Curriculum / Courses

• + ADULT DEVELOPMENT & AGING
• + PSY 361 -Psychology & Culture of Aging
A review of the biological, sociological, and psychological aspects of age-related changes in respect to perception, memory, cognition, and personality. Major developmental theories and research will be studied. Study of aging from the perspective of prominent sociological theories in Western society with an emphasis on culture.
• + PSY 467 -Memory Loss and Aging
This course contrasts normal age-related changes in the brain with the effects of diseases that cause cognitive impairment.  Prevalence, incidence, symptoms, causes, treatment, and caregiving issues are discussed, with emphasis on the history and personal, social, cultural, political, and economic impacts of Alzheimer’s disease are explored.
• + SOC 365 -Long-Term Care System
This course explores the components of long-term care administration. Students will examine the similarities and differences among the many long-term care service providers, how long-term care segments work together, forming an overall system, issues that individually or collectively affect them, and the skills that administrators will need to succeed in that system.
• + PSY 363 -End-of-Life Matters
Broad overview of death and dying topics including choices an aging population needs to make; ethics and Christian perspective of those choices; and the experience of grief and mourning.
• + BUSINESS
• + MKT 265 -Social Media Marketing
This course will use a biblical framework to determine and guide the identification and use of this rapidly changes media. Students will develop engagement strategies using social media to advance the mission and vision of the organization by creating customer profiles in social media marketing. In addition to the identification of alternative social media platforms, this class will explore various engagement options to ensure cultural awareness. in advancing a marketing strategy.
• + BUS 430 -Management of Marketing
This course examines various aspects of the discipline of marketing as they relate to today’s domestic and global marketplaces. Multiple marketing strategies will be analyzed and the behavior of consumers in various target markets will be explored.  Information related to understanding and making advantageous marketing decisions related to product and service offerings, distribution, promotion, and pricing will also be examined.
• + BUS 470 -Personnel Development
This course will prepare the student to integrate the various theories of learning, leadership, and motivation into a practical application of different methodologies, including needs assessment, development, and execution. Other important aspects covered include job design, coaching, mentoring, and performance management techniques.
• + ECO 305 -Introduction to Economics
This course is an introduction to the study of economics and its impact upon society. Key historical economic theories are introduced along with fundamental economic concepts. Key microeconomic topics covered include the concept of scarcity, supply and demand function, production, monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, and perfect competition market structures. Macroeconomic topics include classical macroeconomic theories, basic fiscal and monetary policy and the instruments used to implement them, the economic cycle, inflation, and unemployment.
• + CRIMINAL JUSTICE
• + 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 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.
• + 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 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.
• + GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
• + COM 220 -Global Communication
This course introduces students to global communication by exploring issues related to intercultural communication practices from a biblical perspective. It examines the important role of social, cultural, and historical context in human interactions.
• + COM 250 -Interpersonal Communication
This course focuses on the importance of interpersonal communication and the common barriers that confound relationships such as culture, conflict, gender, and perception of differences. Students will evaluate current connections from a Christian worldview and from that foundation identify strategies for strengthening personal and professional influences for mission/vision-minded goals.
• + COM 330 -Culture and Conflict Management
This course provides students with a basic overview of conflict resolution. The history, methods, and theory of conflict resolution will be explored. In addition, strategies in competitive versus collaborative negotiation will be examined in the context of culture and a Christian worldview.
• + COM 400 -Pop Culture and Communication
This course explores ways that differing cultural forms (e.g. music, television, and film) communicate ideas about the world in which we live. These cultural forms are often dismissed as simply “mere entertainment” but this course assumes that these forms communicate meaning and values. The course will utilize a number of communication theories (such as cultural theory) by which students will learn to evaluate emerging meanings articulated by pop culture mediums. The course will explore various questions including: What is popular culture? What does it say about the meaning of life? What does it say about God? What does it say about Christianity? How does popular culture help Christians understand the world?
• + COM 400 -Popular Culture and Communication
This course explores ways that differing cultural forms (e.g. music, television, and film) communicate ideas about the world in which we live. These cultural forms are often dismissed as simply “mere entertainment” but this course assumes that these forms communicate meaning and values. The course will utilize a number of communication theories (such as cultural theory) by which students will learn to evaluate emerging meanings articulated by pop culture mediums. The course will explore various questions including: What is popular culture? What does it say about the meaning of life? What does it say about God? What does it say about Christianity? How does popular culture help Christians understand the world?
• + PASTORAL STUDIES (Leadership & Ministry only)
• + MIN 415 -Ministry of the Local Church
This course provides a foundation for leading staff, boards, and committees, as well as development of programming.  Included is an understanding of proper oversight of Church finances and overall stewardship of the ministry.  All of this with the goal of preparing the student for leading in the midst of change and maintaining church health.
• + THE 335 -Principles and Practice of Worship
This course examines the biblical foundations for corporate worship and how those are applied today.   Included is a study of key biblical texts, review of common misperceptions, and development of an overall philosophy for corporate worship.
• + MIN 462 -Teaching and Preaching
This course reviews the method and impact of gospel communicators, both from Scripture as well as those of historical note. It also stresses the fundamentals of gospel communication, including content, which involves study; delivery, which involves mechanics; and anointing, which involves dependence upon the Holy Spirit. This course will also stress a balance of both theory and practices in gospel communication.
• + BIB 408 -Genesis
This course reviews the overall scope of Genesis as the foundational book in the Pentateuch.  This includes authorship, content framework, and purpose.
• + SOCIAL SCIENCES
• + PSY 361 -Psychology & Culture of Aging
A review of the biological, sociological, and psychological aspects of age-related changes in respect to perception, memory, cognition, and personality. Major developmental theories and research will be studied. Study of aging from the perspective of prominent sociological theories in Western society with an emphasis on culture.
• + 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.
• + 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 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.
• + LEADERSHIP & MINISTRY
• + BIB 342 -Life of Christ
This course is a journey in the steps of Christ to experience authentic and transformative Christian living, which prepares students to follow the steps of Christ and serve the Church and society. Students will explore context, life examples, teachings, and theology inherent in the life of Christ in order to develop a personal theology. The four Gospels serve as the knowledge base.
• + THE 348 -Biblical Perspectives on Wealth and Poverty
This course explores a biblical foundation for understanding wealth and poverty in the modern world.  These issues impact ministry at a local level and beyond, including the support of international missions efforts.  In addition, students will examine appropriate responses for Christians and churches as they seek to care for the “least, the last, and the lost.”
• + MIN 362 -Marketplace Ministry
The purpose of this course is to learn and live the foundational tenets of biblical Christianity in the marketplace of life; at home, at work, and in the school; in short, in the public arena.  Attention will be given to the lifestyle of the believer as a statement to the non-Christian, relationship building, lifestyle evangelism, spiritual conversation with the non-Christian, and the biblical elements of conversion.
• + LEA 472 -Mobilization of Volunteers
This course will investigate ways to mobilize and engage volunteers.  It will defend the value of volunteers and their relationship within an organization. The topics examined will include: types of recruitment methods, importance of background checks, communicating organizational mission statements, goals and values, training, retention, volunteer tasks and expectations, motivation, reward systems and performance improvement for both volunteers and staff. Throughout the course, you will develop a practice scenario of organizing volunteers and staff for a specific event.
• + WOMEN'S MINISTRY
• + WOM 300 -The Role of Women in Church Administration and Leadership
This course is designed to explore the role women play in church leadership and help students reflect on their own leadership style. In that context, students are to develop their mission, passion, and confidence to lead within the church.
• + WOM 350 -Leadership Development & Strategies for Women
This course is designed to provide an in-depth analysis of the history, roles, responsibilities, calling, and challenges of women called to lead in diverse contexts. Emphasis is on to leadership development along with strategies for ensuring one’s spiritual, emotional, relational, physical health and wellness formation.
• + WOM 401 -Women of the Bible and Church History
This course is designed to explore women of significance in the Bible and Christian history, as well as their cultural contexts.  Emphasis will be placed on understanding how these women worked within their cultures to make a positive difference and applying principles learned from their examples into today’s culture.
• + WOM 451 -Women’s Ministry Today
This course is designed to explore the many different styles of women’s ministries in today's culture.  Emphasis is placed on administrative functions, development, leadership training, promotion, and other aspects of leading an effective Women's Ministry.
• + YOUTH MINISTRY
• + YTH 300 -Philosophy and Theology of Youth Ministry
This course is designed to provide an overview of youth ministry philosophy, models, and theology. Emphasis is on evaluating ministry models and developing a philosophy of youth ministry.
• + YTH 351 -Trends in Youth Ministry
This course gives an overview of the characteristics and trends of the current youth culture. Emphasis will be given to biblically evaluating these characteristics and trends as well as developing a ministry response to them. 3 semester credit hours.
• + YTH 401 -Biblical Patterns for Student Outreach
This course is designed to explore evangelism in the ministry of Paul in the book of Acts, and his epistles, with a view to applying these patterns in current youth culture. Students will develop a biblical plan for evangelism and outreach focused on youth.
• + YTH 451 -Principles for Leading Youth Ministry
This course is designed to examine guidelines and principles for effectively leading a Youth Ministry. Topics will include training and managing volunteers, communicating with parents, preparing students for leadership, administrative tasks, youth meeting and event planning, and other aspects of effective leadership.