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A descriptive and comparative study of general education in the United States Bible college curriculum, 1967-1991
Abstract
This research extended and expanded on a study of Bible college general education by Timothy Warner (1967). Questions included (1) How have Bible college educators characterized the issues, concerns, and trends relating to general education in US accredited Bible colleges since Warner, and how do these characterizations compare with US general education? (2) In 1991, how do Bible college educators understand the meaning, objectives, and nature of general education, and how do these findings compare with Warner's? (3) What changes in Bible college general education are anticipated during the next five years? Conclusions. General education is usually framed in formal curricular terms, although some include the contributions of the "extra-curriculum." General education is based upon the integrating factor of Christian theism. Overall, the number of general education units required for the degree increased. The trend toward dual accreditation and expansion of the Bible college mission are predicted by some to be forces of change in general education programs. Limited evidence suggests that perceived and actual general education student outcomes are comparable to those of students at similarly selective liberal arts colleges. A 1991 survey of 75 college catalogs and a questionnaire administered to 67 academic deans revealed that (1) General education seems to have gained general acceptance as an important, necessary part of the Bible college curriculum, though there is little agreement as to its meaning; (2) "To enable our graduates to become truly educated people" is the highest rated purpose; (3) Consistent with Warner, few programs evidence strong integrative/interdisciplinary components; (4) The nature of Bible college general education is similar to US general education, with several exceptions: Bible college programs are generally more prescriptive, are grounded on a theistic base, and have closer oversight; (5) Most deans anticipate little change in their general education programs, with two exceptions: increases in emphases on global and multicultural awareness and efforts to assess general education student outcomes.
Subject Area
Higher education|Education history|Curricula|Teaching
Recommended Citation
Rempel, Norman David, "A descriptive and comparative study of general education in the United States Bible college curriculum, 1967-1991" (1992). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9314432.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9314432