Curriculum / Courses

• SEMESTER 1
• + ENG 300 -College Writing and Research
Students will learn the importance of using credible sources and building strong arguments. Students will develop thesis statements, introductions and conclusions, consider audience and purpose, and integrate credible and scholarly sources using APA formatting. They will develop writing skills to help in academic courses, business pursuits, ministry, as well as other career positions.
• + BIB 442 -Letters of Paul
This course examines the background and ministry of Paul, as well as the origin and purpose of each of the Pauline epistles in the context of the development of his ministry. The study will include an analysis and synthesis of major Pauline themes, including the Pauline concept of the church and its mission.
• + LEA 372 -Organizational Leadership
This course will provide an understanding of organizational leadership from a biblical, theoretical and practical point of view.  The topic of leadership will be discussed in four contexts that include intrapersonal, interpersonal relationships, organizational structure and processes, and organizational culture.  A biblical approach will be used as a unifying theme for leadership best practices within each of these contexts.
• + MIN 370 -Spiritual Formation
This course focuses on the practical outworking of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Special consideration will be given to 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.

• SEMESTER 2
• + THE 454 -Knowing God
This course provides an in-depth study of Theology Proper, the study of God the Father.  Included with this will be understanding the Trinity doctrine, with an emphasis on biblical, historical and theological dimensions of knowing God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The course supports not only knowing more about God, but actually knowing God better through the application of Christian doctrine to life, worship and mission.
• + HUM 332 -Personal and Social Ethics
This course lays the foundation for a Christian response to ethical issues arising in 21st Century Western culture. Attention is given to the biblical foundation of Christian personal and social ethics, the history of ethics, ethical decision-making, and personal character development. Application of these topics will be made to a range of contemporary issues.
• + THE 453 -Christian Theology II
This course is an in-depth study of the doctrines of systematic theology, including Anthropology (Man), Hamartiology (Sin), Soteriology (Salvation and the Atonement), Angelology (Angels), Ecclesiology (Church) and Eschatology (End Times).  These doctrines will be considered from the mid-Acts dispensational view of theology held by Grace Bible College.  The course also encourages the practical integration of these doctrines in the life and service of the Christian.
• + PSY 310 -Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology is designed to introduce students to models of thinking concerning mental health, mental disorders, and classification of mental disorders.  The general goals are to expose students to the range of thinking within the field of mental health and to help students understand the complexities of modern day classification of various mental disorders. The students will be challenged to define what is considered “normal” and “abnormal.” They will become familiar with the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of abnormal psychology, including the various theories developed and used to explain causes and treatments for mental disorders. Emphasis in this undergraduate class will focus on symptoms and causes, although treatment will certainly be included. All information will be compared and contrasted with a Christian worldview of the various theories and concepts of Abnormal Psychology.
• SEMESTER 3
• + CJS 350 -Criminology and Social Deviance
This course examines why and how certain attributes and behaviors considered deviant in the United States. We will explore major types of deviant behavior and discuss how norms, values, and rules are made and enforced. This course includes sociological theories to explain deviant behaviors and is divided into the five areas of defining and explaining the deviant, creating deviance, maintaining deviance, controlling deviance, and justifying deviance.
• + CJS 310 -Criminal Law
This course reviews criminal law and specific offenses and applies constitutional restrictions on government’s power.  The course emphasizes basic criminal law, inchoate crimes, crimes against persons and property, contraband and regulatory offenses, public order crimes, operating while intoxicated, court functions and civil law and process.  This course will also explore Biblical expressions of law and applications to modern laws and sanctions.
• + CJS 315 -Criminal Procedure
The course focuses on the substantive criminal procedure and on the constitutional restrictions on government’s power to search, seize and question.   The course emphasizes basic police criminal procedure, laws of arrest, search and seizure, laws on suspect identification, admissions and confessions, use of force, and other related topics.  This course will includes an analysis from the Christian worldview of justice and on the topics studied.
• + CJS 330 -Law Enforcement and Corrections
This course reviews contemporary institutional and community-based correctional systems including jails, prisons, probation, parole, and alternative sanctioning. The course examines how punishment justifications impact the policy and procedures in juvenile and adult correctional systems. Specific attention is given to identification of evidence-based practices and programs in all aspects of the corrections system.
• SEMESTER 4
• + CJS 370 -Juvenile Law & Delinquency
Juvenile Law & Delinquency focuses on the unique challenges of working with youth within the criminal justice system. Theories that seek to explain juvenile delinquency, including the nature and extent of illegal behavior will be explored, while also considering the significant role of media violence. The justice process for juveniles will be critiqued, highlighting the structure and function of juvenile justice, probation, detention, parole, diversion for child offenders and the roles of family and social institutions in addressing illegal juvenile behavior. A biblical worldview will be promoted in responding to juvenile delinquency.
• + CJS 380 -Current Issues in Security
Current Issues in Security discusses topics related to personal, building and corporate security.  Security knowledge in the workforce is extremely valuable and this course will help students understand the foundations of security. Furthermore it will teach how to defend and react against potential threats.  The course will review legal issues, identifying suspicious behavior, technology in security, personal and structural security. Similarly internal and external threats, and other related topics will be discussed.
• + PSY 383 -Studies in Research Statistics
This course is an introduction to fundamental constructs of statistics as they are applied to research. Learners are introduced to core concepts, including: sampling, reliability and validity, descriptive and inferred statistics, hypothesis formulation, statistical significance, confidence intervals, interpretation of research, common statistical tests, and ANOVA computations. Learners will also become familiar with software for statistical computing and graphics.
• + PSY 325 -Social Psychology
This course examines individual behaviors within the context of one’s society. It is a study of how people think, influence, and relate to one another. Components of these behaviors studied in this course include attitudes, beliefs, prejudices, aggression, leadership, altruism, conformity, attraction, persuasion, and stereotypes.
• SEMESTER 5
• + CJS 440 -Culture, Crime, Ethics and Justice
An exploration of the relationships between culture, crime and social justice, with a special emphasis on ethical considerations in light of a Biblical worldview.  The course seeks to develop learner's cultural intelligence and foster compassion and greater understanding of diverse groups who are affected by the criminal justice system.
• + PSY 456 -Survival Psychology
This course focuses on the traits responsible for surviving in high-stress environments, including responding directly to high-threat encounters. Pro-survival behaviors are presented, including “the gift of fear” and balancing independence and leadership versus the need for teamwork collaboration in responding to stressful events. Organizational and professional psychological traits present in law enforcement, paramilitary organizations and high stress organizations are explored, as well as healthy lifestyle factors that lead to career effectiveness and avoiding burnout, such as managing vicarious trauma and promoting self-care.
• + CJS 498 -Program Capstone
This course serves as a capstone course for Grace Online BS degrees. The purpose is for students to synthesize their learning and focus their ideas on a practical application of their ideas in a local community in the context of their degree program.
• + ELECTIVE - Choose a course of interest from the courses available to satisfy the upper-level elective requirement. The chosen course must be at the 300-400 level and not already part of the degree path.
TOTAL CREDITS: 60