Curriculum / Courses

•    ARTS & SCIENCE CORE - 30 Credits
• + GEN 122 -Introduction to Online Studies and Personal Discipleship
Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on the foundational knowledge, skills, and character development required to succeed in the digital classroom and as a follower of Jesus Christ. The digital age of online learning has transformed higher education. The pervasive reach of the Internet has expanded the boundaries of the traditional classroom and created new opportunities for students to realize their goal of attaining a college degree. In addition to the practical skills and knowledge required to succeed in the online learning environment, the need for graduates who live out the values consistent with a Christlike character, in their homes, workplaces, and society has never been more necessary than today. (Replaced GEN 121)
• + BUS 115 -Introduction to Computers
Credit Hours: 3
Credit Hours: 3 This course encourages online learners to use technology as an effective communication avenue to research and present information for life and learning. Learners will gain experience with technology tools, including Microsoft® Word and PowerPoint that can be used throughout the student’s coursework to create documents and presentations and communicate those appropriately to academic and professional audiences.
• + ENG 105 -Introduction to College Writing
Credit Hours: 3
Writing is an important skill for academic, ministry, and vocational success. This course focuses on developing writing skills, providing students opportunities to break down the writing process. Students will learn how to create strong thesis statements to drive an academic paper. They will learn how to craft introductory and concluding paragraphs, build the body of a paper, consider their audience, and improve writing skills to communicate more effectively. They will develop basic skills in APA formatting and citations. Students will also work on refreshing grammar skills.
• + SPE 200 -Oral Communication
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides instruction and experience in preparing, delivering, and evaluating a self-introduction speech, an informative speech, and a persuasive speech.  Emphasis is on gaining skills and confidence in public speaking in academic, workplace, ministry, and community contexts.
• + HUM 231 -World Civilizations
Credit Hours: 3
This course will provide students with skills in historical research and analysis, a chronological understanding and factual knowledge spanning from the dawn of civilization to 1700. Emphasis is placed on the origins and achievements of the core civilizations of Asia, Africa, America, and Greco-Roman civilizations. In addition, Christian, Islamic and Byzantine cultures will be studied. The ultimate focus will be to provide students with a historical, factual, cultural, and geographical knowledge of ancient history and its relationship to the Bible. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments up to the early modern world civilizations within the interrelations of societies and cultures.
• + SOC 343 -Cultural Diversity
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an exploration of cultural diversity and multiculturalism from a Christian faith perspective. This course provides a process to understand and practice cultural diversity competence.  It is designed to initiate and provide ongoing preparation for effective interaction with everyone in our culturally diverse world.  Growth in these skills equips individuals with the social graces needed to form bonds of mutual trust that will bridge the differences that ordinarily divide people.
• + SCI 220 -Environmental Science
Credit Hours: 3
This course will provide a general understanding of environmental science, while exploring the natural world and the resources it provides. The study of environmental science is approached with an understanding of the responsibilities of human beings to practice wise stewardship of God's creation. Topics include, but are not limited to, exploration of environmental issues, the relations between living and nonliving things, human responsibility for the environment and the earth’s resources now and the future. Through readings, lecture, and discussion we will examine geological, biological, and chemical aspects of science and how these influence economic and social issues on a personal, local, national, and global scale.
•    PSY 200
• + FIN 105 -Personal Financial Management
Credit Hours: 3
This course will provide a practical introduction to personal finance management and assist the student in being a good steward of God-given resources.  It addresses realistic ways to manage personal assets effectively.  Topics include the development of personal financial goals, planning and budgeting; avoiding fraud and swindles; buying, insuring and financing major assets; consumer credit; banking services; investments;  insurance; retirement and estate planning; and income tax. (Replaced LEA 271 Financial Stewardship)

• + ENG 300 -College Writing and Research
Credit Hours: 3
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.
•    BIBLE & THEOLOGY CORE - 30 Credits
• + BIB 141 -Old Testament Survey
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a survey of Old Testament literature in its historical setting.  Attention is given to outstanding persons, events, and theological emphases.
• + BIB 143 -New Testament Literature
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a survey of New Testament literature including a study of its historical settings, literary types, and main theological themes.  Attention will also be given to outstanding persons, events, and major teachings. (Title and Course Description updated January 2020.) Course Title and Course Description for BIB 143 through December 2019: BIB 143 New Testament Survey This course is a survey of the background and content of the New Testament with an emphasis on learning to ask questions that will give the student a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. It is designed for students who desire to use the New Testament for the purposes intended by God both in their personal lives and in their teaching. The course is designed from a conservative, evangelical, and dispensational framework.
• + HUM 133 -Philosophy and Worldview
Credit Hours: 3
This course addresses the fact that our culture is confronted with a vast assortment of differing philosophies and worldviews; each claiming to be true. Focus is provided to understand and evaluate these various belief systems in an increasingly pluralistic society. Main ideas of eight different worldviews will be explored while the student develops and expresses a personal worldview. Topics will center around the nature of God, reality, nature of man, death, truth, morality, and the meaning of life. The primary purpose of this course is to challenge students to examine the timeless truths of Christianity.
• + THE 256 -Christian Theology I
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a survey of foundational doctrines of systematic theology including Bibliology, Theology Proper (God), Christology (Christ) and Pneumatology (Holy Spirit). It will include an overview of the mid-Acts dispensational perspective of theology held by the institution. The course also encourages the practical integration of these doctrines in the life and service of the Christian.
• + BIB 442 -Letters of Paul
Credit Hours: 3
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
Credit Hours: 3
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
Credit Hours: 3
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.
• + THE 454 -Knowing God
Credit Hours: 3
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
Credit Hours: 3
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
Credit Hours: 3
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.
•    LEADERSHIP & MINISTRY MAJOR - 39 Credits
•    LEA 171
• + THE 254 -Foundations of Dispensational Theology
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an overview of the basic tenets of Dispensational Theology.  Included is a study of foundational passages in the Bible, a review of the historical development, as well as how a dispensational perspective shapes the study of Scripture.  Special consideration will be given to the mid-Acts dispensational views of Grace Christian University.
• + MIN 261 -Discipling and Mentoring in the Christian Faith
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a study in discipleship and mentoring focusing on effective discipleship models from the life of Christ and the First Century Church. Those principles will be applied into an effective design for Twenty-First Century disciple-making, with special attention given to the foundations of Christian discipleship and mentoring. This foundation includes modeling Christ-like character and leadership and building healthy relationships for personal accountability paradigms.
• + MIN 263 -Teaching the Christian Faith
Credit Hours: 3
This course is intended to equip Christian leaders with an understanding of the principles and practices of teaching the Word of God.  The course will include biblical perspectives on teaching, as well as practical methods for teaching effectively.  The focus will be on teaching the Christian faith, yet learned skills will apply to other fields as well.
• + LEA 374 -Working with Teams
Credit Hours: 3
This course emphasizes the importance of teamwork in organizational or professional settings. In addition to reviewing the components of effective teams, the dysfunctions of teams, accountability within teams, and values will also be discussed. Success in organizations is largely dependent on teamwork. Students will become more effective team members as well as equipping them to improve team relationships. Characteristics of dynamic and thriving teams will be explored, with a special emphasis on the common dysfunctions of teams and how to avoid them.
• + MIN 467 -Basic Counseling
Credit Hours: 3
This course will provide an overview of basic counseling skills, integrating these skills with biblical concepts. We will learn how the Bible and the basic counseling skills can be used together to effectively help others in overcoming some of the challenges one faces in life.
• + BIB 342 -Life of Christ
Credit Hours: 3
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.
• + LEA 472 -Mobilization of Volunteers
Credit Hours: 3
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.
• + MIN 362 -Marketplace Ministry
Credit Hours: 3
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.
• + THE 452 -Studies in Dispensationalism
Credit Hours: 3
This course emphasizes the essential elements of Dispensational theology, as well as a survey of dispensational problems, the literature of modern and contemporary Dispensational theology, and its historical roots.  Topics include the significance of Dispensational theology in developing a biblical worldview and practice.
• + SOC 356 -Marriage and Family
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to lay foundational principles for an understanding of biblical manhood, biblical womanhood, biblical marriage, and the nurture of children. Along with this will be a review of the stages of life involved within marriage and family.
• + THE 348 -Biblical Perspectives on Wealth and Poverty
Credit Hours: 3
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.”
• + LEA 498 -Program Capstone
Credit Hours: 3
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 COURSES - 21 Credits
TOTAL CREDITS: 120