Core Curriculum
The Christian liberal arts tradition has a long and important history of emphasizing the inter-connected nature of knowledge. The Briercrest College and Seminary core curriculum reflects this legacy and provides the student with essential knowledge upon which further disciplinary study will be based.
While the core curriculum begins with a thorough examination of the Christian Scriptures and theology, it also requires sustained exploration of the theological and historical nature of the Christian faith, both in its western and majority world contexts.
The emphasis upon the Christian Scriptures and faith is complemented by required study in English Literature and Composition, Philosophy, the Social Sciences, the Global Community, Fine Arts, Human Movement and Communication, and Scientific and Numerical literacy, all taught within an environment that takes the intersection between faith and academic discipline seriously.
Students are also asked to take an interdisciplinary course in world view formation where perspectives from several disciplines examine the nature of what makes up a Christian world view. The core curriculum is required of all baccalaureate students, and because its requirements range from introductory to advanced classes, it is typically taken over the entire three years of a student's studies.
Core Curriculum: Four-Year Bachelor Degrees
Download Core Curriculum: Bachelor Degrees in PDF format
The core requirements for the Associate of Arts degree follow the same principles and pattern as that of the baccalaureate degree, although in modified form. Students who take an Associate of Arts degree at Briercrest will be able to seamlessly continue their studies toward a BA degree.
| Category | Credit hours | Comments |
| English Proficiency Exam | Pass/Fail | Required of all freshmen students (transfer students with college or university-level English exempted) |
| Biblical Studies | 15 | BLST 103
Gospels BLST 111 Old Testament Literature 9 credit hours of Biblical Studies electives (minimum of 3 credit hours at the 300+ level) including: 3 credit hours in Old Testament studies 3 credit hours New Testament studies |
| Theology | 9 | THEO 115
Introduction to Christian Theology 6 credit hours of Theology electives (minimum of 3 credit hoursat the 300+ level) from: THEO 203 History of Christian Theology I THEO 204 History of Christian Theology II THEO 330 The Triune God THEO 331 Scripture and Contemporary Theology THEO 337 The Church and the Kingdom THEO 350 Theology of Christ and the Spirit THEO 413 Studies in Spiritual Theology THEO 470 Senior Theology Seminar THEO 471 Studies in Historical Theology |
| Spiritual Formation | 3 | THEO 112 Spiritual Formation |
| Christianity and the Church | 12 | One course from
each section: Section A: The Church in Theological Perspective CM 101 Foundations of Church Ministry CM 201 Theology of Mission THEO 337 The Church and the Kingdom Section B: The Ancient and Medieval Church HIS 237 History of Christianity I Section C: The Western Church HIS 238 History of Christianity II HIS 431 History of Christianity in Canada HIS 433 History of Christianity in the USA Section D: The Global Church CM 201 Theology of Mission GLST 110 Perspectives in Mission GLST 410 Current Issues in Mission HIS 339 World Christianity from the Colonial Period to the Present HIS 451 History of Christian-Muslim Relations |
| English Literature | 6 | ENG 100 Literature
and Composition I One course from: ENG 101 Literature and Composition II ENG 110 Introduction to Poetry |
| Philosophy | 3 | One course
from: PHI 100 Introduction to Philosophy I PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy II |
| Social Sciences | 6 | Two courses from the
following disciplines: Administration, Anthropology, Economics, Native Studies, Psychology, Sociology |
| The Global Community | 3 | One course
from: ANTH 200 Cultural Anthropology GLST 301 Globalization HIS 251 History of Islam I HIS 252 History of Islam II HIS 361 History of the Modern Middle East HIS 362 History of Modern South Asia HIS 451 History of Christian-Muslim Relations Modern Language Elective NTST 110 Introduction to Native Studies RLST 311 World Religions SOC 396 Urban Sociology |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 | One course
from: IDST 250 Studies in Christian World Views IDST 400 Advanced Studies in Christian World Views |
| Fine Arts, Human Movement, and Communication | 3 | 3 credit hours
from: COMM 104 Public Speaking FIN 110 Introduction to Fine Arts KIN 262 Physical Activities and Wellness MUS 130 Basic Voice (2) + Applied Music (1) MUS 140 Basic Piano (2) + Applied Music (1) MUS/THEA 340 Musical Theatre Workshop Ensembles (2) + Applied Music (1) PAST 355 Homiletics THEA 221 Acting I |
| Scientific and Numerical Literacy | 3 | One course
from: BU 211 Financial Accounting CMP 127 Introduction to Computers CMP 315 Management Information Systems ECON 100 Microeconomics ECON 101 Macroeconomics GEOG 100 Physical Geography of Canada HIS 441 Christianity and Science from Copernicus to Creation Science MATH 110 Financial Mathematics MATH 292 Quantitative Methods |
| Portfolio | Pass/Fail | PRT 400 Senior Portfolio |
| Experiential Education | Pass/Fail | |
| Total Core | 66 | |
| Degree Requirements | 126/127 |
Core Curriculum: Three-Year Bachelor Degrees
Updated June 17, 2011
|
Category |
Credit Hours |
Comments |
|
Biblical Studies |
12 |
BLST 103 Gospels |
|
Theology |
6 |
THEO 115 Introduction to Christian Theology |
|
Spiritual Formation |
3 |
THEO 112 Spiritual Formation |
|
Christianity and the Church |
9 |
One course from three of the following four sections: Section A: The Church in Theological
Perspective. One course from: Section B: The Ancient and Medieval
Church Section C: The Western Church. One course
from: Section D: The Global Church. One course
from: |
|
English Literature |
6 |
ENG 100 Literature and Composition I and |
|
Philosophy |
3 |
One course from: |
|
Social Sciences |
3-61 |
Two courses, chosen from Administration, Anthropology,
Economics, |
|
The Global Community |
0-3 |
One course from: |
|
Interdisciplinary Studies |
3 |
One course from: |
|
Fine Arts, Human Movement and Communication |
0-32 |
Human Performance, whether it be in artistic expression,
physical activity or public communication. Three credit hours
from: |
|
Scientific and Numerical |
0-3 |
One course from: |
|
Service Learning |
0 |
SL 1-4 Service Learning requirements will be tracked in the portfolio process. |
|
Portfolio |
0 |
PRT 400 Senior Portfolio |
|
Total Core |
51 |
|
1Student must complete 6 hours from the 'Social Sciences' and 'Global Community' categories to meet core requirements, either 6 hours of Social Sciences or 3 hours from both categories.
2Students will choose three hours from either this category or the one that follows, 'Scientific and Numerical Literacy'.
Core Curriculum: Associate Degrees
Download Core Curriculum: Associate Degrees in PDF format
| Category | Credit hours | Comments |
| English Proficiency Exam | Pass/Fail | Required of all freshmen students (transfer students with college Englishexempted) |
| Biblical Studies | 9 | BLST 103 Gospels BLST 111 Old Testament Literature 3 credit hours of Biblical Studies elective |
| Theology | 3 | THEO 115 Introduction to Christian Theology |
| Spiritual Formation | 3 | THEO 112 Spiritual Formation |
| Christianity and the Church | 6 | One course from any
two of the following sections: Section A: The Church in Theological Perspective. One course from: CM 101 Foundations of Church Ministry CM 201 Theology of Mission THEO 337 The Church and the Kingdom Section B: The Ancient and Medieval Church: HIS 237 History of Christianity I Section C: The Western Church. One course from: HIS 238 History of Christianity II HIS 431 History of Christianity in Canada HIS 433 History of Christianity in the USA Section D: The Global Church. One course from: CM 201 Theology of Mission GLST 110 Perspectives in Mission GLST 410 Current Issues in Mission HIS 339 World Christianity from the Colonial Period to the Present HIS 451 History of Christian-Muslim Relations |
| English Literature | 6 | ENG 100 Literature
and Composition I One course from: ENG 101 Literature and Composition II ENG 110 Introduction to Poetry |
| 3 | One course from: | |
| Philosophy | PHI 100 Introduction
to Philosophy I PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy II |
|
| Social Sciences | Administration (ADM), Anthropology (ANTH), Economics (ECON), Native Studies (NTST), Psychology (PSY) or Sociology (SOC) | |
| The Global Community | ANTH 200 Cultural
Anthropology GLST 301 Globalization HIS 251 History of Islam I HIS 252 History of Islam II HIS 361 History of the Modern Middle East HIS 362 History of Modern South Asia HIS 451 History of Christian-Muslim Relations NTST 110 Introduction to Native Studies RLST 311 World Religions SOC 396 Urban Sociology Any modern language elective |
|
| Interdisciplinary Studies | IDST 250 Studies in
Christian World Views IDST 400 Advanced Studies in Christian World Views |
|
| Fine Arts, Human Movement, and Communication | COMM 104 Public
Speaking FIN 110 Introduction to Fine Arts KIN 262 Physical Activities and Wellness MUS 130 Basic Voice (2) + Applied Music (1) MUS 140 Basic Piano (2) + Applied Music (1) MUS/THEA 340 Musical Theatre Workshop Ensembles (2) + Applied Music (1) PAST 355 Homiletics THEA 221 Acting I |
|
| Scientific and Numerical Literacy | BU 211 Financial
Accounting CMP 127 Introduction to Computers CMP 315 Management Information Systems ECON 100 Microeconomics ECON 101 Macroeconomics GEOG 100 Physical Geography of Canada HIS 441 Christianity and Science from Copernicus to Creation Science MATH 110 Financial Mathematics MATH 292 Quantitative Methods |
|
| Experiential Education | Pass/Fail | |
| Total Core | 30 | |
| Degree Requirements | 63 |