To enhance such integration the Traditional Undergraduate General Education curriculum has been organized in five themes, each of which includes a variety of courses designed to develop specific knowledge, skills, and values. The five themes of First Year Foundations; Artistic Experience; Biblical Foundations; Math, Science, and Technology; and Cultural Intelligence are complemented by an off-campus cross-cultural experience and a capstone course in Contemporary Christian Issues.
The five General Education themes comprise both specific courses that all students take and categories from which students choose courses. General Education courses are arranged in a unified and developmental sequence spread through all four years of study and culminate in a capstone course. First-year students at Bethel choose between two options to start their general education:
- The Modular Approach to general education, consists of 3 courses, each covering different areas of study.
- The Humanities Approach is an integrated sequence of 3 courses that explores how great writers and artists of western civilization have tried to answer life's deepest questions concerning God, the self, and society.
Students may choose to complete their off-campus cross-cultural experience through a designated course, an off-campus program, or through an approved non-credit experience at any time during their course of study at Bethel. A limited number of courses can be used to meet both General Education requirements and the requirements for a major or minor. (See list of requirements for each major or minor in the appropriate departmental section of the catalog.)
Course and category names listed below, as well as their descriptions, reflect the requirements of the General Education curriculum. General Education category names are followed by category designator letters (e.g., D, M, P). These same designator letters are used throughout the catalog to identify courses meeting General Education category requirements. The following suffix code is used for General Education categories:
| A | Artistic Experience |
| D | Laboratory Science |
| G | Comparative Systems |
| K | Science, Technology, and Society |
| L | Contemporary Western Life and Thought |
| M | Mathematics |
| P | Contemporary Christian Issues |
| S | Second Language |
| U | World Cultures |
| Z | Cross-cultural Experience |
General Education Policies
- All General Education courses must be approved through the normal curriculum review and approval process. No petitions to substitute a non-General Education Bethel course for a General Education requirement will be approved.
- Each course that carries a General Education tag contains components and requirements unique to that tag. These components and requirements are integral and necessary parts of the course. Students must satisfy all course components and requirements, even if they have previously completed another course containing that tag, or are taking another course with that tag in the same term. For example, a student taking more than one "Z" tagged course must complete all "Z" tag components and requirements in each course.
- General Education courses, with the exception of Cross-cultural Experience (Z) courses, may not be taken as a Directed Study. General Education courses may be taken as a Course by Arrangement only when they meet all requirements in the policy on Course by Arrangement.
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With approval of an instructor, students may fulfill the Cross-cultural (Z) Experience requirement through an independent cross-cultural experience connected to a non-Z companion course. This may be done during the academic year or during summer term. In addition to registering for the non-Z companion course students must also register for, and successfully complete two half-credit courses designed to help them gain the most benefit from the experience as well as future cross-cultural experiences (GES 101 and GES 102Z).
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The faculty member teaching the course must approve a student’s request to use the course as a non-Z companion course, but will not be responsible for overseeing or evaluating Z-related activities and assignments beyond any assignments and activities already required for the course.
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Students must enroll in GES 101 the term preceding their experience and enroll in GES 102Z the term after they return.
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General requirements allow for the inclusion of credits from a higher level. Adult students graduate under the requirements of the most current catalog at the time they began their studies at Bethel. If they have pursued more than one degree or certificate, the catalog that applies to them is the catalog in place when they most recently renewed their studies at Bethel. Any substitutions are determined by Bethel University.
Courses required in the major are in addition to the CAPS Bethel Distinctives and Goal Area requirements below.
| Bethel Distinctives | CORE 300 and CORE 330H |
| Goal Area 1: Communication | 8 credit minimum including an Academic Research and Writing course (R category) |
| Goal Area 2: Critical Thinking | 4 credit minimum. SOCS 110 Succeeding in College is required in residence for Transfer Level A. |
| Goal Area 3: Natural Sciences | 8 credit minimum |
| Goal Area 4: Mathematical/Logical Reasoning | 3-4 credit minimum |
| Goal Area 5: History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences | 8 credit minimum |
| Goal Area 6: The Humanities and Fine Arts | 8 credit minimum |
| H Category: Ethics | 2 credit minimum |
Goal Area 1: Communication
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category R: Academic Research Writing | ||
| ENGL 230R | Inquiry Writing Seminar | 4 |
| Other Goal Area 1 | ||
| CHMN 451 | Communication in Ministry | 3 |
| COMM 160 | Basic Communication Skills | 4 |
| ENGL 130 | College Composition | 4 |
Goal Area 2: Critical Thinking
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUSN 104 | Introduction to Business | 4 |
| BUSN 200 | Business Problem Solving | 2 |
| BUSN 314 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 2 |
| CORE 300 | Community, Self and Formation | 4 |
| CORE 330H | Examining Crucial Questions | 4 |
| ORGL 120 | Personal Mission and Leadership | 2 |
| PSYC 400 | Research Methods | 4 |
| SOCS 110 | How Learning Works: Keys to College Success | 4 |
| SOCS 120 | Introduction to Healthcare | 2 |
Goal Area 3: Natural Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 120 & BIOL 120L | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology and Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 101 & CHEM 101L | Introduction to Chemistry and Introduction to Chemistry Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 113 & CHEM 113L | General Chemistry and General Chemistry Lab | 4 |
| HEPE 260 | Physiology of Wellness | 4 |
| NASC 275 | Environment and Humanity | 4 |
Goal Area 4: Mathematical/Logical Reasoning
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUSN 115 | Personal Financial Literacy | 4 |
| MATH 180 | Mathematics in Real Life | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Business Mathematics and Statistics | 4 |
| PSYC 335 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
Goal Area 5: History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ADST 445 | Counseling Microskills | 4 |
| ADST 450 | Introduction to Addictions Counseling | 4 |
| BUSN 310 | Global Management and Leadership | 2 |
| BUSN 314 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 2 |
| BUSN 335 | Business Law | 4 |
| CORE 300 | Community, Self and Formation | 4 |
| CORE 330H | Examining Crucial Questions | 4 |
| ECON 202 | Principles of Microeconomics | 2 |
| ECON 203 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 2 |
| HIST 250 | History of the United States | 4 |
| POLS 100 | American Government and Politics | 4 |
| PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology 1 | 2 |
| PSYC 205 | Lifespan Development | 4 |
| PSYC 220 | Social Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 340 | Psychopathology | 4 |
| PSYC 345 | The Body's Response to Trauma | 2 |
| PSYC 380 | Motivation and Emotion | 4 |
| PSYC 400 | Research Methods | 4 |
| SOCS 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 4 |
| SOCS 130 | Christianity & Western Culture | 4 |
| SOCS 255 | Introduction to American Cultures | 2 |
| SOWK 240 | Socioeconomic & Justice Issues in Market Economies | 2 |
| THEO 341 | Gospel in Cross-Cultural Perspective | 3 |
Goal Area 6: The Humanities and Fine Arts
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTC 150 | Introduction to Art Appreciation | 4 |
| BIBL 230 | The Bible in Real Life | 4 |
| BIBL 360 | Making Sense of the Bible | 4 |
| CHMN 200 | Foundations for Vocation and Christian Ministry | 2 |
| CHMN 300 | Foundations for Christian Ministry | 3 |
| CHMN 320 | Personal Spiritual Formation | 3 |
| CORE 330H | Examining Crucial Questions | 4 |
| ENGL 100 | Literature: How Stories Change the World | 4 |
| THEO 341 | Gospel in Cross-Cultural Perspective | 3 |
| THEO 441 | Christian Theology | 4 |
Category H: Ethics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ADST 485H | Professional Issues and Ethics | 2 |
| CORE 330H | Examining Crucial Questions | 4 |
| SPED 480H | Student Teaching: Academic Behavioral Strategist | 4 |
Bethel Distinctive Courses
The Bethel Distinctives curriculum comprises two upper-division courses (8 credits) required of students intending to earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree through Bethel's adult online programs. Bethel Distinctive courses must be taken in residence. Students who have already completed a bachelor's degree from Bethel's traditional undergraduate school are exempt from this requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CORE 300 | Community, Self and Formation | 4 |
| CORE 330H | Examining Crucial Questions | 4 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Outcomes
- Understand foundational concepts of Christianity.
- Develop method for evaluating sources of influence.
- Apply sources of influence to personal and professional life philosophy.
Foundations of Math Readiness
The Foundations of Math Readiness (FMR) course helps students who need additional preparation to increase their probability of success in adult, online programs. Any adult, online student may take the FMR course, but it is required for all new students who are admitted to Bethel's adult, online programs with fewer than 45 credits and who have a cumulative high school or college GPA below 2.5 or a combined GED score below 451. Students admitted with 45 or more credits are not required to take the FMR course.
MATH 090, A pre-college course that does not lead to college-level credit that would be applied to degree, certificate, or license requirements. There is no tuition charged for this course, however it does carry a course fee for course materials.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 090 | Foundations of Mathematics | 0 |
| Total Credits | 0 | |
*Associate of Arts students must fulfill General Education Goal Area requirements at the 100-200 level. Students may transfer in courses at a higher level.