Christian college

George Fox University, a Christian college in Oregon

A Christian college is an educational institution or part of an educational institute dedicated to the integration of Christian faith and learning in traditional academic fields.[1]

Christian colleges in the United States

In North America, the term Christian Colleges is the self-identification of certain private institutions of higher education that have an overt Christian mission statement and employ faculty who profess a Christian faith.[2] Christian colleges are typically Protestant (or Evangelical) in their religious orientation and many are affiliated with organizations such as the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) or Christian College Consortium.

While most Christian colleges do offer Christian-themed degree programs, many Christian colleges feature secular degree programs such as engineering, nursing and business. Even in secular degree programs, most Christian colleges make the integration of faith and learning a specific focus that shapes classroom discussion and extracurricular activity,[3] and have expectations of Christian commitment from students. This approach is different from a secular university, where some have felt they are discriminated against based upon their Christian worldview.[4]

Many Christian colleges are affiliated with or are run by a Christian denomination, while others are non-denominational. Christian colleges include a range of schools from regionally or nationally accredited universities offering liberal arts and professional programs to non-accredited bible colleges that prepare students mainly or exclusively for vocational ministry. Being a non-accredited bible college puts significant limits on a school's growth. Sometimes an administrator will succumb to the temptation to seek accreditation with an "accrediting agency" that is not recognized by the US Department of Education. Such "accreditation mills" are appealing to those who run "degree mills." However, upon coming to understand the illegitimacy of such "fake accreditation," administrators will want to avoid them.[5]

Christian colleges in China

In 1949, there were 16 Christian colleges in China, 3 Catholic and 13 Protestant, but these were all shut down with strained East-West relations during the Korean War.[6] As of 2010, China had three Christian colleges, all located in Hong Kong and made part of China with Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997.

References

  1. ↑ Arthur Frank Holmes (1987). The Idea of a Christian College. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-8028-0258-3.
  2. ↑ Council for Christian Colleges and Universities - Members & Affiliates Criteria
  3. ↑ Colleges with a Faith and Learning Focus | georgefox.edu
  4. ↑ No Christianity Please, We're Academics | InsideHigherEd.com
  5. ↑ http://christianacademiamagazine.com/who-tempts-college-administrators-with-fake-accreditation/
  6. ↑ Ng, Peter Tze Ming (17 August 2010). "Envisioning the Possibilities for Inter-religious Dialogues in Christian Colleges in Asia". In Kath Engebretson. International Handbook of Inter-religious Education. Springer. p. 406. ISBN 978-1-4020-9260-2.
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