Overview
In keeping with North Greenville University’s Statement of Purpose, the Bachelor of Arts degree in Intercultural Studies seeks to equip students to integrate academic discipline, theological understanding, and biblical worldview in a comprehensive effort to “cultivate transformational leaders for church and society” by offering a program of study in biblical, historical, theological, and practical courses. In addition to a scholarly study of the Bible and Christianity, students will receive instruction related to fulfilling the Great Commission by understanding other cultures and developing a missions’ theology and strategy for reaching these cultures with the gospel. A broad liberal arts foundation undergirds this program in a distinctively Christian context.
The goals of the Bachelor of Arts program in Intercultural Studies are to (1) provide students with biblical and theological foundations for ministry by combining spiritual development and field experience in a robust course of study; (2) shape students in a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and a deeper love for Christ and his church by developing the heart and mind holistically; (3) equip students to understand and communicate the Bible and its message in fulfilment of the church’s worldwide mission through proper methods of interpretation and use of accepted English standards in speaking and writing; (4) teach students the research procedures necessary to discover high quality, doctrinally faithful resources for academic discipleship in the classroom and the church; (5) and train students to comprehend, analyze, and integrate primary and secondary sources of biblical, theological, historical, and ethical thought in preparation for ministry and for advanced study in seminary or graduate school.
The BA in Intercultural Studies requires that the student earn at least 126 hours of course credit. Students choosing the Intercultural Studies major must complete the core curriculum requirements listed below as a part of the degree program. Students must complete the foreign language component of the degree either with at least six (6) hours in two languages or twelve (12) hours in one. American Sign Language (ASL) does not count as a foreign language for the purposes of this requirement. Transfer students must earn at least thirty-three (33) hours in the Intercultural Studies major at North Greenville University.
The major consists of fifty-two (52) hours within the College of Christian Studies with special focus on Intercultural Studies courses. The following Christian Studies courses are required of all Intercultural Studies majors: CHST-1309, CHST-1310, CHST-1320, CHST-2303, CHST-2390, CHST-3330, and CHST-3335. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 in the fifty-two (52) major hours is required for graduation. At least six hours (6) must be taken both from the Biblical Studies and Historical/Theological/Ethical areas. The course classification is given at the end of individual entries in the course description section of the catalog. Courses with no designation there are either required courses or may be used as a Christian Studies elective or a free elective only. Many Christian Studies courses may be applied to either the Intercultural Studies degree program or to the Christian Studies degree program, but the same course may not be applied to both degree programs. Majors in the College of Christian Studies cannot minor in the College of Christian Studies.
International Immersion Track: Students in this track will spend a full semester abroad, earning 15 hours of course credit under the supervision of field missionaries.
North American Church Planting Track: Students in this track will do a summer (8-week) church planting practicum in a North American setting under the supervision of experienced church planters.
Degree Requirements
Core Curriculum
Required Courses
Communication
Choose one from the list below.
Literature
Choose one from the list below.
Fine Arts
Choose one from the list below.
Civic Awareness
Choose one from the list below.
Mathematics
Choose one from the list below.
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| Any 1000-level math course 1310 or higher | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 44 |
Major Requirements
Church Planting Concentration
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| Foreign Language | 12 |
| CHST-1310 | Old Testament Survey | 3 |
| CHST-1320 | New Testament Survey | 3 |
| CHST-2311 | Urban Church Planting | 3 |
| CHST-4309 | ICS Church Planting Practicum | 3 |
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| Biblical Studies | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
Foreign Language: Choose twelve credit hours of foreign language from FREN, GERM, GREK, HEBR, or SPAN. Selection can be twelve hours from the same language, or six hours from two separate languages.
International Immersion Concentration
| LING-2320 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| LING-3325 | Second Language Acquistition | 3 |
| CHST-3306 | Cultural Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Communication | 3 |
| CHST-2312 | Living Abroad | 3 |
| CHST-4301 | Ethnographic Research | 3 |
| CHST-4600 | ICS International Immersion | 6 |
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| Biblical Studies- Select one course. Cannot be the same type (OT/NT) as selected Survey course. | 3 |
Survey Requirement
Choose one from the list below.
| Total Free Elective Requirements |
18 |
| Total Degree Requirements |
122 |