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 of3.50 or higher and must have com- pleted 80 credit units at Biola p1ior to the semester of graduation. Final selection is based upon scholastic performance, Ch1istian witness and contributions to the Biola community. BOLD stu- dents should check their program for a listing of honors. PHILOSOPHY OF GENERAL EDUCATION The general education program at Biola is designed to sup- port the university's distinctively Christian mission by giving spe- cific attention to four themes: (1) developing intellectual skills, (2) educating whole persons, (3) understanding our Ch1istian 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. Deve!nping Inwl/ectual Skills: Because all students need to strengthen and supplement the set of intellectual skills they acquired in their p1imary 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. IT. Educlliing Whole Persuns: Our general education courses seek to educate students as human beings rather than as prospec- tive members of particular professions. This "whole person" approach to education isdesigned to help prepare our students to succeed in their roles in the family, the church, and the larger society ofour 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 develop- ment, the progran1 includes traditional education in the arts and sciences, supplemented by contemporary explorations of inipor- tant issues. As aChristian university, Biola rests its primary under- standing ofwhat "whole persons" are and need on the basis of the central teachings of the Christian faith. This understanding guides eve1y aspect of our general education program. III. Understanding Our Christian Heiitage: An essential ele- ment 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 1ight 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 cultural contribution since the close of the New Testament canon. IV Be=ing 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. BIBLICAL STUDIES AND THEOLOGY REQUIREMENT Biola University is committed to a strong bibli cal 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 unti l the requirement has been fulfilled. The following are required: Foundational Courses BBST 101 Foundations of Christian Thought 3 BBLE llO 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 libei·al arts major may count only a total of 30 units of biblical studies and lheolofsj toward the required units for a degree. (Biblical studies and Christian education majors may count unlimited bibliwl studies or theolofsj units toward the required units for a degree.) The maximum limit for recognized car- respondence caurses in Bible is six units. Pait-time students (less than 12 units per seineste11 are required to includi! at least one biblical studies and theOWfsj course within each 15 units complewd at Bio/a University unless the 30 units require- ment has been me/. Pait-liine students seeking a degree from Bio/a University must complete the enti1~ requirement as au/lined above.
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