Course Descriptions
Applied Theology Department
ATH1113 Theology of Prayer: This course is designed to study the theological foundation for prayer. It examines and defines the basic aspects of prayer with specific emphasis on the prayer of faith, praying in the Spirit, and the corporate and private nature of prayer. It also offers practical helps on prayer as spiritual warfare and the benefits of prayer and fasting. This course is spread over three trimesters beginning with the Fall trimester.
ATH2113 Evangelism in the 21st Century: Understanding the meaning, motive, mission and methods of evangelism that apply ways to reach our 21st century world for Christ with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
ATH2313 Introduction to Urban Missions: This course introduces the student to missions in the urban context. In this course, the student will learn and demonstrate a knowledge of: (1) the cultural factors involved in urban missions, (2) evangelism techniques in urban missions, (3) fundraising principles in urban missions, and (4) the various types of ministry needs presented in the urban culture.
ATH2323 World Religions: This course seeks to equip the student with necessary knowledge to intelligently approach those of the non-Christian religions of the world. It views the tenets of the major religious systems comparatively. Religions studied include Pre-historic and tribal religions, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, religions of East Asia, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to have strategic conversations with those of other religious backgrounds and contexts.
ATH3113 Homiletics I, Preparing for 21st Century Preaching: An introduction to sermon construction with an emphasis on the importance of preaching, the role of scripture, the place of hermeneutics, outlining, sermon structure and content, introductions, conclusions, invitations, and illustrations. Students will begin to understand the vital place of preaching in their ministry.
ATH3213 Homiletics II: An advanced course with emphasis on expository preaching and other preaching models. The course includes techniques in evaluating and revising a student’s sermon. Emphasis is placed on special types of sermon structure, styles, sermon delivery and public worship. Special attention will be given to tactile preaching, a 21st century preaching model.
ATH3223 Children’s Ministry: A specialized study of children’s ministry as it relates to specific programs such as children’s church, kids’ crusades, story hours, vacation Bible schools, camps, retreats, etc. Principles of Christian education are emphasized as they relate to these areas.
ATH3233 Youth Ministry: A study of the needs and characteristics of young people as related to their place in the home, school, church, and community. An investigation of methods and techniques to win, hold, and mature youth through sound Christian education programs and youth worship services.
ATH3243 Urban Youth and Children’s Ministry: This course focuses on the unique aspects of ministering to youth and children in the urban, cultural context. In it the student will demonstrate a knowledge of: (1) how to preach and organize ministry curriculums for urban youth and children, (2) an understanding of the various factors involved in urban youth and children’s ministry, and (3) how to utilize various principles for effectively ministering to youth and children in the urban context.
ATH3253 Women in Ministry: This course serves as an encouragement to women in ministry. It is designed to examine Biblical, historical, and contemporary perspectives of women in ministry, the call of God, and the role of women today in credentialed ministry.
ATH3313 Church Business Administration: A critical and valuable study of various areas of pastoral responsibilities including board meetings, committee structure, leadership training, budgeting, finance, personal finance, planning, risk management, evaluation, legal affairs, auxiliary organizations and their relationship to the total church program.
ATH3343 Leadership Development: This course focuses on leadership principles and practices as it relates to the mission, gifts, and leadership of both clergy and laity. The critical role of vision casting will be considered.
ATH3353 Cross-Cultural Adjustment: This course is a study of the relationship between personal, individual characteristics and effective cross-cultural service. Individual and group integrative concepts are studied and applied. Special attention is paid to personal characteristics and character development that appear critical to cross-cultural adjustment.
ATH4113 Pastoral Theology: This vital course addresses the development of a Biblical understanding of the pastoral ministry with an emphasis on the call of God, the church’s call, the pastor’s personal life, church, community, District, General Council relations, key administrative and organizational aspects (formal and informal), and ways in which the ministries of the church may be fulfilled.
ATH4123 Pastoral Counseling: An examination of pastoral counseling from a Biblical perspective, skills and techniques of pastoral care addressing the needs of the sick, and various generational issues. An analysis of various case studies, verbatims, examination of processes in premarital, marital and family counseling, and addressing the hurts of those who need healing.
ATH4153 Urban Compassion Ministry: This course focuses on breaking the cycle of poverty: the complex and intricately connected issues that contribute to generational and situational poverty. How do we think about American poverty from a Biblical perspective? A global perspective? How do you develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses hunger, education, healthcare, disaster relief, etc? The student will also learn various outreach strategies to the impoverished in the urban context.
ATH4227 Christian Spiritual Formation and Historical Disciplines: This course, Christian Formation and Historical Disciplines, provides students with a historical and Biblical background to ongoing Christian transformation (sanctification). It introduces them to the Christian calendar and classic spiritual disciplines. The student will realize the most meaningful application through synchronous attendance/participation.
ATH4233 Crisis Intervention: A study of various types of crises, necessary skills, and helpful processes to address crises and reduce their possibility. Various case studies will be explored.
ATH4253 Introduction to Bio-ethics and Theological Challenges: A discourse on bio-ethics from theological underpinnings. The two must learn to inform each other as in the past. Liberal and pluralist secular settings in the academy must not be the only voice informing the discussion.
ATH4363 Understanding the Spirit World: This course deals with the realms of spirits as depicted in Scripture: the realm of God, the realm of angelic spirits–evil and good, and the realm of human spirits–un-regenerated and regenerated. The course focuses on discovering the source of spiritual oppression in any given conflict.
ATH4263 Urban Church Planting: This course is designed to give the student an introduction into the ministry of church planting in the urban setting. The emphasis will be on equipping students with the biblical principles and strategies needed for starting and developing gospel centered urban churches. The student will participate in lectures; discussions and learning activities that will allow the student to formulate his/ her own culturally contextualized values, mission and church planting strategy. The primary outcome of the course will be a personalized Church Planting Proposal that the student can actually use in planting and developing an urban church.
ATH4316 Pastoral Ministry Internship: An in-depth supervised ministry experience to help a person develop confidence in ministry. The internship focuses on the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the exercise and development of competencies in personal ministry, with concentration on ministerial functions and reflections in peer-group sessions including seasoned ministers as consultants and personal conferences focusing on the future. Prerequisites: Completion of six levels of Student Ministry and in the student’s last trimester.
ATH4326 Para-Church Ministry Internship: A 300 + hour internship focused on para-church ministry engagement, assessment, creative solutions, and evaluation designed to integrate the lectures and readings. The student must see/his her advisor for pre-requisite courses which include completion of six levels of student ministry.
Biblical Studies Department
BIB1113 Old Testament History and Literature: A study of the books of the Old Testament, giving students an appreciation of each book as a unit and of its contribution to God’s plan of redemption as it develops in the Old Testament. Prerequisite for 2000 and above Bible/theology courses.
BIB1213 New Testament History and Literature: An overview of the books of the New Testament in the context of the first century historical environment. The course emphasizes the teachings of each New Testament book and includes a section on the canon and text of the New Testament. Prerequisite for 2000 and above Bible/theology courses.
BIB2213 Biblical Hermeneutics: A study of the various methods and principles of Biblical interpretation which have been employed up to the present and the necessity for the grammatical historical method of interpretation. The student will learn and apply the tools and methods of both general and special hermeneutics, so as to more effectively communicate the Gospel. Prerequisite: BIB1113 and BIB1213.
BIB2313 Book of Acts: A valuable study of the book of Acts, the beginning of the church, the beginning of the age of the Spirit and the progress of the church throughout the Roman Empire by the ministry of the Spirit through the Apostles.
BIB3113 Life of Christ: A careful examination of the birth, life, death, resurrection, teachings, miracles, and parables of the life of Christ in light of the historical, cultural, and geographical context. The significance of the life of Christ will be reviewed in light of the past 20 centuries.
BIB3313 Book of Romans: A careful study of Paul’s letter to the Romans and its powerful influence on the history of the church. Understanding the context, historical setting, needs of the church, and evident teachings of Paul will assist a person in living and leading in today’s world.
BIB4313 Pastoral Epistles: A meaningful examination of the Pastoral Epistles to know and understand their value for us today; to catch a glimpse of pastoral ministry with its principles and practices from the teaching of the apostle Paul; to develop good Bible study habits and to consider how to plant a church through a knowledge of the ideas from the Pastorals and ministry at Ephesus.
BIB4323 The Corinthian Correspondence: An exegesis and exposition of the Corinthian Correspondence with emphasis on the problems and needs of the church at Corinth, historical background, applied principles, ministry, gifts of the Spirit, doctrine and devotional values.
BIB4333 Biblical Models of Women in Leadership: Various models of women in leadership in the Old and New Testament will be considered. Gil and Cavaness’ work, “God’s Women Then and Now,” will be used to address the various arguments for differing models of biblical leadership.
BIB4343 Pentateuch: An examination of the primary principles, practices, teachings, happenings, persons, concepts, causes and effects, and struggles of the era of the Pentateuch and its significance for the 21st century.
BIB4353 Old Testament Major Prophets: An examination of the Old Testament Major Prophets, their personal life, message, times, and significance; to know and understand the origin, nature of prophetic ministry and its relevance for us today.
BIB4363 Book of Revelation: An exegetical study of the Book of Revelation which focuses upon its literary genre, theological themes, the various schools of interpretation, the background materials of Jewish prophecy and apocalyptic literature, the structure of the book, its relationship to the other New Testament writings.
Church History and Theology Department
HIS1313 History of the Pentecostal Movement: A study of the Pentecostal Movement that emerged in the 20th century with an emphasis on the historical and theological development of the Assemblies of God and its polity. Students will develop an understanding of the Pentecostal Movement in relation to the church at large.
HIS3113 Survey of Church History: Students will come to appreciate and value their Christian heritage through this study of the background, establishment and development of the Christian church, and its influence in world history including elements leading to the Reformation. The rise of Islam will be considered. An emphasis is placed on the development of theological concepts and their effect on the church.
THE2213 Biblical Hermeneutics: The student learns both principles and skills of interpreting Scripture in terms of historical, social and literary environments and the process of applying the meaning to today’s needs. The history of hermeneutics is also covered. A special feature concentrates on Pentecostal issues.
THE3113 Theology I: Understanding the meaning and purpose of theology and the study of the doctrines of Scripture, God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit with major engagement with the Biblical text, so as to make doctrine meaningful to the church and world.
THE3213 Theology II: A study of the Christian doctrines of man, sin, salvation, ecclesiology, and eschatology from a Biblical, historical, and contemporary perspective.
THE3313 Theology of Missions: A close examination of the theology of Christian missions based on the Old Testament, the New Testament and church history. Emphasis will be placed on the responsibility of the church and church leadership in the implementation of Christian missions.
THE4323 Theological Ethics: An examination of Biblical and theological teachings as they relate to ethical decisions and how they are made. Consideration will be given to a variety ethical issues such as war and peace, justice, the environment, human life, divorce, sex outside of marriage, drugs, alcohol, gambling, and pornography. The student will develop skills to grapple with contemporary ethical issues.
Student Ministry PFM 1100, PFM 1200, PFM 1300, PFM 2100, PFM 2200, PFM 2300: Each student is required to complete six supervised trimesters of student ministry for graduation. Students are required to register for student ministry each term until they complete all six. Students may choose various types of ministry projects with the approval of the Vice-President for Student Life. Ministry opportunities are available through the office of the Vice-President for Student Life. One of these student ministries must be completed at one of the main campus experiences within the student’s first four trimesters. The first, second, or third student ministry may be an observation/participation experience that focuses on a broad understanding of the expected six academic hour senior year ministry internship. The last two must be directly associated with the planned ministry internship. For transfer students, one student ministry for each 15 course hours completed is required for graduation. (See Student Ministry Calculator available from the website.)
General Education Department Behavior/Social Sciences
PSY2213 Introduction to Psychology: A study of psychological principles with respect to students’ lives. Students will develop greater self-understanding and self help skills; increase their understanding of other people and a sensitivity to those who may be different from the student; and become familiar with relevant theories and research findings. Topics include coping with stress, the self-forming impressions of others, prejudice, conformity, interpersonal communication, relationships, and career issues.
PSY4213 Theories of Personality: A study of the definition of personality and the nature and meaning of personality theory with a close look at various theories of personality and the theorists.
SOC2333 Sociology of Marriage and Family: A study of marriage and family from the Christian perspective, including the theories of and methods used to research marriage and the family, the diversity of families, contemporary gender roles, love and commitment, systems, communication and conflict resolution, sexual relationships and problems, pregnancy, childbirth, parenthood, caregiving and spiritual concerns.
Communication
COM1113 Fundamentals of Speech: An introduction to the principles and practice of effective oral communication. Through formal and informal speaking activities, students develop skills at framing and articulating ideas. Students learn strategies for speaking extemporaneously, preparing and delivering presentations, formulating persuasive arguments, refining critical clarity of thought, and enhancing general facility and confidence in oral expression. Students gain practice in various speech types: expositive, informative, and persuasive forms.
COM2313 Cross-Cultural Communication: An examination of principles and processes in communicating from one culture to another so as to generate a sensitivity to the educational, social, religious, and ethnic backgrounds of people and how they perceive their world. There will be a focus on the communication of the Gospel and the importance of the incarnation.
English
ENG1110 Remedial English: (Remedial – No Academic Credit – Pass/Fail) This is a remedial course for students who do not score a 20 or greater on the ACT or SAT equivalent score. This course includes a study of sentence types, sentence variations, and sentence combining. The focus of this course is on the development and writing of various types of paragraphs. Ancillary short readings are required. This course will not satisfy graduation requirements and does not earn academic credits.
ENG1213 English Composition I: Effective Writing Skills for the 21st Century Students learn and practice planning, writing, and revising the expository essay, with attention given to developing a thesis, providing adequate support, and developing paragraphs with clear introductions and conclusions. Becoming a successful student will also be reviewed.
ENG1313 English Composition II: Academic Writing and Research Documents An introduction to research skills and academic writing. Students learn and practice the common steps and formats in writing a university-level research paper, such as writing and submitting proposals, writing literature reviews, following general research paper formats, and using an annotated bibliography.
GEN1113 College Success: College Success is a three-credit orientation course designed to assist incoming students make a successful transition from previous pursuits to the demands and culture of college life. The curriculum at the Bridges Christian College is demanding. This Freshman Seminar introduces students to the elevated expectations integral to colligate success. Students are given the opportunity to exercise both commitment and discipline as they: investigate learning styles, develop strategies for a personal study system, review the basics of English composition, improve proficiency in the Turabian citation methodology, strengthen computing skills, practice effective time allocation and activity management, explore the academic impact of sound nutritional choices, and recognize the importance of financial integrity to college success.
Geography
GEO2113 Historical Geography of the Ancient Near East, Greece & Rome: The course deals with the topographical and geographical feature of the ancient Near East, Greece, and Rome as they relate to historical events of the Old and New Testaments. Factors relating to the historical developments, boundaries, lines of communication, and geopolitical relationships within the region are discussed.
History
HIS2213 World History since 1750: This course surveys modern history from a global perspective. Beginning with the revolutions of the late 1700s, the transformational events in the 1800s, and the upheavels of the 1900s, the course considers the impact of these global events upon the 21st century.
Languages
GRK2213 First Century Greek: The development of a basic understanding of first century Greek (grammar syntax, vocabulary, translation) its background, cultural setting, and value in the 21st century.
HEB2313 Hebrew: The Language of the Jewish People An examination of ancient Hebrew (grammar, syntax vocabulary, translation) and its values in Biblical Studies. Elective.
Humanities and Fine Arts
HUM2113 Introduction to the Humanities and Fine Arts: This is an interdisciplinary humanity course that encompasses both the humanities and the fine arts thematic- or genre-based study of selected works of art, music, literature and philosophy.
HUM2223 Art Appreciation: This study will serve as a primer of art history and its importance in the work and study of each art student. Drawing on the valuable lessons observed from the artists of the past and how they interacted with the age and time they created will help each student understand how their art can serve their community of faith and the world around them today.
PHI1313 Introduction to Philosophy: A survey of the basic concepts of philosophy with attention given to the problems of knowledge, being, the existence of God, good and evil, freedom of the will, with a focus on abstract thinking.
Mathematics
MAT1210 College Math: (Remedial – No Academic Credit – Pass/Fail) A review of mathematics skills. Topics include basic operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and negative numbers; ratios and proportions; percents; radicals; solving simple equations; perimeter, area, and volume.
MAT1213 Applied College Mathematics: A study of several different fields of mathematics and their applications. Through the process of discovery with everyday applications, students improve their critical thinking and analysis skills.
Natural Science
BIO2113 Life Science: Life Science is an introductory course in which students will survey biological principles from a Christian perspective. Topics covered range from the cell and the theory of evolution to genetic engineering.
HTH1313 Health Education: This course focuses on developing personal and social health skills, including decision making, interpersonal communication, goal setting, self-management skills, and physical education.
Worship Leadership Department
MUS2111 Worship Lab: Guitar, Bass, and Basic Music Technology I: This course will teach prospective worship leaders or musicians the fundamentals of guitar and bass. Basic knowledge of chords and rhythmic patterns will be emphasized. Other topics to be discussed in class are song structure and basic music technology (Recording software, amplification, Microphone, soundboards). Students will develop entry level skills on the specified instruments; using those skills to compose and write worship songs, and finally to begin recording the songs that are written. This course equals 1 credit hour.
MUS2221 Worship Lab: Guitar, Bass, and Basic Music Technology II: This course continues from the previous one. It teaches prospective worship leaders or musicians the fundamentals of guitar and bass. Basic knowledge of chords and rhythmic patterns will be emphasized. Other topics to be discussed in class are song structure and basic music technology (Recording software, amplification, Microphone, soundboards). Students will develop entry level skills on the specified instruments; using those skills to compose and write worship songs, and finally to begin recording the songs that are written. This course equals 1 credit hour.
MUS2331 Worship Lab: Guitar, Bass, and Basic Music Technology III: This course continues from the previous one. It teaches prospective worship leaders or musicians the fundamentals of guitar and bass. Basic knowledge of chords and rhythmic patterns will be emphasized. Other topics to be discussed in class are song structure and basic music technology (Recording software, amplification, Microphone, soundboards). Students will develop entry level skills on the specified instruments; using those skills to compose and write worship songs, and finally to begin recording the songs that are written. This course equals 1 credit hour.