Intercultural Studies

Cultural Anthropology
This course applies cultural anthropology to everyday life and vocational living, with special attention to the application of an anthropological perspective. Students learn to examine various frameworks that make up “culture,” including social status, language, power, economics, gender, and religion.

Practical Anthropology
This course applies cultural anthropology to everyday life and Christian mission, with special attention to the application of an anthropological perspective. Students learn to examine the framework of beliefs, assumptions, values, and behaviors that shape people’s lives, in order to be more effective in ministry.

This course provides students with biblical and practical resources for exploring callings and possibilities in intercultural contexts, establishing healthy personal and
interpersonal skills for intercultural effectiveness, and embracing the role of higher education in equipping for intercultural service.

This course examines the unique problems and strategies for communicating the gospel effectively in intercultural contexts. Special attention is given to the student’s personal role in intercultural communication, including language, behavior, and sensitivities needed to bridge cultural boundaries.

Students consider the challenges and joys of the cross-cultural educator. This course seeks to develop cultural teachers who understand their own culture of learning and teaching, while also becoming effective teachers in a context other than their own. Cross-cultural teaching methods, techniques, appropriate lesson planning, and more are addressed for those who teach in cross-cultural or multicultural settings. Special attention is given to teaching English and teaching the Bible in both formal and non- formal contexts, while students will also have opportunities to focus on teaching topics relevant to them.

“This course presents a comprehensive and dynamic view of the mandate for Christian missionary activity. Students are challenged to a growing awareness that world evangelism is four-dimensional: biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic. A special emphasis is given to issues revolving around cultural and cross-cultural communication, along with how sensitivity in these areas can help further realize God’s global purpose.”

Typically completed during the spring term, this course consists of orientation meetings, required paperwork, required reading, cultural research, application for the
student’s internship and other necessary preparations for the field internship. Students will work with their academic advisor, the instructor of this course, and other faculty to pursue internship opportunities within their major and concentration areas.

This course leads students to apply lessons learned in the classroom to actual intercultural and/or multicultural contexts under the guidance of an experienced field mentor. Students accomplish various vocational tasks, observe intercultural service situations, and reflect on their experiences to further develop intercultural and interpersonal skills. The internship generally occurs between students’ junior and senior years, and students should seek internship opportunities within their concentration area.

This course is typically completed during the fall semester, upon students’ successful completion of ICST 3521 and ICST 3522. During this course, students will successfully complete all paperwork and other debriefing requirements for their time on the field in internship. Elements such as debriefing, field reports, and supporter reports are a part of this course. Successful completion of all course components is required.

This course invites students to explore how God’s story—as revealed in scripture—intersects with their own stories—their passions, interests, callings, and vocations. Emphasis is placed on appreciating the coherence of the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation and developing missional approaches to local and global contexts in which students may live and work.

This course focuses on practical strategies of evangelism and discipleship in a cross-cultural setting that result in indigenous-led churches which reproduce themselves by planting more churches. Special attention is given to contextualization, creative access strategies into closed countries, personal spiritual development, spiritual warfare, raising support, communicating with supporters, family dynamics, choosing an organization, and the changing role of the western missionary.

Peoples & Cultures of the Middle East
This course examines the ethnic groups and cultures of the modern Middle East and North Africa (MENA). While it focuses on the map as it appears today, the course also surveys essential historical background. By necessity, the study considers the relationship between this region’s
modern boundaries and its traditional ethnic identities. In this process, the course highlights the MENA’s rich cultures and diverse people groups.

Race & Ethnicity in the American Experience 
This course examines the complex issue of ethnicity and race in America from a cultural, historical, and social justice perspective. Students gain a framework for understanding and identifying ethnic and racial issues and are equipped to live justly within their chosen
professional fields.

Dynamics of World Religions
This course provides an introduction to the world’s major living religions through the study of primary and secondary sources. Students learn about the history and practices of these religious traditions through a variety of media. Each religion is allowed to speak for itself, but the course employs a comparative approach. Key aspects of Christian faith and practice are examined during the entire process.

Urban Anthropology
This course focuses on contemporary issues salient to selected people and groups in the city (such as, but not necessarily including, African-American, Hispanic-American, drug culture, the homeless), and—as appropriate—historical background (including migration patterns). The course also relates these issues and people groups to the Missio Dei, or Mission of God. Topics vary by term.

Church Planting and Discipleship
This course gives students an overview of the theology, theory, and practice of planting churches locally and cross-culturally. Special attention is given to the mission of the church, contemporary models of church planting, indigenous church planting movements, making the gospel relevant to culture, and accountability-oriented discipleship which leads to the multiplication of churches. Church-planting specialists assist, and field trips to new church plants are included in the course schedule.

Intercultural Studies or Ministry elective

Choose one course with ANTH, ICXX, or CMXX prefix

Fundamentals of Biology & Sustainability with Lab
In this course, students will learn about the organization of life from cells to organisms to ecosystems. This course will explore exchange of energy and resources in ecosystems, and students will be introduced to ways in which natural selection and inheritance of genes drives ecosystem composition. From this foundation, students will examine how human activities impact the natural world in which we reside and assess the sustainability of these practices and behaviors. Students will be challenged to examine the ethics of sustainability in light of Christian stewardship. In the laboratory, students will directly consider specimens from microscopic organisms to whole ecosystems, and they will implement field and laboratory techniques for assessing ecosystem health.

International Community Development
This course explores issues of poverty, primary health care, and microfinance for grassroots initiatives, as well as educational, economic, medical, and physical needs for community development.

Global Eco-Mission
Missional stewardship of creation is the focus of this course. Environmental sustainability is a world-wide concern. Eco-Mission is increasingly the focus of the global church. This course explores the biblical grounding for eco-practice in communities, both local and international, and examines practical project-based ministry in creation care.

Creaturely Theology
Creaturely theology blends biological and ecological field work on campus and in nearby areas with theological reflection on non-human creatures (plants and animals), spiritual formation in nature, and theological reflection on creation care and stewardship in order to better understand ourselves and non-
human creatures in a way that approximates how God understands and cares for such creatures.

Creation Care elective

Choose one course with ANTH, ICXX, or CMXX prefix

Foundations of Biblical Preaching
This course equips students with the basic skills necessary to prepare and present biblical sermons. It gives special attention to studying a biblical text for preaching purposes; developing thesis statements, outlines, and support materials; and communicating effectively with contemporary listeners.

Theories and Practices of Biblical Teaching
This course equips students with the skills necessary to prepare and present biblical lessons. It gives special attention to studying a biblical text for teaching purposes, developing thesis statements and objectives, interactive and creative strategies, and utilizing group
dynamics to help individuals grow spiritually.

English as a Second Language/EFL Methods & Materials
This course examines the four second/foreign-language learning skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) and introduces students to a variety of instructional methodologies developed by ESL practitioners. Attention is also given to the teaching of grammar, the creation and use of placement and testing instruments, the critical examination of classroom texts, the study of contemporary theories of second/foreign language teaching, and to further study of “current theory regarding language acquisition. Development of classroom lessons implementing methodologies discussed in class, especially the production of instructional visuals, is emphasized.

Introduction to Linguistics
This course introduces the process of language analysis with the goal of enhancing the student’s ability to learn language. Students gain a framework for understanding and identifying the sound systems and grammatical structures of different languages.

Second Language & Culture Acquisition
This course introduces students to the process of language and cultural acquisition among people served on the field. An array of tools and practices are introduced.

Sociolinguistics
This course offers a view of language as a context-dependent social phenomenon. Students examine how cultural attitudes, expectations, behaviors, and contexts affect the use of
language. With a particular emphasis on multilingual communities, this course introduces foundational principles for socio-linguistic survey.

Race & Ethnicity in the American Experience
This course examines the complex issue of ethnicity and race in America from a cultural, historical, and social justice perspective. Students gain a framework for understanding and identifying ethnic and racial issues and are equipped to live justly within their chosen
professional fields.

Race, Culture, & The Church
A study of the sociological indicators, theories, and practices pertaining to race, culture, and the growing trend toward intentional multi-ethnic church planting/building. Students will become familiarized with the theories, foundations, opportunities, and challenges that accompany these areas, and applications across various ministry contexts will be explored.

Dynamics of City Transformation
This course serves as an orientation to the sociological, physical, and political structures and systems of the city and exposes students to the work of faith-based ministries and urban churches that work in the ongoing transformation of cities. Special attention is given to issues of wealth and poverty, power and marginalization, race, ethnicity, class, community development, biblical justice, and mobilization.

Urban Anthropology
This course focuses on contemporary issues salient to selected people and groups in the city (such as, but not necessarily including, African-American, Hispanic-American, drug culture, the homeless), and—as appropriate—historical background (including migration patterns). The course also relates these issues and people groups to the Missio Dei, or Mission of God. Topics vary by term.

Intercultural Studies or Ministry elective 

Choose one course with ANTH, ICXX, or CMXX prefix

Dynamics of World Religions
This course provides an introduction to the world’s major living religions through the study of primary and secondary sources. Students learn about the history and practices of these religious traditions through a variety of media. Each religion is allowed to speak for itself, but the course employs a comparative approach. Key aspects of Christian faith and practice are examined during the entire process.

Religious Studies elective (choose four)

• Peoples & Cultures of the Middle East
• Islam: History, Beliefs, and Practices
• Second Language & Culture Acquisition
• Animism
• Philosophy of Religion
• Cults, Sects & New Religions
• Christian Apologetics
• History & Theology of Judaism
• Biblical Interpretation Across Cultures

This course examines the importance of culture and worldview in an increasingly multicultural world and will give special attention to “reading” the city in preparation for service. It explores cultural diversity and the necessary skills for identifying the traits of different cultures (including the student’s own), in order to equip them to effectively interact with people of other cultures as they seek to fulfill the Great Commission and do their part to advance the worldwide mission of Christ.

This course applies cultural anthropology to everyday life and Christian mission, with special attention to the application of an anthropological perspective. Students learn to examine the framework of beliefs, assumptions, values, and behaviors that shape people’s lives, in order to be more effective in ministry.

This course introduces the process of language analysis with the goal of enhancing the student’s ability to learn language. Students gain a framework for understanding and identifying the sound systems and grammatical structures of different languages.

This course introduces students to the process of language and cultural acquisition among people served on the field. An array of tools and practices are introduced.

This course examines the unique problems and strategies for communicating the gospel effectively in intercultural contexts. Special attention is given to the student’s personal role in intercultural communication, including language, behavior, and sensitivities needed to bridge cultural boundaries.

Students explore the dynamics of cross-cultural ministry, fundamental team building, and issues of attending to personal and familial spiritual growth during ministry in a cross-cultural setting. Special emphasis is given to avoidance of placing children in at-risk situations due to the ministry of the parents.

This course introduces the process of planting and growing a network of biblically- and culturally-relevant faith communities in their setting. Building upon biblical methods, students explore the implications of contextualization in message formulation and the resulting communities of faith.

This course explores issues of poverty, primary healthcare, and microfinance for grassroots initiatives, as well as educational, economic, medical, and physical needs for community development.

This course presents a comprehensive and dynamic view of the mandate for Christian missionary activity. Students are challenged to a growing awareness that world evangelism is four-dimensional: biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic. A special emphasis is given to issues revolving around cultural and cross-cultural communication, along with how sensitivity in these areas can help further realize God’s global purpose.

This course invites students to explore how God’s story—as revealed in scripture—intersects with their own stories—their passions, interests, callings, and vocations. Emphasis is placed on appreciating the coherence of the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation and developing missional approaches to local and global contexts in which students may live and work.

This course explores the intersection of God’s Word, the cultural context, and the local faith community as they come together to develop a healthy church in context. The inspiration of Scripture, how God’s Word is perceived, and how God’s Word enters a context are addressed.

Under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, students engage in a field context experience that integrates practice and theory related to cross-cultural life, specialized work, and growth.

Understanding the Muslim World
This course expands the student’s knowledge and understanding of Muslim culture, worldview, and practices.

Animism
This course enables students to develop a deeper understanding of folk religions and animism. Special attention is given to folk religions and animistic beliefs found in the world today, cultural differences, significant barriers to the gospel, and channels for better understanding.