Undergraduate Requirements and Policies
to four themes: (1) developing intellectual skills, (2) educating whole persons, (3) understanding our Christian heritage, and (4) becoming thinking Christians. All four themes presuppose the hallmarks of any genuine university education which are honest inquiry after truth and the development of creativity. The knowledge and skills gained from courses in general education will be further developed by students in their major fields of study and in their life long learning. Philosophy of General Education 1. Developing Intellectual Skills: Because all students need to strengthen and supplement the set of intellectual skills they acquired in their primary and secondary education, Biola devotes part of its general education requirement to specific and intensive training in those skills. Cultural, technological, and other developments may, from time to time, require changes in the list of skills studied in our general education courses. 2. Educating Whole Persons: Our general education courses seek to educate students as human beings rather than as prospective members of particular professions. This “whole person” approach to education is designed to help prepare our students to succeed in their roles in the family, the church, and the larger society of our culturally diverse world. It pays particular attention to the spiritual formation and character development of students by faculty members who are open and honest about their own need for growth. To assist students in their holistic development, the program includes traditional education in the arts and sciences, supplemented by contemporary explorations of important issues. As a Christian university, Biola rests its primary understanding of what “whole persons” are and need on the basis of the central teachings of the Christian faith. This understanding guides every aspect of our general education program. 3. Understanding Our Christian Heritage: An essential element of Biola’s general education program is its requirement in biblical and theological studies. This curricular emphasis is integral to Biola’s institutional history, and it is foundational to a mature understanding of our heritage as Christians. Although the biblical and theological courses may address any aspect of the Christian heritage right up to contemporary developments, they are supplemented across the general education curriculum by other courses that give students further exposure to the broad range of Christian thought and cultural contribution since the close of the New Testament canon. 4. Becoming Thinking Christians: The general education program at Biola aims at assisting our students to develop an intellectually mature understanding and practice of their Christian faith. To accomplish this, the program provides students with biblically- informed critical assessments of beliefs and practices prominent in the contemporary world, and it trains them to make their own Christian assessments of these things. A goal of every course is to challenge the students to put their maturing Christian thinking to use in the conduct of their lives. Biblical and Theological Studies Requirement Thirty credits of biblical studies and theology must be included in the program of each student. Each student must take at least one course each semester until the requirement has been fulfilled. The following are required: Foundational Courses 12 Credits BBST 103 Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual Formation 3 BBST 105 Foundations of Christian Thought 3 BBST 109 Old Testament History and Literature 3 BBST 110 New Testament History and Literature 3 Intermediate Courses 9 Credits BBST 251 Theology I 3 BBST 254 Theology II 3 BBST 306 Early Christian History-Acts 3
Elective Courses
9 Credits
BBST 300/400 BBST 300/400
Upper-Division Bible Elective Upper-Division Bible Elective
3 3 3
BBST 465
Integration Seminar
BBST 465 - May be taken with different content for a maximum of 6 credits counted toward graduation. Students may count only a total of 30 credits of biblical and theological studies courses toward the required credits for a degree (Biblical Studies and Christian Ministries majors may count unlimited BBST credits toward those degrees). Challenge exams are available for BBST 109 and 110 (see Biblical and Theological Studies section). Part-time students (less than 12 credits per semester) are required to include at least one biblical studies and theology course within each 15 credits completed at Biola University unless the 30 credits requirement has been met. Part-time students seeking a degree from Biola University must complete the entire requirement as outlined above. Arts and Sciences Requirement The students must make selections from the following courses in the
arts and sciences. First Year Seminar
1 credit required
First Year Seminar is required of all first-time students with fewer than 12 transferable credits from a college (excluding AP, IB, dual credit, or CLEP). Behavioral Science
3 credits required 3 credits required 6 credits required 3 credits required
Communication
English
Fine Arts
Foreign Language
4–12 credits required
History
6 credits required 3 credits required 3 credits required 4 credits required
Literature Philosophy
Physical Education Science/Mathematics
8 credits required The courses that fulfill the general education requirement are the following: Behavioral Science 3 credits Select 1 course from: ANTH 200 General Cultural Anthropology PSYC 200 Introduction to Psychology SOCI 220 Sociology SOCI 362 Social Problems Check the catalog to determine which majors require PSYC 200 as a support course. PSYC 200 is required for all majors leading to a teaching credential. Communication 3 credits Select 1 course from: COMM 100 Introduction to Public Communication COMM 170 Small Group Communication COMM 181 Introduction to Argumentation and Debate COMM 280 Oral Interpretation
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