Christian School Education
Overview
The B.A. Min. degree with a Christian School Education major is the primary degree offered to persons who wish to serve as school teachers in Christian schools or other educational ministries. This program is designed to enable students to meet the teacher certification requirements (elementary, middle, or secondary) of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Persons may fulfill education requirements for ordination as deacon of Christian Education in the Church of the Nazarene by completing additional courses.
Objectives
The program, courses, and curriculum of the Christian School Education Ministries program are designed to enable students to:
- Develop a working knowledge of the content areas within the Christian school curriculum.
- Apply an understanding of children's developmental levels to design learning opportunities that support the child's intellectual, social, personal, and spiritual development.
- Apply an understanding of children's various needs and approaches to learning in creating instructional opportunities for diverse learners.
- Develop skill in using a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learner's critical thinking, problem solving, and skill development.
- Understand ways to promote an actively engaged, self-motivated community of learners based on biblical principles and knowledge of individual and group motivation and behavior.
- Demonstrate proficiency in communication techniques and use of media to encourage supportive interaction, collaboration, and reflective thinking in the classroom.
- Demonstrate the ability to plan instructional activities based on their knowledge of subject matter, a biblically-formed worldview, students, curriculum goals, and community resources.
- Understand how to use formal and informal assessments to evaluate and promote children's intellectual, social, spiritual, and physical development.
- Formulate a philosophy for teaching in a Christian school that emphasizes the importance of reflection and spiritual guidance in seeking out, developing, and maintaining professional and spiritual growth.
- Understand the multi-faceted role of the teacher including instructional responsibilities as well as fostering relationships with parents, school colleagues, administration, church staff, and community agencies in order to support children's well-being, spiritual development, and learning.
Program Requirements (Traditional Structure)
General Education Core Requirements
| Course | Course Description | Hours |
|---|
| | 45 hours |
| English Language/Communication | 6 |
| (must include an English Composition course) | |
| Social Sciences | 6 |
| Humanities | 3 |
| Science | 3 |
| Math | 3 |
| History | 3 |
| GEN-1003 | Lifelong Learning Skills | 3 |
| THE-1023 | Spiritual Formation | 3 |
| THE-3013 | Introduction to Christian Thought | 3 |
| General Studies Electives | 12 |
Bible and Theology Core Requirements
| Course | Course Description | Hours |
|---|
| | 24 hours |
| BIB-3604 | Survey of the Old Testament/Pentateuch | 4 |
| BIB-3614 | Survey of the New Testament/Gospels | 4 |
| BIB-3624 | Bible and Life Application | 4 |
| BIB-3634 | Biblical Leadership Principles | 4 |
| THE-3614 | Survey of Christian Theology | 4 |
| THE-3624 | Holiness and the Life of the Believer | 4 |
A student may substitute the six 4-hour Bible/theology courses with any of the eight 3-hour Bible/theology courses or a combination of the two, providing that all prerequisites are met.
Courses specific to the Christian School Education major
Courses will be bundled into 4 hours per session
| Course | Course Description | Hours |
|---|
| | 32 hours |
| Electives or Minor Courses | 19 hours |
| EDU-4611 | Introduction to Christian School Education | 1 |
| EDU-4623 | Philosophy of Christian School Education | 3 |
| EDU-4633 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU-4643 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| EDU-4651 | Language Arts Methods | 1 |
| EDU-4653 | Methods in Teaching Reading and Writing | 3 |
| EDU-4661 | Integrating Reading & Literature I | 1 |
| EDU-4663 | Methods in Teaching Math | 3 |
| EDU-4671 | Integrating Reading & Literature II | 1 |
| EDU-4673 | Methods in Teaching Science | 3 |
| EDU-4681 | Integrating Reading & Literature III | 1 |
| EDU-4683 | Methods in Teaching Social Studies | 3 |
| EDU-4691 | Senior Ministry Integration-Teaching | 2 |
| EDU-4692 | Student Teaching | 4 or |
| EDU-4682 | Educational Issues and Applications* | 4 |
Note: Child Development is a prerequisite for all methods courses.
*Six hours of student teaching or two years of teaching experience are required for ACSI Certification. EDU-4682 (4) Educational Issues and Applications is intended as an alternative option for students with previous teaching or other educational experience/goals who do not need the full 6 hours of student teaching for ACSI certification.
The Christian School Education degree is designed to prepare classroom teachers and as such, the General Studies core listed here should be considered only a minimum of preparation. In addition to these courses it is highly recommended that the student complete additional courses in English, Speech, and History. Students desiring to teach in a secondary classroom will need to meet ACSI requirements for endorsement in a subject area and may also desire to validate subject expertise by completing the appropriate PRAXIS exam.
120 hours total required for graduation
Program Requirements (Advantage Structure)
Program Entrance Requirements 60 hours
| Course | Course Description | Hours |
|---|
| GEN-1001 | Introduction to Online Learning | 0-1 |
| Program requirement - does not apply to the major. | |
First Year - Core Courses
Bible and Theology 20 hours; Foundational 8 hours.
| Course | Course Description | Hours |
|---|
| | 28 hours |
| BLE-3604 | Adult & Professional Development | 4 |
| BIB-3604 | Survey of the Old Testament/Pentateuch | 4 |
| BIB-3614 | Survey of the New Testament/Gospels | 4 |
| BIB-3624 | Bible and Life Application | 4 |
| BIB-3634 | Biblical Leadership Principles | 4 |
| THE-3614 | Survey of Christian Theology | 4 |
| THE-3624 | Holiness and the Life of the Believer | 4 |
Second Year - Courses specific to the major
Courses will be bundled into 4 hours per session
| Course | Course Description | Hours |
|---|
| | 32 hours |
| EDU-4611 | Introduction to Christian School Education | 1 |
| EDU-4623 | Philosophy of Christian School Education | 3 |
| EDU-4633 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU-4643 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| EDU-4651 | Language Arts Methods | 1 |
| EDU-4653 | Methods in Teaching Reading and Writing | 3 |
| EDU-4661 | Integrating Reading & Literature I | 1 |
| EDU-4663 | Methods in Teaching Math | 3 |
| EDU-4671 | Integrating Reading & Literature II | 1 |
| EDU-4673 | Methods in Teaching Science | 3 |
| EDU-4681 | Integrating Reading & Literature III | 1 |
| EDU-4683 | Methods in Teaching Social Studies | 3 |
| EDU-4691 | Senior Ministry Integration-Teaching | 2 |
| EDU-4692 | Student Teaching | 4 or |
| EDU-4682 | Educational Issues and Applications* | 4 |
Note: First and second years may be reversed based on student teaching arrangements.
Child Development is a prerequisite for all methods courses.
*Six hours of student teaching or two years of teaching experience are required for ACSI Certification. EDU-4682 (4) Educational Issues and Applications is intended as an alternative option for students with previous teaching or other educational experience/goals who do not need the full 6 hours of student teaching for ACSI certification.
120 hours total required for graduation
Program Requirements (Salvation Army)
Program Entrance Requirements 60 hours
First Year
| Course | Course Description | Hours |
|---|
| | 28 hours |
| XXX-xxxx | Math/Science* | 3 |
| GEN-1001 | Introduction to Online Learning | 1 |
| BLE-3604 | Adult & Professional Development | 4 |
| BIB-3634 | Biblical Leadership Principles | 4 |
| THE-3624 | Holiness and the Life of the Believer | 4 |
| SAR-3614 | Stewardship and Fundraising | 4 |
| SAR-3624 | Doing Church as a Mission | 4 |
| SAR-3634 | Social Aspects of Ministry | 4 |
*If the Math/Science requirement has already been met, another General Education course may be substituted.
Second Year - Courses specific to the major
Courses will be bundled into 4 hours per session
| Course | Course Description | Hours |
|---|
| | 32 hours |
| EDU-4611 | Introduction to Christian School Education | 1 |
| EDU-4623 | Philosophy of Christian School Education | 3 |
| EDU-4633 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU-4643 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| EDU-4651 | Language Arts Methods | 1 |
| EDU-4653 | Methods in Teaching Reading and Writing | 3 |
| EDU-4661 | Integrating Reading & Literature I | 1 |
| EDU-4663 | Methods in Teaching Math | 3 |
| EDU-4671 | Integrating Reading & Literature II | 1 |
| EDU-4673 | Methods in Teaching Science | 3 |
| EDU-4681 | Integrating Reading & Literature III | 1 |
| EDU-4683 | Methods in Teaching Social Studies | 3 |
| EDU-4691 | Senior Ministry Integration-Teaching | 2 |
| EDU-4692 | Student Teaching | 4 or |
| EDU-4682 | Educational Issues and Applications* | 4 |
Note: First and second years may be reversed based on student teaching arrangements.
Child Development is a prerequisite for all methods courses.
*Six hours of student teaching or two years of teaching experience are required for ACSI Certification. EDU-4682 (4) Educational Issues and Applications is intended as an alternative option for students with previous teaching or other educational experience/goals who do not need the full 6 hours of student teaching for ACSI certification.
120 hours total required for graduation