2007-2008 Grace University Catalog

What Makes Our Education Different

The education offered at Grace University differs from a secular liberal arts education or even a Christian liberal arts education in a number of ways. Students should note the following differences that make us distinctive:

Academic Focus
The particular emphasis of the liberal arts college is to provide a broad, liberal education in the humanities and sciences as a foundation for many professions and vocations. Grace University, in contrast to this, gives primary focus to the Bible with the humanities and sciences serving as a supportive role. With our focus on the Bible and life application, Grace University’s emphasizes basic life skills development for the home and family, active involvement in a local church as an expression of commitment to community, and Christian character development with a critically thinking, ethical mind for the work place.

Integration of Knowledge and Skills
At Grace University, the Bible is the integrating dynamic of our curriculum. Each bachelor level student at Grace University pursues a double major — the first in Biblical Studies and the second in a professional or vocational field of his/her choice. All students at the bachelor level are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours in textual Bible and theology; many programs require approximately 40 hours. All students at the associate level are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours in Bible and theology. General Education requirements in all bachelor level programs require a minimum of 36 hours; many programs require approximately 40 hours. Students are required to integrate their thinking about the world (General Education) and their understanding of the Word (Scripture and Theology). This core helps students form a unified Christian worldview and philosophical perspective on life.
On this integrated foundation of Biblical Studies and General Education, professional studies are added in order to round out the entry-level professional for his or her work place. These professional studies also provide leadership development skills and life-long learning skills whereby the student will not simply be limited to his initial vocational responsibilities. With time and maturity, we believe our graduates become ideal first level supervisors and managers, and some mature into key leadership roles within their vocational fields. At Grace University, most professional programs at the bachelor level require 40 to 50 hours of professional studies to fully train the individual for his/her stated vocation calling and for leadership capacities for the home, the church and the world.

Servant Leadership Training
Practical field experience and community volunteerism are integral parts of the education process at Grace University; thus, all certificate, associate, and bachelor degree students are required to participate in Servant Leadership Training. This 2 semester program coordinates the activities of students throughout their education at Grace. Throughout each semester of full-time enrollment, each student volunteers in a ministry or community agency whereby they impact the lives of other people. These settings may include jail visitation, tutoring at-risk youth, ministering to children and youth in church settings, assisting in disaster relief, YMCA youth programs, or senior citizen and hospice visitation programs. Each student’s SLT assignment must be approved each semester, and students receive formal evaluation from our SLT Director as well as the agency or ministry supervisor. During the 2005-2006 school year, students volunteered almost 40,000 clock hours of community service in the greater Omaha community. The University’s student body was honored to receive the 2002 “Making It Happen Award” presented by the United Way of the Midlands on behalf of the community.

Personal Spiritual Life
Grace University places heavy emphasis upon spiritual formation and ministry skill development regardless of the vocational direction a student has chosen. Spiritual formation includes a lifestyle of daily quiet time to read Scripture, meditation, prayer, and the pursuit of a worshipful focus on God. Spiritual formation also includes development of a Christ-honoring lifestyle including self-discipline, ethical decision-making, and abstaining from behavior and attitudes that Scripture calls “sin.” Ministry skill development includes development of one’s ability to share one’s faith with others, to speak about and teach Scripture publicly in a variety of ministry settings, and to engage in Christian worship with sensitivity to various traditions and styles. Grace University offers a complement of weekly chapels, called Grace L.I.F.E. (Life Integration For Excellence), a Fall Bible Conference, a Spring World Christian Conference, a Day of Prayer each semester, lectureships & forums, campus mentoring programs, and support of church ministries throughout the local area to help facilitate the development of the student’s spiritual life and ministry skills.

Faculty Commitments
Like other institutions of higher education, Grace University prides itself in its faculty and the academic freedom each has in accomplishing his/her duties in the classroom, in research, and in community service. What distinguish our faculty is not their academic achievements, but their desire to devote those achievements to Christ, local churches and global missions, and the theological position of Grace University. Many private colleges are Christian in name, but their faculty promotes a worldview that is anything but Christian. At Grace University, faculty views their teaching responsibilities as being supportive of the values of the home and of the church. Faculty see themselves as key role models for students of godliness as well as scholarship. Our faculty does not see it as their role to undermine a student’s confidence in Scripture or personal faith, or to challenge the values of their parents; rather, our individual and collective role is to encourage students and help integrate faith, the Word, and values into all aspects of life.

In summary, this means that the students who complete certificate, associate, and bachelor level programs at Grace University should be Christ-like, maturing, responsible individuals who have basic knowledge of Scripture and the world, and have skill in integration of this knowledge. They are equipped, motivated, and dedicated to serve God as servant-leaders with the skills to accomplish the entry-level tasks in the vocational or professional field chosen, yet willing to go anywhere and do anything challenged by the Lord. Ultimately, they will become servant leaders for the home, the church, and the world.