Intercultural Studies, B.A.

Requirements

Intercultural Studies (ICS) is a 33-hour interdisciplinary major including 12 credit hours of practicums and internships (mission trips). This format allows students to double major in ICS and another academic discipline and still graduate in 4 years. Double major options include business, communication, education, health profession, or another area that will prepare graduates to be culturally competent marketplace professionals and missionaries in an increasingly multi-cultural world. Intercultural Studies is ideal for students desiring biblically faithful and culturally relevant equipping for Kingdom service globally or within the United States.

To fulfill language requirements, the student may elect any one of the following options: 1) 12 hours of Greek, 2) 12 hours of Hebrew, 3) six hours of Greek and six hours of Hebrew, or 4) 12 hours in a modern language (i.e. Spanish).

The Program Learning Outcomes and purposes of the ICS major are to:

Articulate the importance of the Great Commission mandate to make disciples of all nations, rooted in an accurate understanding of Scripture and relevant to cultural context.
Expose students to various cultures for the purpose of developing a caring sensitivity for all people groups.
Integrate knowledge and skill across a missiological framework of theology, history, culture, and strategy to develop effective missions paradigms in diverse settings.
Equip students with the skills to enter and understand new cultural contexts.
Convey the responsibility of all followers of Christ to value, protect, and rescue the disadvantaged, vulnerable and abused people in society.
Prepare students to effectively work and minister in a multicultural or crosscultural context.

Students who major in ICS are required to double major or take a minor. A double major or minor in the following areas is suggested: business, education, health profession, or another area.

Required courses include

REL 273 - Biblical Hermeneutics Credit Hours: 3
REL 310 - Principles and Practices of Missions Credit Hours: 3
REL 470 - The Life and Work of William Carey, D.D. Credit Hours: 3
REL 284 - Intercultural Field Experience Credit Hours: 3
REL 497 - Intercultural Studies Internship Credit Hours: 9
REL 471 - Practical Theology Credit Hours: 3
REL 461 - Race, Culture and the Church Credit Hours: 3
Choose two courses from the following:
REL 483 - Evangelism and Church Growth Credit Hours: 3
REL 272 - Introduction to Christian Worship Credit Hours: 3
REL 205 - Applied Anthropology for Missions Credit Hours: 3
REL 405 - World Religions Credit Hours: 3