Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

In this course, you will become familiar with the basic contents of each book of the Old Testament and the broad historical framework of Old Testament events. You will pay special attention to key passages and prominent themes of the Old Testament. You will read the Old Testament with a view to using it for spiritual formation and discipleship.

This course is an overview of the books of the New Testament and the historical circumstances surrounding these writings. You will focus on the background, content, message, and personal application of each book in the New Testament. You will also examine the process by which the New Testament canon was formed and the New Testament was transmitted through the history of the Church.

This course will guide you through the hermeneutical principles basic to interpreting Scripture. Many of these principles are common to language and literature, while others apply uniquely to the Bible. All of them are based on the way in which the Bible interprets itself. You will begin to lay a foundation of cognitive understanding, with an emphasis on practice in applying the principles.

Within the framework of an exegetical study, you will focus on the New Testament's most organized, thorough exposition of the Christian faith and its relation to human history and implications for Christian living. Giving special attention to the personal application of the message, you will apply principles of biblical interpretation to the study of this book.

In this course, you will explore God's plan of redemption as it progressively unfolds in the Bible. You will trace the basic historical revelation in the Old and New Testaments to see what God is doing and by what method. You will consider the spoken revelations as you observe the progress of doctrine.

This course provides a study of the theological truths of the Bible, during which you will focus on the basic doctrines necessary for a Christian worldview: Scripture, God, Christ, Holy Spirit, sin and salvation, church, and future events. You will examine the doctrinal teaching of the Bible, supplemented with insights from the theological reflections of the church throughout its history and from contemporary theological discussions.

This course provides you an introduction to reaching well-reasoned conclusions based upon the most credible evidence available, skills fundamental to college writing but also for life as an educated adult. You will develop your abilities with modern academic library resources as evidenced through an annotated working bibliography, among other assignments. You will spend the majority of the course drafting and revising papers which demonstrate the effective use of secondary resources.

This second writing course is designed to foster an appreciation of literature, use literary texts as a platform for strengthening skills in reading, writing, and analysis, and continue to emphasize foundational skills in library research. Texts and genres (such as short fiction, poetry, and drama) will vary.

In this course, you will explore some of the fundamental issues that must be addressed by anyone attempting to formulate a comprehensive understanding of things (worldview), and will examine primary texts in order to observe some of the very best thinking regarding these fundamental issues.

In this capstone course, you will integrate Scripture, theology, and philosophy as they relate to who we are, what we should do, and living well. You will develop a Christian framework for ethical thinking and decision-making based on the Christian understanding of human nature as bearing the Image of God. Course limited to students classified as seniors.

In this survey of scientific psychology, you will focus on historical roots, human development, and the physiological basis of behavior, learning, motivation, perception, emotions, personality, socialization, and pathology. You will learn how to filter psychological data through biblical principles to help produce a biblically-consistent model of human psychology which can then be used in both Christian and non-Christian environments.

This is an introduction of the science of reasoning in both formal and informal logic, so that you can begin to accurately apply the logic/ mathematical properties of validity, satisfiability, consistency, logical truth, and logical equivalence.

This course gives an overview of the major trends in global history that have created our modern world. The course will explore the major chronology of world history, focusing on the changes, continuities, and connections between major world regions during this period focusing on Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The course will examine the cultural, technological, political, economic, religious and social transformations which shaped the societies. (3)

In this survey from colonial America to the present, you will examine the enduring issues and themes of American history. While the course is structured around historical events, particular effort is made to understand the paradox of American unity through diverse social, economic, political, and cultural factors.

This course introduces students to the fine arts in their various media and period styles, with the goal of developing students' understanding and experience of the role of the arts in life. An ongoing focus on the relationship between art and the Bible will encourage students to develop a theology of art.

This course will introduce the student to the place that music traditionally held as one of the seven liberal arts as an apologetic to the study and enjoyment of music. The goal of the class is to enhance critical listening skills and to develop a working vocabulary of music that is meaningful to the non-musician. The course will introduce the basic elements of music and a brief overview of the history of Western classical music, American Jazz, World, and Pop music. (3)

In this course, you will explore the concepts of biology, emphasizing the structure, function, and cellular organization of living organisms. Following an introduction to the general nature of science, the scientific method, and the nature of biology, you will focus on cellular biology, botany, zoology, and human biology.

This course is designed to provide a foundational knowledge about nutrition as health science that discusses the nutrients essential for human life. Students will begin to learn and better understand the biochemical composition, metabolic action, requirements, and food sources of the nutrients studied. Students will also learn scientific basis for promoting health and quality of life. (3)

This course provides an introduction to health science and personal wellness concepts. You will have the opportunity to build a foundation of knowledge that will help you actively pursue a healthy and well lifestyle. An introduction to and application of the foundations of physical, aerobic, and muscular fitness will be included. Strategies to maintain personal health and wellness, including weight control through nutrients and physical activity, will be covered. You will gain an understanding of the impact physical activity has on personal wellness as well as the broad spectrum of health science issues. This course provides information and experiences that will enable you to make informed decisions by incorporating healthy solutions as they relate to quality of life and longevity.

Having identified a local church during your first semester experience, you will now faithfully attend that church and volunteer at least 20 clock hours of service at that church or within a ministry in the community that is approved by the CSL Director. This service must be documented and approved by the CSL Director and a record submitted to the CSL office. No credit will be given, but completion of the service hours is a graduation requirement. Lack of faithfulness in attending or participating in a local church is an issue related to Christian character; failure to demonstrate faithfulness will be addressed by the Student Life office. (0)

Having identified a local church during your first semester experience, you will now faithfully attend that church and volunteer at least 30 clock hours of service at that church or within a ministry in the community that is approved by the CSL Director. This service must be documented and approved by the CSL Director and a record submitted to the CSL office. No credit will be given, but completion of the service hours is a graduation requirement. Lack of faithfulness in attending or participating in a local church is an issue related to Christian character; failure to demonstrate faithfulness will be addressed by the Student Life office. (0)

Having identified a local church during your first semester experience, you will now faithfully attend that church and volunteer at least 30 clock hours of service at that church or within a ministry in the community that is approved by the CSL Director. This service must be documented and approved by the CSL Director and a record submitted to the CSL office. No credit will be given, but completion of the service hours is a graduation requirement. Lack of faithfulness in attending or participating in a local church is an issue related to Christian character; failure to demonstrate faithfulness will be addressed by the Student Life office. (0)

This course is designed to help you develop world-Christian characteristics. You will explore the Christian's heritage in the history of the church and missions, begin to develop a scriptural perspective on the purpose of the gospel in confronting ideologies, religions and spiritual needs of the world, and discuss current strategies for identifying and reaching the lost.

This course is designed to introduce the student to the foundational principles of spiritual formation for effective life, ministry, and vocation. The process of the student's spiritual formation includes their relationship with God, their biblical self-image, their relationship with the Body of Christ, their personal relationships, and their relationship with the world. Students are invited into a multiple-year journey of encountering spiritual formation in community. The goal of this course is to help students build a foundation for continued spiritual formation at and beyond their time at CIU.

In this history of philosophy course, you will explore the central ideas of classical philosophy by reading central works of the presocratic and Greek philosophers that are foundational to the development of Western thought, politics, ethics, and religion.

In this history of philosophy course, you will explore the central ideas of medieval philosophy by reading the central works of the medieval philosophers, which are characterized by the synthesis of classical Greek thought with Christian theology.

In this history of philosophy course, you will explore the central ideas of modern philosophy by reading the central works of the modern philosophers that provide the basis for our present postmodern context.

In this practical application course, you will engage various professional development tasks that may include the following; develop a philosophical writing sample, submit a paper to a philosophy conference, attend a philosophy or political science conference, visit various law schools and take preparation programs for law school and graduate entrance exams. There will also be opportunities to work as volunteers in law offices and in various government offices.

This is an advanced seminar in which you will explore Philosophy of Religion in greater depth. This course aims at developing both an in depth understanding of the content area but will also aim to develop your philosophical thinking and writing skills. The format of the course is non-lecture, with individual student reading, writing, and class participation considered primary.

This is an advanced seminar in which you will explore Political Theory in greater depth. This course aims at developing both an in depth understanding of the content area but will also aim to develop your philosophical thinking and writing skills. The format of the course is non-lecture, with individual student reading, writing, and class participation considered primary.

This is an advanced seminar in which you will explore Moral Theory in greater depth. This course aims at developing both an in depth understanding of the content area but will also aim to develop your philosophical thinking and writing skills. The format of the course is non-lecture, with individual student reading, writing, and class participation considered primary.

You will focus on questions and issues in various contemporary philosophical discussion, such as the question of identity, use of narrative, views on truth, explaining values, and relativism.

You will explore the fundamental questions at the intersection of science and philosophy. Topics can include Newtonian and Einstein's models of the universe; scientific revolutions; the relationship between science and religion; global climate change, medicine, and ethics.

This course introduces students to the philosophical study of knowledge and related concepts, such as rational belief and epistemic justification, and the implications of various philosophical views for science, theology, politics, and everyday living. Content will include definitions of knowledge, skeptical challenges, accounts of epistemic justification and rationality, the epistemology of disagreement, and the epistemology of theology. (3) Prerequisite: PHI 2110

You will explore an introduction to political thought as it relates to the meaning of democracy, citizenship, justice, authority, and identity. Readings and discussions center on the themes and ideologies in the history of political thought as well as those dominant in Western political theory.

This course introduces students to Christian apologetics: the task of "giving a defense" of the Gospel and Christian doctrine to contemporary intellectual and cultural challenges. Students will study specific challenges to Christian doctrines and responses to those challenges, as well as comparing and contrasting different approaches to the apologetic task (e.g., classical apologetics, presuppositionalist apologetics, etc.). (3)

In this seminar-style course on philosophy of law, you will focus on the conceptual analysis of law, including Natural Law Theory, Legal Realism, and Hart's Positivism. We will examine the following sorts of questions: What is the law? How is it different from other systems of norms, such as morality? In a second part of the course, you will explore questions of normative jurisprudence.

This is an advanced seminar in which you will explore a specific area of philosophy in greater depth. The areas generally chosen as topics for seminars will be Philosophy of Religion, Augustine, Political Philosophy, Aesthetics, or Ethical Theory. The format of the course is non-lecture, with individual student reading, writing, and class participation considered primary.

This is an advanced seminar in which you will explore Augustine's thought in greater depth. This course aims at developing both an in depth understanding of the content area but will also aim to develop your philosophical thinking and writing skills. The format of the course is non-lecture, with individual student reading, writing, and class participation considered primary.

This is a graduate-level seminar for higher-achieving students with the goal of introducing the student to graduate-level learning using a specific topic. Emphasis is placed on advanced reading and research within the topic, classroom seminar presentations with multiple presenters, and/or other learning activities that demonstrate appropriate critical thinking at the graduate level. Course admission is by permission of the instructor, and the course may be repeated once with different seminar content within the academic discipline.

In this course, you will master the content and theology of the Old Testament Wisdom books (Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes) by utilizing the exegetical tools you learned in BIB 3420. Emphases include: The unique purpose of each Wisdom book, the discovery of meaning, and the contemporary application of meaning. The instructor stresses the importance of literary analysis. This course serves as an Old Testament exegetical book study.

This course is an introduction to the broad historical development, philosophical structures, and worldviews of the non-Christian religions. You will explore primal religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese and Japanese religions, and Islam, as well as some of their folk expressions.

In this course, you will cover the time period from about AD 600-1750. The course begins with an introduction to ancient music and continues through the periods of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque. You will study the musical characteristics, instruments, and theory of each period as well as the cultural and historical contexts including philosophy, religion, politics, art, architecture, and daily life. Connections are made to music from other cultures as well as contemporary musical styles.

In this course, you will examine the history of Western music from the Classical Period through the present day, stressing the origin and evolution of musical forms and musical styles and the important composers since 1750. Students will also be placing this knowledge in the broader cultural context of each period.

In this course, you will begin to examine the many facets of music ministry in today's church, including service planning, worship philosophy, sound reinforcement and recording, musical/drama production, team building, and contemporary worship styles. Segments may be taught by a variety of specialists.