Heritage Christian University

Heritage Christian University offers a 128-hour undergraduate program leading to a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies. All students major in the bible and may choose up to 12 electives or one of two concentrations—Preaching Ministry or Family Life Ministry. HCU also offers an Associate of Arts program. This 66-hour program of study results in the A.A. in Biblical Studies. Heritage Christian University offers three master's degrees. The Master of Arts (M.A.) prepares students for serious biblical study in Greek or Hebrew. The Master of Ministry (M.Min.) trains students for more effective ministry. The Master of Divinity (M.Div.), the first professional degree in the field of ministry, prepares ministers for comprehensive service for churches. In particular, in cooperation with the Ezell Institute for Biblical Research, students completing the M.Div. degree will be equipped to work in churches with limited resources. All three degrees aim to prepare workers for more effective service in the kingdom of God. The MA and the M.Min. are both 36-hour programs, while the Master of Divinity is 75 hours with a required Spiritual Formation program to be completed. Instead of a thesis, M.Min. students participate in a practicum that gives them "experience in a supervised program of the church." [ 1 ] On June 27, 2011, Heritage Christian University announced that the school had been approved to offer the Master of Divinity degree. [ 2 ] Graduate and undergraduate classes are offered both on-campus and online. Heritage Christian University is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education . The ABHE is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is recognized as a national institutional accrediting agency for Bible colleges and universities. The Alabama State Department of Education licenses Heritage Christian University as a private university. The U.S.

Office of Education Register lists the university, making Heritage Christian University students eligible for grants and federal loans. The Alabama State Approving Agency recognizes Heritage Christian University for educational benefits to veterans. Heritage Christian University meets the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 's requirements for eligibility to enroll foreign students.

The Overton Memorial Library serves Heritage Christian University undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff. The library was dedicated in November 1986 in honor of Basil and Margie Overton and in memory of their son Timothy, who died in 1974. Library holdings exceed 136,000 physical volumes. [ 3 ] In October 2005, the McMeans Family Reading Area was created in honor of William Delona and Othella Tuten McMeans. The Heritage Marriage and Family Resource Center was created within OML in April 2006 through a grant from the Alabama Marriage and Family Project. In June 2008, the Bagents Family Resource Center was created, honoring the Bagents Family. The Frederick W. Danker Depositorium is located within the Overton Memorial Library. In April 2010, Frederick Danker informed the staff of the Overton Memorial Library that he would be giving his entire personal library and papers to the library. The process officially began in October 2010 and continued until shortly after Danker's death in February 2012. Housed within the Danker Depositorium are files of research conducted by Danker, personal correspondence, published and unpublished writings by Danker and memorabilia from his home and office. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] In March 2019, the library's reference collection was named the Ray and Blanche Horsman Reference Collection in honor of the Horsman's dedication to Christian education and to the Overton Memorial Library.

The Academic Building was constructed in 1977. This 27,000-square-foot (2,500 m 2 ) building contains administrative and faculty offices, classrooms, auditorium, and a cafeteria. The Alexander Activities Building was built in 1978 and has a gymnasium for students. The Overton Memorial Library, University Archives and History Room, faculty offices, and a recording studio are also housed here. The Dr. John Kerr Student Center includes a theater, recreation areas, and a kitchenette. The Coil Conference Center offers a conference room, two offices, and amenities. The Jim McCreary Cabin and the Brenda McCreary Cabin each house up to 18 guests in a bunkhouse arrangement. Smith Park is an area for picnics, devotionals, and has a playground for children. The Ezell Pavilion is in Smith Park. The Ralph C. Bishop Soccer Field and Edith M. Rinks "Meme" Nature Trail offer opportunities for recreational activities for students, faculty, staff, and the general public.