Economics (with a customized marketplace emphasis), as well as a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Religious Studies and Community Development, focusing on leadership. After earning their Master’s degree, graduates will be well-prepared for career opportunities:
‍
a) within the field of emphasis specified in the Excel BA degree and/or
b) within the Excel MA field in religious studies, humanities, and/or leadership

PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS: PHASE 1

During the first 18 months of the program (the undergraduate focus), dual-track students are treated like other undergraduate students, except:
‍
- Must retain the status of an Excel Student of Honor, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00, actively demonstrate Excel’s virtues (Honor, Humility, Hunger, and Health), and remain in good academic, financial, and overall program standing.
- Commit to one five-hour leadership course (including class time and readings) scheduled for one Wednesday evening each month. This instruction will be provided by Excel College’s senior staff and other professional instructors, supplemented by individual self-learning and readings.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS: PHASE 2

In the second half of the 36-month BA program, dual-track students must maintain their status as Excel Students of Honor, fulfilling the GPA requirement, displaying Excel virtues, and ensuring good standing in all areas. However, they will also:
‍
- Commit to an extra five hours each week for leadership coursework, scheduled for Wednesday evenings. This instruction will be delivered by senior staff from Excel College and other professional instructors, complemented by individual self-learning and readings.
- It is recommended that the parents of dual-track students increase their portion of the monthly payment by $200. This adjustment is necessary because students will have five fewer hours available for marketplace earnings due to the additional graduate-level coursework. Consequently, the increased parental payment will reduce the student portion of the tuition by the same amount of $200 during Phase II and the three-month MA extension period.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS: MASTER'S EXTENSION

In the final 18 months of the bachelor's program (Phase II), students complete graduate-level coursework alongside other BA courses, and the dual track is typically extended by three additional months. During the extension, students will earn extra graduate-level credits to meet the total credits required for the MA degree. The monthly tuition will stay at $1,500, the same rate as during the Phase II practicum period.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Fill out the application for a regular Bachelors degree. When prompted to select a cohort, select "Master's 2025".

Program Overview

Learn to Serve, Build & Lead Communities

The ancient Hebrews used the term shalom to describe a concept of “wholeness” that centered around a sense of fullness, of completeness. But shalom is not just an individual description. No, shalom communicates an idea of universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight. In short, shalom is the experience of the way things ought to be. Shalom does start at the personal level, but it doesn’t end there. A person who flourishes can help a family experience shalom, and families who flourish can help a community experience shalom. And, in turn, that community in a state of shalom becomes an environment that fosters human flourishing.

In the Master’s Program for Religious Studies and Community Development, students will walk with Excel community leaders to become practitioners of (and partakers in) shalom. They’ll walk through their own personal journey of transformation while learning to steward the journeys of those after them - all while taking part in a rich community environment and discovering what it means to serve, build, and lead communities committed to fostering human flourishing.

Students will walk through a Master’s level version of the Excel Core Curriculum, which includes expanded readings and additional module(s), weekly mentorship from faculty and curriculum designers, and co-facilitating the Bachelor’s class. They’ll also serve and grow as leaders in various capacities within Excel College, Academy, or Institute (in functions such as teaching, mentoring, program administration and organizational stewardship) while participating in leadership development training with Excel Community leaders. In the end, students will be equipped to serve, build and lead these transformational communities committed to fostering human flourishing.

Who's It For?

Those with a Bachelor’s Degree looking to serve, build, and lead transformational communities that foster human flourishing.

How Do I Apply?

Email Andrew Chambers at achambers@theexcelcollege.com

Find Other Helpful Resources

Want to learn more or have other questions? Feel free to contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

OurFAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

OurBeliefs

STATEMENT OF FAITH

OurHandbook

DOWNLOAD