Off-Campus Programs

Bethel University has long recognized the importance of offering its students a wide range of off-campus educational opportunities in both domestic and international locations. Such experiences are a significant part of the academic program at Bethel, providing an opportunity for expanded understanding of the world. Bethel sponsors a wide variety of programs of its own as well as several in collaboration with host organizations, consortiums, and universities around the globe. Students must attend Bethel at least one semester before participating in an off-campus studies program.

As part of the overall program in off-campus study at Bethel, the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies offers information and assistance to all students interested in studying abroad and in other off-campus locations.

Several components of the General Education curriculum are intended to prepare graduates for life in the interconnected, mutually dependent global community. The off-campus, cross-cultural experience (Z) course requirement can be met by successfully completing a semester abroad. In addition, off-campus interim courses that incorporate interaction with people from another culture and have been pre-approved by the General Education committee also fulfill this requirement. Cross-cultural experience courses include a Z in the course number.

OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS (International)

Resources and application materials are available in the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies for students considering a term abroad. Policies regarding eligibility, finances, etc., are available in the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies.

Semester Programs

Students must have completed a minimum of 30 credits and seniors must meet residency requirements in order to participate in semester off-campus programs. All students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average and must complete the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies approval process.

Australia Studies Centre (ASC)

ASC is designed to integrate the firsthand observation and study of Australian culture, history, religion, and politics with experiential service learning and formal instruction in the arts. The program is run in conjunction with the Wesley Institute for Ministry and the Arts (WIMA), a school with a ministry and arts focus in Sydney, Australia. The program includes a seminar course on Australian History, Culture, and Society and three or four electives chosen from the Wesley Institute’s list of courses. Students also regularly participate in a service project in conjunction with the Wesley Mission. The program includes an excursion to New Zealand.

Australia Term

In partnership with the Wesley Institute for Ministry and the Arts (WIMA), Bethel offers a fall semester study opportunity in Sydney, Australia. WIMA is a dynamic evangelical Christian community of people from a variety of vocations, locations, churches, languages, and cultures who share a common goal: being equipped to undertake ministry opportunities in all walks of life. Offering courses in fine arts (dance, drama, design, music), theology, and integrative studies, WIMA is Australia’s premier Christian college for theology and the arts. Located in a beautiful suburb of Sydney, WIMA provides a wonderful setting for exploring the neighborhoods, beaches, and the downtown area of the internationally renowned harbor city. Students study alongside Australian and international students for optimum cultural and faith integration. The program includes travel to Canberra, Australia’s capital, and other regions of interest.

China Studies Program (CSP)

CSP, which began in the spring of 1999, allows students to experience this large and intriguing country from the inside. While living and experiencing Chinese civilization firsthand, students participate in seminar courses on the historical, cultural, religious, geographical, and economic realities of this strategically important and populous nation. In addition to the study of Mandarin Chinese, students have the opportunity to assist Chinese students learning English, allowing for one-on-one interaction. The program is based in the coastal city of Xiamen but seeks to introduce students to the diversity of China through travel to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Hong Kong. This interdisciplinary, cross-cultural program of study enables Christian students to deal with this increasingly vital part of the world in an informed, Christ-centered way. Students generally enroll in 16 semester hours of credit.

Creation Care Study Program (CCSP)

CCSP has programs based in unique environmental education centers in Belize and in the South Pacific: New Zealand and Samoa. Through four months of study, reflection, discussion, research, travel, and cross-cultural living, students explore issues of biblical stewardship. Core courses are offered in tropical or South Pacific ecosystems, sustainable community development, and theological perspectives on God and nature. Students may also choose to do an internship (Belize) or take an elective course in cultural anthropology or literature of the wild. Students enroll in 15-16 semester hours of credit.

England Term

Bethel University offers a biennial (fall of odd-numbered years) academic program of residential study and travel in Great Britain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and France. Led by a faculty member from the Department of English, England Term emphasizes serious academic study, the building of Christian community, and the experience of other cultures in ways that are not possible in on-campus programs. Students are abroad for an entire semester, alternating between extended stays at home bases and travels throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and France. Sites are chosen for their literary, historical, and cultural significance, and usually include such places as Edinburgh, the Lake District, Oxford, Cambridge, Stratford, London, and Dublin. The program offers opportunities for deeper cultural contact (e.g., homestays with British or Irish families) and approximately two weeks for independent travel in Europe. See the English department listings for descriptions of courses typically offered during England Term. For further details contact the chairperson of the English department or the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies.

Europe Term: International Business

International Business in Europe is an academic program of residential study and travel in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, and France. Currently operating in the fall semester of odd years, the program emphasizes an integration of cross-cultural interaction and rigorous academic study, including 300-level courses in business and communication, and a German language and culture course. Students spend the majority of the term at two study bases: Schloss Mittersill Christian Study Center (Mittersill, Austria) and the International Baptist Theological Seminary (Prague, Czech Republic). Extensive travel through Central and Western Europe is interspersed throughout the term, providing opportunities for interaction with not only multinational corporations, but also Christians from various backgrounds and nationalities. Though geared toward business majors, this Europe Term is open to students who have completed one business course. Participants will complete the cross-cultural experience (Z) requirement of Bethel’s General Education curriculum.

Guatemala Term

Every spring Bethel University offers an academic and service program in Antigua, Guatemala. The 14-15 credit program emphasizes an integration of academic study, Christian service, and cross-cultural interaction. Students take 7-8 credits of Spanish, studying one-on-one with tutors from the Centro Linguisto Maya in Antigua. They also participate in a practicum experience, working side-by-side with Guatemalans who have expertise in education, social work, medicine, appropriate technology, and economic development. This program is especially designed for students who are interested in applying their field of study to international Christian service.

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)

A semester at HKBU exposes students to a blend of Eastern and Western cultures in the Asian metropolis of Hong Kong. HKBU consists of three campuses in the heart of Kowloon, Hong Kong, and offers programs in a variety of subjects in a modern, fully equipped, highly technological environment. Students may enroll in subjects taught in English from across the university-wide curriculum. Special courses for international students explore Chinese society and the Mandarin and Cantonese languages. Students room with local HKBU students in the International House on the university campus. Students earn semester credits that are transferable to Bethel.

Latin American Studies Program (LASP)

LASP provides an opportunity to live and learn in San Jose, Costa Rica. The semester-long program allows students to study the language, literature, culture, politics, history, economics, ecology, and religion of the region while living with a Costa Rican family. Students also participate in a service opportunity and travel for three weeks to surrounding countries. Students participate in one of four concentrations: Latin American Studies (offered both fall and spring terms); Advanced Language and Literature (limited to Spanish majors and offered both fall and spring terms); International Business and Management (offered only in fall terms); and Tropical Sciences (offered only during spring terms). Students in all tracks enroll in 16 semester hours of credit.

LCC International University (LCC)

Lithuania is undergoing intriguing transformation, emerging as a nation in its own right. LCC is a four-year educational institution with a North American style of education focused on liberal arts and leadership development. LCC is noted for having an international campus community, with students and staff from all over Eastern Europe and faculty from Europe, the United States, and Canada. The campus is located in Klaipeda, a port city on the Baltic Sea and a major Eastern European cultural center. Courses are taught in English in the core areas of theology, psychology, sociology, writing, and business. Students live in dorms with European students and have the opportunity to travel to Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and other Eastern European destinations. Students generally enroll in 15 semester hours of credit.

Middle East Studies Program (MESP)

MESP, based in Cairo, Egypt, allows students to explore and interact with the complex and strategic world of the modern Middle East. The interdisciplinary seminars give students the opportunity to explore the diverse religious, social, cultural, and political traditions of Middle Eastern people. In addition to seminars, students study the Arabic language and work as volunteers with various organizations in Cairo. Through travel to other Middle Eastern nations, students are exposed to the diversity and dynamism of the region. MESP encourages and equips students to relate to the Muslim world in an informed, constructive, and Christ-centered manner at a time of tension and change. Students enroll in 16 semester hours of credit.

Russian Studies Program (RSP)

RSP students are exposed to the depth and diversity of Russian culture during a semester spent in Russia’s three largest cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Nizhni Novgorod. In addition to three seminar courses, students receive instruction in the Russian language. RSP strives to give students as wide an experience as possible in this complex nation, beginning with time in Moscow. Students then spend 12 weeks in Nizhni Novgorod, a strategic city on the Volga River. After six weeks of language instruction, students live with a Russian family. Students also participate in a service opportunity in Nizhni Novgorod. The program concludes with a week in St. Petersburg, the Russian “window to the West.” Students generally enroll in 16 semester hours of credit.

Scholars’ Semester in Oxford (SSO)

Honors and other highly qualified students have the opportunity to study in England through

an interdisciplinary semester at Oxford University. This rigorous academic program, aimed at increasing critical thinking skills and scholarship from a Christian perspective, allows participants to choose from a wide variety of tutorial study programs in religious studies, history, English, history of science, and philosophy. In addition to two Oxford tutorials, students participate in a seminar and an integrative course through which they produce a scholarly project or term paper. Field trips provide opportunities for experiential learning in England’s rich historical setting. Students enroll in 17 semester hours of credit.

South Africa Term

Through partnership with Cornerstone Christian College, located in Cape Town, Bethel students have the opportunity to live and breathe reconciliation in this spring semester program. Students are actively involved in campus life at the school, attending chapel and interacting with the multicultural student body. Through a required course on South African history and culture, students gain a well-rounded perspective on South African society, which is complemented by a homestay with a South African family. Students enroll in courses in disciplines such as Christian studies, Biblical studies, and sociology (all taught in English). The semester culminates in a cross-cultural community development project and includes excursions to sites such as Table Mountain, Cape Point Nature Reserve, and Robben Island (site of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment). The courses within South Africa Term meet some of the requirements of the major in reconciliation studies.

Spain Term

Studying in Spain

Bethel University offers a fall semester academic program in Segovia, Spain. An hour from the capital city of Madrid, Segovia is a town rich in history, architecture, and cultural sites. This program is primarily directed toward students interested in furthering their proficiency in the Spanish language and knowledge of culture. All classes are taught in Spanish at the Center for Hispanic Studies. Students have the opportunity to interact with native Spanish speakers and university students through organized culture and language exchanges at the center. More cultural interaction takes place with Spanish host families. Though geared toward Spanish majors, Spain Term is open to students who have completed two years of college-level Spanish courses or the equivalent.

Thailand Term

Through partnership with Payap University, Bethel students have the opportunity to live and learn in Thailand in this fall semester program. Located in Chiang Mai, students are actively involved in student life at the university, living in the international student dormitory on campus, attending chapel, and interacting with the diverse student body of about 8,000. Through two required courses, Thai Language and Thai History and Culture, students gain a well-rounded perspective on Thai society. In addition, students enroll in two or three courses, in subjects such as economics, history, Bible, religion, and politics. All courses are taught in English. The semester includes a week-long trip to Bangkok, an optional three-week home stay with a Thai family, and service-learning opportunities.

Tokyo Christian University (TCU)

Students may experience the rich culture of Japan firsthand by spending a semester at TCU, a four-year Christian university that is part of Tokyo Christian Institute. Located in a residential area of Chiba Newtown, a growing suburb of East Tokyo, TCU offers academic programs in theological studies and international Christian studies. Students have the opportunity to take Japanese language courses and courses in English through the English Language International Student program. Students live in dorms alongside Japanese students and are encouraged to participate in student life activities such as clubs, study groups, concerts, and field trips. Students generally enroll in 16 semester hours of credit.

Uganda Studies Program (USP)

USP is an integrated study of culture, history, politics, and humanities that allows for a blended classroom and experiential survey of Ugandan life. The program includes an experiential course designed especially for USP students, flexible core classroom courses (choosing from religion, history, and literature), and electives from Uganda Christian University’s Honours College. Students live in the university dorms in Kampala and have the opportunity for a two-week homestay with an African family. Students also participate in ongoing service projects during the semester.

Studying in Samoa and Living with a Local Family

Other International Study Opportunities

Other study abroad programs approved by Bethel are available on a semester or interim basis. These programs can be arranged for students through the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies.

Bethel Interim Programs

Bethel faculty members often teach interim courses in international settings. These classes are offered in a variety of subject areas. Courses vary from year to year. All students must have a minimum 2.2 grade point average and complete the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies approval process. Seniors must meet residency requirements.

Outside Programs

Several study abroad programs offer January Term courses in a variety of locations and subject matter. Information is available in the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies. All students must have a minimum 2.2 grade point average and complete the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies approval process. Seniors must meet residency requirements.

Summer Programs

All students must have a minimum 2.2 grade point average and complete the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies approval process. Seniors must meet residency requirements.

Oxford Summer Programme (OSP)

The Oxford Summer Programme (OSP) is a program of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. The program is designed for students wishing to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between Christianity and the development of the West and who wish to do specialized work under expert Oxford academics in the areas of history, religious studies, political theory, philosophy, English, and the history of science. The Programme is structured for rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, graduate and seminary students, nontraditional students, teachers, and those enrolled in continuing education programs.

Studying in Ecuadorian Rainforest

OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS (United States)

Semester Programs

American Studies Program (ASP)

Founded in 1976, ASP serves as Bethel’s “Washington, D.C., campus.” Students gain hands-on experience with an internship in their chosen field and explore pressing national and international issues in public policy seminars that are issue-oriented and interdisciplinary. Internships are available in a wide range of fields. ASP bridges classroom and marketplace, combining biblical reflection, policy analysis, and real-world experience. Students are exposed to on-the-job learning that helps them prepare for their futures and gain perspective on God’s calling for their lives. They are challenged to discover for themselves the meaning of Christ’s lordship and how to put their beliefs into practice. The aim of the program is to help students prepare to live faithfully in contemporary society as followers of Christ. Students enroll in 16 semester hours of credit.

Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies

Bethel participates in the Environmental Studies extension program available at the Au Sable Institute in northern Lower Michigan. Financial assistance is available from Au Sable. Interested students should obtain information and forms from the Department of Biology.

Consortium Visitor Program

The Christian College Consortium Visitor Program is designed to give students an opportunity to take advantage of course offerings and varied experiences on other Christian college and university campuses for a semester while maintaining regular standing at Bethel. Further information on the Consortium Visitor Program may be obtained from the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies.

Contemporary Music Center (CMC)

Young musicians and aspiring music industry executives have the opportunity to learn more about a career in popular music through the CMC. Alongside faculty, artists-in-residence, and visiting music industry professionals, students are encouraged to explore the integration of their Christian faith and love of music in the marketplace. In addition to seminars and lectures, great attention is given to the creation and marketing of original music. CMC offers two tracks: the artist track, in which students create a portfolio of original songs, and the executive track, in which students work with artists in career direction and management, contract negotiations, budgeting, and creating marketing and sales plans. The CMC is located on Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass. Students enroll in 16 semester hours of credit.

Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC)

The LAFSC is designed to train students to serve in various aspects of the film industry with both professional skill and Christian integrity. Students live, learn, and work in the Los Angeles area near major studios. The curriculum consists of two required seminars focusing on the role of film in culture and the relationship of faith to work in this important industry. In addition, students choose two elective courses from a variety of offerings in film studies. Internships in various segments of the film industry provide students with hands-on experience. The combination of the internship and seminars allows students to explore the film industry within a Christian context and from a liberal arts perspective. Students enroll in 16 semester hours of credit.

New York Center for Art & Media Studies (NYCAMS)

Bethel University offers a unique art and media studies program developed for students from Bethel and other CCCU schools. Operating both fall and spring semester, NYCAMS offers participants the unique opportunity to engage in cultural dialogue with artists from all over the world in New York City, the epicenter of contemporary art. Classroom and studio space is within walking distance from some of the most prestigious galleries and museums in the world. The diverse urban community becomes a classroom as students study contemporary art history and learn from lecturers, readings, and gallery visits. On-site faculty teach visual arts, direct open studio, and teach students to engage the culture with their faith and creativity. In addition, internships with internationally renowned artists and institutions provide participants with unique opportunities to experience and engage professionally with the arts. NYCAMS is open to art majors or minors with minimum sophomore standing and GPA of 2.5.

The Oregon Extension

The Oregon Extension is a fall semester Consortium Visitor Program of intensive interdisciplinary studies for juniors and seniors in the Southern Oregon Cascade Mountains. It provides an opportunity to grapple seriously with ideas, Christian commitment, and life together in a community of five faculty and 30 students. Students enroll in 16 semester hours of credit.

Washington Journalism Center (WJC)

The Washington Journalism Center (WJC) is a semester-long study program in Washington, D.C., created for students interested in the field of journalism. While in Washington, students take classes focusing on the history and future of the media and how it relates to the public as well as on their personal writing skills. These classes—Foundations for Media Involvement, Reporting in Washington, and Washington News and Public Discourse—combined with an internship at a top news publication help students learn to integrate their faith in a journalism career. Students also participate in service learning experience opportunities as well as live with families in home stays as part of the WJC experience.

Interim Student Exchange Program

Students may arrange to take January interim courses at other 4-1-4 colleges or universities while maintaining their regular student standing at Bethel. These visiting student privileges are usually authorized by bilateral reciprocal tuition waiver agreements. Students may also enroll in other accredited colleges or universities for January courses that meet Bethel’s interim academic standards. (See the interim catalog for full details.)