Academic Program Changes for 2010-2011
Bob Jones University is making changes to its academic programs beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year.
Dr. Gary Weier, vice president for administration, outlined these changes in a meeting with our undergraduate students on Friday, March 5.
Our Core Curriculum
View BJU’s revised Bible and liberal arts core curriculum. New courses are highlighted.
“The most important component of a Bob Jones University student’s education,” says Dr. Weier, “is the Bible and liberal arts core curriculum which every BJU student takes regardless of his or her major.”
This curriculum consists of a Bible course each semester along with required English, history, communication, science, philosophy and other general education requirements.
“It is these general education courses,” says Dr. Weier, “that teach students critical thinking and analysis and how to communicate in writing and on their feet—skills that prepare students for their second, third and fourth jobs as well as their first. They are the skills employers tell us they are looking for in college graduates and the skills that fully equip believers for service.”
Enhancements to the Core Curriculum
To better prepare students for the demands of the first half of the 21st century, we are enhancing this core curriculum.
In the area of Bible, for example, we are adding Hermeneutics during the sophomore year to equip students to better study the Bible and Apologetics and Worldview in the senior year to help students defend their Christian faith and apply biblical principles to daily living.
Other representative changes include an additional science course, a course in economics and a course entitled Themes in Western Thought—all of which will better equip students to deal with current issues.
Structural Changes
The second important component of a student’s education is a focused, rigorous study of an academic major, and we are making a few changes to further strengthen a number of majors as well as the overall academic structure.
To better align related programs, some majors and programs will be moved from one academic division to another, and in some cases, names of academic divisions and programs will change.
While making these structural changes, however, we will retain the diversity of its majors and programs and will continue to offer more programs of study than any other fundamental Christian college.
Our 5 undergraduate schools offer over 60 majors with dozens of concentrations which draw students with diverse interests and abilities who have a common passion to equip themselves fully for Christian service.
Electives Offer Options
The third component of our student’s education is electives which enable each student to take specific courses to meet individual goals beyond their academic major. For some students, selecting an academic minor will be the best way to meet those goals; others may opt to select electives that provide additional hours related to their major or to take courses in other areas of interest.
Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year, academic minors, while recommended, will no longer be required at BJU.
Reasons for Change
Staying Current
“The changes announced today are typical changes universities make periodically to keep their academic programs current and to ensure they are effectively preparing students for ever-changing requirements in the job market,” says Dr. Weier. “These changes represent the work of many faculty members over many months, as well as inputs from students and alumni.”
Current BJU students will meet individually with their academic advisors in April to assess the impact of the changes on their individual academic programs. While some individual course requirements will change, the total number of credit hours required for graduation will not increase for any student.
Part of Stewardship
“We’re excited about these academic changes,” says Dr. Weier. “We view regular assessment of our academic programs and making necessary changes to be part of our biblical stewardship. Our goal is to graduate students with the best preparation possible for the responsibilities God has for them in the future.”
