EDUCATIONAL STUDIES

Occupational Objective - Participants in the Educational Studies program will develop a firm grasp of core educational disciplines, such as: Educational Psychology, Early childhood and Adolescent Development, Diversity in Pedagogy, Educational Technology, and effective Public Communication.

Purpose -The Educational Studies major is designed to provide students a foundational understanding of pedagogy and give them the ability to think critically about the world around them and their future learners. This program is taught from a Christian perspective, preparing students to be educators in the classroom, church, or professional fields. 

EDU100 - Child and Educational Psychology - 3 credits

This course focuses on the observation and understanding of how a student views the world around them. As well as language learning, memory, decision-making, problem-solving, how the student uses their imagination, and how a student uses basic reasoning. All of these factors are influenced by a student’s genetics and environment. 

EDU110 - Classroom Management - 3 credits

This course provides information to help students develop pro-active strategies to manage the classroom environment and student behavior. Emphasis is placed on students’ development of a personal and unique classroom management plan. 

EDU120 - Learning Theories, Psychology of Learning & Learning Styles - 3 credits

An examination of learning theories as they relate to the systematic design, development, and validation of instructional material. this course will include an investigation of the theories of multiple intelligences, brain-based learning, and learning styles, in regard to how they influence the concepts of creativity, metacognition, and critical thinking in the teaching learning process. 

EDU130 - Lesson Planning & Curriculum Theory - 3 credits

Creating a lesson plan is an important aspect of instructional design. Lesson plans allow teachers to create learning objectives, organize and deliver course content, and plan and prepare learning activities and materials. An effective lesson plan addresses the question, “What should learners be able to do by the end of the lesson?” 

CHM200 - Leading Student Ministries - 3 credits

Students are not miniature adults, they reason differently, they behave differently, and they have unique emotional needs. Students in this class will gain a working understanding of the unique approaches to leading, teaching, relating to students, and learn how to grow a thriving ministry to students. Students will examine cultural trends and how they affect the spiritual formation of adolescents and student life on the junior and senior high school campus and the world at large. 

EDU200 - Technology in Education - 3 credits

This course is designed to provide an overview of concepts and terminology related to technology in education. The student is given hands-on experiences using technology including understanding of the Internet. This class may be online enhanced.  

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JUS210 - Children & Youth in Crisis - 3 credits

Students learn about various types of crisis and their impact through the lens of a child, as well as foundational elements of ethical and legal considerations when working with children. 

EDU210 - Early Literacy Instruction - 3 credits

A study of concepts, materials, and teaching strategies for oral language development and systematic early reading and writing instruction, specific to concepts about print, phonemic awareness, and phonics.

EDU300 - Teaching Grammar & Creative Writing - 3 credits

This course doesn’t just help teach students the rules of grammar, but also helps them write with confidence and with writing style. This comprehensive program will help teachers learn how to eliminate common grammatical errors, perfect punctuation and structure sentences with ease.

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EDU310 - Theological Foundation of Christian Education - 3 credits

Become an effective teacher who will provide a Christ-centered quality education for one’s students. Having a firm theological foundation enables an individual to bring not only confident and well-prepared teaching, but light into the classroom. Christian teachers in every school are critically important in contributing to students’ academic and spiritual formation.

EDU320 - Education Administration - 3 credits

This course focuses on the administration and management of education systems. Learn the types of roles that are needed in a school, as well as the goals of an education administrator in their administrative department. Administrators work in daycares, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, both private and public.

EDU330 - Mathematics in The Elementary School - 3 credits

Methodology based on current research and practice is explored using an emphasis on mathematical understandings, using manipulatives, and acquiring problem-solving skills. 

EDU400 - Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) - 3 credits

This course is an overview of the field of learning disabilities including historical development, theoretical research bases, and social, emotional, physical and learning characteristics. 

EDU410 - Theological Foundation of Christian Education - 3 credits

Become an effective teacher who will provide a Christ-centered quality education for one’s students. Having a firm theological foundation enables an individual to bring not only confident and well-prepared teaching, but light into the classroom. Christian teachers in every school are critically important in contributing to students’ academic and spiritual formation.

EDU420 - Non-Formal Education - 3 credits

Learn how to teach a particular activity, skill or area of knowledge, such as: swimming classes for small children, sports clubs of various kinds for all ages, reading groups, debating societies, amateur choirs and orchestras, and so on. 

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LOWER AND UPPER DIVISION TOTAL CREDITS: 45 Credits

(Students are required to all of the lower division courses and upper division courses)

PSY100 – Psychology of Personal Development - 3 credits

This course provides students with basic knowledge of psychology in order to better understand the psychological needs of people, how to understand human behavior and how to deal with interpersonal problems while integrating Christianity and Psychology. A Biblical view of human beings, their behavior and their relationship to learning is the starting point of the course. 

PHL100 – Introduction to Philosophy - 3 credits

This study covers major areas of analytic philosophy: epistemology and metaphysics, ethics, cognitive philosophy, philosophy of language, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of the sciences. Students will be challenged to wrestle with issues of moral behavior and the nature of good and evil. 

WRI100 – College Composition - 3 credits

Critical reading and writing; emphasizes strategies of academic discourse. Discovers, organizes and develops ideas in relation to the writer's purpose, subject and audience. Emphasizes modes of written discourse and effective use of rhetorical principles.  

WRI110 – Creative Writing - 3 credits

This course is designed to challenge students to compose original forms of writing, poetry, drama and fiction. The curriculum will increase vocabulary, teach creative writing techniques, and explore major works in creative fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

ENG200 – World Literature - 3 credits

This course introduces students to a diverse collection of literature from authors around the world. The class will include reading, analyzing, and discussing various genres of literature and is designed to provide awareness of literary elements in poetry, fiction, and drama. A thematic approach will be used, and literature will be analyzed from a Christian perspective.  

COM100 – Introduction to Communications - 3 credits

Develop an understanding of how communities gather, communicate, and seek a place where their relational, prophetic, and spiritual needs are met. Students will learn how to use the discernment process to develop forms of communication and practices to build relationships. Students will learn effective communication in one-on-one situations, effective small group tools, for a variety of settings. Areas for application include public speaking, mass communication, business presentations, organizational communication, intercultural communication, and rhetoric.   

MTH100 – College Algebra - 3 credits

The course is designed to develop fluency in working with linear equations including writing, graphing and solving linear equations and the use of radical and rational expressions. The course will introduce the practical application of statistical analysis, provide an introduction to geometry, congruence, symmetry, and measurement, and will cover algebraic expressions and equations and their manipulation and use in problem solving and word problems.

PED100 – Sports & Physical Education - 2 credits

(Students will have the choice of the following, PED101- Basketball, PED102- Soccer, PED103- Volleyball, PED104- Golf)

Introduces physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health as a global economic and cultural force. Through this course, Students will form theoretical and theological foundation for the study of Sports Ministry, develop a Christ-centered, Biblical and theological framework for their ministries, and gain a deeper understanding of how sports and Sports Ministry can change lives. 

GLD100 – Global Community Development - 3 credits 

Students will explore the relationships and how to understand cultures in ways that create change in people and communities, igniting change on the local, societal, and national levels. Macro and micro-development perspectives provide strategies that are vital in understanding Christ’s message to the world regarding global development and justice.

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HIS100 – World Civilization - 3 credits

Designed to familiarize students with basic facts of world history, and culture and the impact and interactions of the world community., This course will examine the development of and interactions between people, states and civilizations around the world beginning with the foundations of civilization to the Renaissance.

HIS110 – History of Christianity - 3 credits

An introduction to early church history beginning with the desert fathers. Attention is given to the philosophies of history, a study of the early church, its officers and polity, early heresies, early church councils, early church persecution, the development of church hierarchy, monasticism, early missions, the Crusades, the reformation, and the modern global spread of Christianity. 

ART100 – Introduction to Art - 3 credits

Provides an introduction to the understanding, history, and enjoyment of art through the study of painting, sculpture, design, photography, and the decorative arts. Students gain an awareness of meaning, functions, and significance of art, while learning an art-related vocabulary and a set of analytical tools for discussing and understanding art from around the world.

MUS100 – Introduction to Music - 3 credits

An introductory course in music theory and composition, with the fundamentals of that subject. The course will also cover elements of music and media of performance in historical perspective and provide a basic background in music literature.

SPA101 – Spanish I - 4 credits

Students will develop a basic proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will acquire an intercultural understanding of Spanish-speaking countries and Latin/Hispanic communities throughout the country and the world. The focus in class is on using Spanish to exchange real-life information and ideas, and on the functional grammar and vocabulary to accomplish this.

SPA102 – Spanish II - 4 credits

Students will continue their development of functional proficiency in Spanish. Students will further develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through grammar and composition, as well as build upon their vocabulary. They will deepen their intercultural understanding of Spanish-speaking countries and Latin/Hispanic communities throughout the country and world. 

BIB100 – Old Testament Survey - 3 credits

This course is a study of the theology of the Old Testament in terms of its progressive unfolding of the truth of redemption as it finds its consummation in Jesus Christ. Topics to be covered in the course include the nature and method of biblical theology, the distinctiveness of biblical theology in contrast to systematic theology, the nature and extent of God’s covenants, and the role of the successive divine covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the new covenant. 

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BIB110 – New Testament Survey - 3 credits

This course will focus on the Story of Redemption portrayed in the Book of John. An introductory examination of the characteristics of John’s Gospel together with an analytical and expository study of the contents of this Gospel, and an overview of the New Testament, including the gospels, the Pauline epistles, and Revelation. 

SPF100 – Spiritual Formation & Soul Care - 3 credits

This course focuses on how the Holy Spirit equips God’s people for service, a development of a plan for lifelong spiritual growth, and appreciation for the historic spiritual disciplines. Drawing on the fields of cognitive development and moral development, this course will focus of the process of spiritual development; how it happens in identifiable, sequential stages (i.e. James Fowler). Learners will also unpack the five aspects of the human personality—cognitive, physical, affective, moral, and relational—and discover how each contributes to our spiritual formation. 

JUS100 – Theology of Compassion & Justice - 3 credits

This course establishes the biblical foundation for social justice and compassion; from the Pentateuch to Christ. Students will study the heroes of justice and compassion through history. The course will provide grounding for understanding the connection between spiritual formation and justice, and the necessity of doing justice and compassion today.  

TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: 58 Credits

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GENERAL ELECTIVES: 17
(Any college level courses will fulfill general electives requirements)

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TOTAL CREDITS FOR EDUCATIONAL STUDIES: 120 Credits