Council for Christian Colleges and Universities’ Programs
http://www.bestsemester.com
American Studies Program
Since 1976, the American Studies Program (ASP) has served as an experiential learning laboratory for students committed to connecting their faith to public affairs. Nearly 500 or ASP’s 3,000+ alumni have returned to work in the DC metro area in a variety of professional fields—private and public, for-profit and non-profit. Each student enrolls in the program’s two practicum course: Internship and Topics in Leadership & Vocation. Students have the option of enrolling in a one-credit Professional Mentorship course. In addition, students apply to either the Global Development Enterprise track or the Public Policy Initiatives track. The Global Development track focuses on partnership initiatives taken by leaders in commercial, governmental and non-governmental organizations as they explore the impact they can achieve by collaborating on issues of sustainable development worldwide. The Public Policy track equips and supports students in their analysis of a pressing public policy issue. Each student produces original research by engaging area experts and practitioners off-site and in the classroom as they investigate the local, national, and global factors that influence policy-making in Washington, D.C. ASP students earn 15-16 semester hours of credit.
Australian Studies Center
The Australia Studies Center (ASC) is offered in partnership with Christian Heritage College (CHC), a CCCU affiliate member in Carindale, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland. The ASC is designed to integrate the firsthand observation and study of Australian culture, history, religion, politics and Indigenous cultures together with experiential service learning and formal instruction in Christian Studies, Business, Ministries, Social Sciences, or Education and Humanities. Every student is required to take “the View from Australia: Issues in Religion, Politics, Economics, & Cultural Values” and required to select either “Australian Aboriginal Cultures” or “indigenous Cultures in Australia & Aotearoa (New Zealand).” Additionally, students choose two units from CHC’s offerings in Christian Studies, Business, Ministries, Social Sciences, or Education and Humanities. Students live with Australian families and volunteer with local community service providers. Trips vary from semester to semester but may include excursions to the Australian Outback, Aboriginal Communities, and New Zealand. ASC students earn 16 semester hours of credit.
China Studies Program
The China Studies Program (CSP) enables students to engage China’s ancient history and intrigue from an insider’s perspective. While immersed in Chinese culture, students participate in seminar courses on the historical, cultural, religions, geographic and economic realities of this strategic, populous, and extremely influential nation. Students choose between completing a broad Chinese Studies Concentration or a Business Concentration, which includes an internship at a Chinese-owned and operated business in China. Students also study standard Chinese language with a goal of attaining the ability to handle everyday transactions in Mandarin. The program begins the semester in Hong Kong and introduces students to the diversity of China, including the capital city of Beijing, legendary Shanghai, ancient Xi’an and beautiful seaside Xiamen. This interdisciplinary, cross-cultural program enables students to communicate and understand the unique culture and people of China with an informed Christ-centered perspective. CSP students earn 15-18 semester hours of credit.
Contemporary Music Program
The Contemporary Music Program (CMC) provides students the opportunity to live and work in the refining context of community while seeking to understand how God will have them integrate music, faith, and business. The CMC offers three tracks: Artist, Business, and Technical. The Artist Track is tailored to students considering careers as vocalists, musicians, songwriters, recording artists, performers, and producers.. The Business Track is designed for business, arts management, marketing, communications, and related majors interested in possible careers as artist managers, agents, record company executives, music publishers, concert promoters and entertainment industry entrepreneurs. The Technical Track prepares students for careers in live sound, concert lighting, and studio recording. Students within each of the tracks receive instruction, experience, and a uniquely Christ-centered perspective on creativity and the marketplace, while working together to create and market a recording of original music. Each track includes coursework, labs, directed study, and a practicum. CMC students earn 16 semester hours of credit.
India Studies Program
“Unity in Diversity” is the hallmark of the nation of India. The India Studies Program (ISP) is structured to provide students with both immersion in a local community and broad exposure to a variety of people, places and customs in India, including an extensive two-week travel portion of the program to provide students a close up look at India’s diversity. Students will participate in two core courses designed to provide a broad overview of the historical, religious, geographical and economic landscape of India. Building on their basic understanding of India’s past and contemporary realities students will have opportunities to explore a variety of issues - poverty, social justice, rapid social change, religious pluralism – through the eyes and experience of Indian Christians. Rounding out the semester experience, students will also have the opportunity to take courses in their major areas with Indian students and professors. At its heart, the India Studies Program strives to encourage and equip students to effectively relate to India and its people in an informed, constructive and Christ centered manner. ISP students earn 16 semester hours of credit.
Latin American Studies Program
Based in San Jose, Costa Rica, the Latin American Studies Program (LASP) introduces students to a wide range of experiences through the study of the language, literature, culture, politics, history, economics, ecology, and religion of the region. Through living with local families, students become a part of the daytoday lives of Latin Americans. Students also take part in a practicum/internship and travel to nearby Central American nations. Students participate in one of four concentrations: Latin American studies (offered both fall and spring terms); advanced language and literature (designed for Spanish majors and offered both fall and spring terms); international business (offered only in fall terms); and environmental sciences (offered only during spring terms). Depending on their concentration, students travel to nearby Central American nations. LASP students earn 16-18 semester credits.
Los Angeles Film Studies Center
Founded in 1991, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC) trains students to serve in various aspects of the film industry with professional skill and Christian integrity. Each semester, students live, learn and work in L.A. The curriculum consists of two required seminars: Hollywood Production Worship, a film production course, and Faith & Artistic Development in Film, focusing on the role of film in culture and the relationship of faith to work in this very influential industry. In addition, students choose one elective course: screenwriting, acting, film production, or independent study.. Internships in various segments of the film industry provide students with handson experience. The combination of the internship and seminars allow students to explore the film industry within a Christian context and from a liberal arts perspective. LAFSC students earn 16 semester hours of credit.
Middle East Studies Program
Based in Jerusalem, Israel, the Middle East Studies Program (MESP) offers students a unique opportunity to explore and interact with the complex and strategically important world of the modern Middle East. Students explore the diverse religious, social, cultural, and political traditions of Middle Eastern peoples through interdisciplinary seminars. They also study the Arabic language and volunteer with various organizations. Through travel in the region (recently Israel, Palestinian areas, Jordan, Tunisia, and Turkey), students are exposed to the diversity and dynamism of the local region. At a time of tension and change in the Middle East, MESP encourages and equips students to relate to the Muslim, Eastern Christian, and Jewish worlds in an informed, constructive and Christcentered manner. MESP students earn 16 semester hours of credit.
Oxford Summer Programme
The Oxford Summer Programme (OSP) allows students, as affiliate members of Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford, to do intensive scholarship in the oldest university in the English speaking world. During the five-week programme, students hone their research and writing skills and delve into the areas that interest them the most while exploring the relationship between Christianity and the development of the British Isles. Seminars and tutorials are given on specialized topics under expert Oxford academics in the areas of English language and literature, history, including the history of art and history of science, philosophy, and theology and study of religion. The programme is structured for rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, graduate and seminary students, non-traditional students, teachers, and those enrolled in continuing education programs. OSP students earn six semester hours of credit.
Scholars’ Semester in Oxford
The Scholars’ Semester in Oxford (SSO) is designed for students who want to study intensively and to a high standard. Students develop their academic writing and research skills and explore the disciplines and interest of their choice. As Visiting Students of Oxford University and members of Wycliffe Hall, students study in the oldest university in the English speaking world. Scholars’ Semester in Oxford students enroll in a primary and secondary tutorial, an integrative seminar, and the British landscape course. Second term students write a thesis on a topic of their choice. Students group their work in a concentration so that all elements of their programme work together. SSO is designed for students interested in art history, classics, English language and literature, history, modern languages (French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian), musicology, philosophy, psychology, and theology, through all majors may apply. SSO also offers 18 thematic or integrative concentrations such as history and philosophy of science and social sciences. Applicants are generally honors and other very high achieving students and must have at minimum a 3.5 GPA to be considered for the programme. SSO students earn 17 semester hours of credit for a semester and may complete two semesters of the programme.
Uganda Studies Program
The Uganda Studies Program (USP) provides students with both immersion in a local community and broad exposure to a variety of people and places in Uganda. USP is offered in partnership with Uganda Christian University (UCU) an international affiliate member of the CCCU located 15 miles east of the capital city of Kampala. Students either live on campus at UCU or with host families within walking distance of the university. All students will also participate in one or two short homestay experiences. As a result, a spectrum of Ugandan relationships give USP students a firsthand perspective as they explore issues such as poverty, cultural expressions of Christianity and missions, and as they seek to reconcile the realities of East Africa with their Christian faith. Students also spend time in Rwanda and rural Uganda. The experience-based and practicum courses are taught by CCCU faculty while the African Context courses and courses from the UCU curriculum are taught by UCU faculty. In addition to the core experiential course, students will choose additional elective and/or African Context courses. USP offers a Social Work Emphasis for declared social work majors at the practicum level. USP students earn up to 16 hours of credit.
Journalism Center
The Washington Journalism Center (WJC) is a semester long study program in Washington, DC, created for students interested in the field of journalism. While in Washington students take classes focusing on their reporting and writing skills and on the history and future of news media. 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 will also participate in service learning opportunities as part of the WJC experience. WJC students earn 16 semester hours of credit.