The history of American Baptist College of Nashville dates from 1924. It was founded with the express purpose of training blacks for the Christian ministry. Biblical and theological studies form the backbone of its three basic programs. It offers a baccalaureate program as well as an associate of arts degree. A one-year course leads to a certificate in the Bible. Students who plan to go on to a theological seminary must acquire a bachelor's degree.
Arkansas Baptist College opened its doors in 1884 in Little Rock. According to Fitz Hill, its current president, it is "the only historically black Baptist higher education institution west of the Mississippi." Besides religious studies, it offers bachelor's degrees in accounting, African-American community leadership, business administration, Christian education, criminal justice, human services and public administration. Associate degrees can also be obtained. The college is active in intercollegiate sports. Its baseball, basketball and football teams go by the name "Buffalos."
Shaw University, located in Raleigh, N.C., enjoys the distinction of being the first historically black college in the South. It began operation in 1865, when Henry Martin Tupper, a northern Baptist minister who had become involved in the plight of African Americans during the Civil War, began teaching bible classes for freedmen. Shaw University today is still affiliated with the Baptist church. It is a liberal arts college, with departments in humanities, mass communications, natural sciences and mathematics, religion and philosophy and visual and performing arts. The Shaw University Divinity School offers a program for degrees of Master of Divinity and Master of Religious Education.
In 2000, Selma University in Alabama began a process of change from a Christian liberal arts college to a Bible college. By 2009, it received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education in Canada and the United States. It offers bachelors degrees in General Studies with different concentrations, such as Business Administration; Biology and Physical Education; Bible, Theology and Christian Education; or Bible and Pastoral Ministry. A Bible and Theology associate degree is offered, while master's degrees are available in Bible and Pastoral Ministry and Bible and Christian Education. According to its mission statement, it "seeks to stimulate its students spiritually, intellectually and socially and to produce graduates who are servant leaders in their churches, communities and chosen areas of vocation."