UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
graduate with honors from Biola University, at least 60 units must be earned in residence at this school. Aselect group of graduating seniors are chosen each year to membership in Epsilon Kappa Epsilon, the baccalaureate honor society of Biola University. Membership is limited to no more than 5%of the graduating class. To be eligible for membership, a student must have a GPA of 3.50 or higher and must have com pleted 80 credit units at Biola prior to the semester of gradua tion. 'Final selection is based upon scholastic performance, Christian witness and contributions to the Biola community. BIBLICAL STUDIES AND THEOLOGY REQUIREMENT Biola University is committed to a strong biblical empha sis. A firm foundation in the word of God is imperative for all God's servants, regardless of the ministry they may enter. Thirty units 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 BBST IOI Foundations of Christian Thought 3 BBLE 110 New Testament History & Literature 3 BBLE 120 Old Testament History 3 BBLE 121 Old Testament Literature 3 Intermediate Courses BBLE 200 Early Christian History - Acts 3 BBST 251 Christian Thought I 3 BBST 304 Christian Thought II 3 Elective Courses BBST 300/ 400 Elective 3 BBST 300/ 400 Elective 3 BBST 465 Integration Seminar 3 Note: Students who select a liberal arts major may count only a total of 30 units of biblical studies and theol,ogy toward the required units /or a degree. (Biblical studies and Christian education majors may count unlimited biblical studies or theology units toward the required units /or a degree.) The maximum limit /or recognized cor respondence courses in Bible is six units. Part-time students (less than 12 units per semester) are required to include at least one biblical studies and theo/,ogy course within each 15 units completed at Bio/a University unless the 30 units requirtJ inent has been met. Part-time students seeking a degree from Bio/a University must complete the entire requirement as outlined above. GENERAL EDUCATION STUDIES The general education program at Biola is designed to sup port the university'sdistinctively Christian mission by giving spe cific attention to four themes: (I) 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 cre ativity. The knowledge and skills gained from courses in general education will be further developed by the students in their major fields of study and in their life long learning. I. Developing lntelkdual 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. IL 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 e_ducation is designed to help prepare our students to succeed in their roles in the fami ly, 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 intellectual development, the pro gram includes traditional education in the arts and sciences, supplemented by contemporary explorations of important issues. As a Christian university, Biola rests its primary under standing of what "whole persons" are and need on the basis of the central teachings of the Christian faith. This understand ing guides every aspect of our general education program. III. Understanding Our Christian Heritage: An essential ele ment ofBiola'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 edu cation curriculum by other courses that give students further exposure to the broad range of Christian thought and cul tural contribution since the close of the New Testament canon. IV Becoming thinking Christians: The general education pro gram at Biola aims at assisting our students to develop an intel lectually 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. In every course the students are challenged to put their maturing Chris tian thinking to use in the conduct of their lives. It is the purpose of the general education requirement to introduce the student to areas of study that mature the mind, open new vistas of appreciation and understanding, enrich social relationships, and develop skills and aptitudes that can aid the student in furthering his personal and social useful ness. Since it is the purpose of a liberal arts education to cre ate a broad base upon which to build one's continuing edu cation, the student is allowed to select from the fo llowing courses to build his own base in the liberal arts. University Life I unit required (Not counted taward total numkr ofunits for graduation. Required of all new students and students trans/ming with II units or less.) Communication 3 units required Foreign Language 12 units required
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