The Business and Political Science major is designed for students who wish to combine substantial work in the fields of business and political science with additional supporting courses in economics and mathematics.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Major in Business and Political Science (B.A.) | ||
BUS 100M | Business Calculus | 3 |
or BUS 130 | Business Problem Solving | |
BUS 106 | Introduction to Business Applications | 1 |
BUS 326 | Business Information Systems | 3 |
ECO 201 | Principles of Economics | 4 |
MAT 207M | Statistical Analysis | 3 |
POS 211 | The Political Quest | 3 |
POS 306 | Public Administration | 3 |
POS/HIS/PHI 491 | Applied Humanities Seminar | 4 |
Elective from 200 level or above economics course, excluding ECO 200 | 3 | |
Choose one of the following Field Survey in Political Science courses: | 3 | |
American Politics and Government | ||
Introduction to International Relations | ||
Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
American Political Ideologies | ||
Choose 15 credits from the following Business courses: | 15 | |
Financial Accounting | ||
Principles of Marketing | ||
Principles of Management | ||
Managerial Finance | ||
Business Law | ||
Choose any three courses in Political Science at 300 level or above not required above | 9 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Major | 54 | |
General Education | 46-47 | |
Electives | 21-22 | |
Total Credits | 122 |
Students may not declare a B.A. in Business and Political Science and a Minor in Business. Students may not declare a B.A. in Business and Political Science and a B.A. in Business Students may not declare a B.A. in Business and Political Science and a B.A. in Political Science. Students may not declare a B.A. in Business and Political Science and a Minor in Political Science. |
Courses whose number is followed by a letter fulfill a General Education requirement.
BUS 100M • Business Calculus 3 Credits
A non-trigonometric-based introduction to the concepts of the derivative and the integral with a focus on applications in business and economics.
Prerequisites: At least two years of high school algebra. Offered: Fall, Interim.
BUS 101 • Introduction to Business 3 Credits
Introduction to business and business strategy within the global economic environment. Identification of business structures, market strategies, and the concepts of leadership and management. Exploration of key business functions, typical roles, entry points, and career paths. Application of business evaluation and problem-solving within a Christian worldview.
Offered: Occasionally.
BUS 106 • Introduction to Business Applications 1 Credit
A basic understanding of business applications software. Students gain a working knowledge of word processing, presentation software, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, and Internet Research.
Offered: Fall, Interim, Spring.
BUS 130 • Business Problem Solving 3 Credits
A foundation for understanding and solving business and economic problems. Introduction to business and economic concepts, terminology, and problems along with the mathematical skills needed to solve problems. Emphasis on understanding problems, solutions, and decision making, as well as developing critical-thinking skills needed for success in business and economics.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 200 • Individual Tax Preparation 3 Credits
A practical study of taxation through the eyes of the poor, elderly, and recent immigrants. Students gain an understanding of an urban community and barriers that keep residents from filing tax returns. Tax return preparation for the poor, elderly, and recent immigrants is studied.
Prerequisites: BUS 210. Offered: Interim.
BUS 202Z • Introduction to International Business 3 Credits
An introduction to international business involving off-campus study to expose students to critical concepts and the day-to-day practice of global business. Students interact with a culture through a series of activities. The countries under study vary from year to year.
Offered: Interim.
BUS 210 • Financial Accounting 4 Credits
Basic financial accounting concepts and their application to the recording and reporting of business events.
Prerequisites: BUS 100M, BUS 130, or MAT 124M. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 212 • Personal Finance 3 Credits
Management and planning of personal and family finances. Emphasis given to budgeting, investments, individual income tax, and insurance.
Offered: Interim.
BUS 213 • Personal Financial Literacy 3 Credits
Explores fundamental personal financial management topics. Enables learners to make values-based financial decisions. Uses a variety of tools to evaluate risk and make choices regarding debt management, savings, budgeting, investing, and long-range personal financial planning.
Offered: Occasionally.
BUS 220 • Principles of Marketing 4 Credits
Role of marketing in society and the economy. The business firm as a marketing system. Management of the firm’s marketing effort.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or prior approval of course instructor. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 230 • Principles of Management 4 Credits
Fundamentals of managerial activities: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling organizational activity.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 231 • Human Resource Management 3 Credits
Role of human resource management within organizations. Overview of human resource planning, job analysis, staffing and selection, training, development, compensation and benefits, and employee relations. Understanding how employment and discrimination law affects the workplace.
Prerequisites: BUS 230 or (COM 248 If a non-Business department student). Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 232 • Innovation and Entrepreneurship 3 Credits
Practical problems associated with starting and operating a small business, including feasibility analysis, innovation, entrepreneurship, legal and financial aspects, accounting, marketing, and personnel management.
Prerequisites: BUS 220 and BUS 230. Offered: Spring.
BUS 306 • Public Administration 3 Credits
How public policy is put into effect through the administrative agencies of government, the management problems of such agencies, and their relations with the public.
Prerequisites: POS 100 recommended. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in political science.
BUS 309 • Brand Management 3 Credits
Theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for successful management of brands and the creation of strategies that build and preserve brand equity. Introduces qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluating brand equity, brand strategy at different stages of the product life cycle, developing brand positioning, managing total brand experience and brand relevancy.
Prerequisites: BUS 220. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 310 • Intermediate Accounting I 4 Credits
Theories of accounting, accounting practice related to current asset measurement, and reporting. Analysis and evaluation of the measurement and reporting on noncurrent assets and current liabilities.
Prerequisites: BUS 210. Offered: Fall.
BUS 311 • Intermediate Accounting II 4 Credits
Current and alternative accounting theories relating to long-term liabilities, stockholders’ equity, special income determination problems, and other accounting topics of current interest.
Prerequisites: BUS 310. Offered: Spring.
BUS 312 • Federal Income Taxes 3 Credits
Current federal income tax law as it pertains to individuals, corporations, and partnerships. Includes the concept of taxable income and covers tax planning and tax determination within the provisions of the law.
Prerequisites: BUS 200. Offered: Spring.
BUS 313 • Strategic Managerial Accounting 3 Credits
Compilation and utilization of internal accounting information for managerial decision making.
Prerequisites: BUS 210. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 315 • Sales and Sales Management 3 Credits
Emphasizes the concepts and practices of selling and sales management. Provides a guide for preparing sales presentations, one-on-one selling techniques, persuasive communication, oral and verbal presentation skills useful for one-to-one presentations, and the unique concepts of managing a sales team.
Prerequisites: BUS 220. Offered: Fall.
BUS 317 • Business Analytics 4 Credits
Applies descriptive and predictive analytics of data and facts to decision-making in business. Covers techniques of advanced data visualization, use of excel in analytics, hypothesis testing, and machine learning methods like multiple regression analysis, classification methods and cluster analysis. Uses a variety of business analytics software.
Prerequisites: Junior standing; MAT 207M or MAT 330. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 318G • Global Marketing 3 Credits
Study of marketing concepts and decision-making processes relative to individuals and firms engaged in the global marketplace. An examination of key strategies of global marketing and mission-critical variables including cultural distinctives, role of language and values, politics and laws, pricing norms, product values, and promotional environment.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course] and BUS 220. One business course recommended. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 319 • Advertising and Promotion 3 Credits
Principles and techniques of advertising, sales promotion, and public relations. Considers customer motivation, ad copy, physical layout of ads and promotional pieces, media selection, advertising budgets, and coordination of advertising and sales promotion campaigns.
Prerequisites: BUS 220. Offered: Spring.
BUS 321 • Marketing Research 3 Credits
Marketing research methods, including design, sampling, data collection, and report writing. A research design project is an integral part of the course.
Prerequisites: BUS 220 and MAT 207M. Offered: Fall, Interim.
BUS 324 • Consumer Behavior 3 Credits
A systematic examination of the behavioral, economic, cultural, and systemic factors that influence the behavior of the consumer. Students read relevant research in consumer behavior and design and complete a series of projects exploring the major course topics.
Prerequisites: BUS 220. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 325 • Business Analysis 3 Credits
An understanding of business analysis principles, practices, tools, and techniques. Real-world applications involving the use of Enterprise Business Applications and an Agile project management approach.
Prerequisites: BUS 106 or successful completion of the Business Application Competency Assessment; BUS 230. Offered: Fall.
BUS 326 • Business Information Systems 3 Credits
Business information systems and their role in today's organizations. Explores computing hardware, security, networking, databases, enterprise application software, business analysis, project management, and other technology necessary for effective organizations. Strengthens proficiency in business applications.
Prerequisites: BUS 106 or successful completion of the Business Application Competency Assessment. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 327 • Marketing and Management in Spain 3 Credits
Theoretical and practical concepts of marketing and management in the semi-globalized world. Understand the significant challenges globalization presents to management and marketing, specifically in the context of Spain. Business terminology and reality in a Spanish business environment.
Prerequisites: SPA 202UZ. Offered: Spain Term, Fall. Special Notes: Carries cross listing in languages and cultures. This class is taught and assignments are completed in Spanish.
BUS 329 • Student Managed Investment Fund 1 Credit
Students develop investment-related skills, including but not limited to wealth management, relationship management, marketing, operations, performance reporting, quantitative analysis, and economic analysis. These skills are applied as part of the student-managed investment fund, the Royals Investment Fund, LLC (the Fund).
Prerequisites: BUS 210; BUS 344 (May be taken concurrently), and selection by the faculty advisor through an application and interview process; Additional prerequisite for Chief Investment Officer and Fund Managers: BUS 390. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 330 • Compensation Theory and Practice 3 Credits
Compensation and reward practices in organizations’ wage and salary administration. Theories of design and implementation of pay programs using job evaluation, salary surveys, job and skill-based pay, incentive pay, and other compensation systems.
Prerequisites: BUS 231; BUS 344 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall.
BUS 331 • Staffing, Training and Development 3 Credits
Theories and strategies for maximizing the potential of an organization's workforce. Explores methods for recruiting and selecting employees, orienting them to an organization, using training to properly equip them for their positions, and facilitating career development. Hands-on approach to designing and analyzing surveys, selection tests, and needs assessments.
Prerequisites: BUS 231. Offered: Fall.
BUS 333 • Entrepreneurship Strategies and Tools 3 Credits
Strategic and tactical tools associated with starting and operating a small or entrepreneurial business. Students develop an understanding of how to move from the development of a business plan to actually financing and running a small business.
Prerequisites: BUS 210; BUS 232; ECO 201. Offered: Fall.
BUS 334 • Principles of Project Management 3 Credits
Theory and practice of effective project management, including project planning, risk analysis, execution/implementation, and control. Explores project management styles, critical success factors, organizational support systems, project authority and politics, and ethics in project execution. Uses project management software to develop and track project plans for case studies and project simulations.
Prerequisites: BUS 230, COM 248, or COS 216. Offered: Spring.
BUS 335 • Organization Development 3 Credits
Factors that influence the effectiveness of organizations. Explores methods for diagnosing organizational health and designing interventions for the individual (motivation; diversity, equity and inclusion; work-related attitudes), group (teamwork, conflict, cooperation, collaboration), and organizational (culture, change, leadership) levels in order to implement planned organizational change.
Prerequisites: BUS 230. Offered: Spring.
BUS 344 • Managerial Finance 4 Credits
Principles of financial management, including financial analysis, capital structures, working capital management, and investment decisions.
Prerequisites: BUS 210. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 352 • Financial Modeling & Valuation 3 Credits
Builds on principles of finance through the use of case studies and Excel modeling to identify, quantify, and manage business risks. Includes developing and utilizing intermediate-level financial analysis skills, critical-thinking objectives, and demonstration of an ability to synthesize material into a defined model of financial valuation.
Prerequisites: BUS 344. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 357 • Principles of Digital Marketing 3 Credits
Study of digital marketing strategy, content development, and media channels to help students leverage digital techniques and understand how they integrate with the marketing plan as a whole. Students will design and analyze digital campaigns within a team environment. Best practices are leveraged as the digital marketplace evolves. Hands on work emphasized.
Prerequisites: BUS 220. Offered: Interim. Special Notes: This course carries cross credit in communication studies.
BUS 361 • Business Law 3 Credits
An introduction to the legal aspects and general structure of business dealings. Topics include an overview of the American legal system, general contract law, pertinent parts of the Uniform Commercial Code, and various forms of business organizations. Some aspects of employment and real estate law are also covered.
Prerequisites: BUS 230 and one other 200-level business course. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 390 • Investments 4 Credits
Characteristics and interrelationships of investments, the operation and regulation of the markets, analysis of risk and return, valuation of speculative assets, portfolio planning, and timing and trading strategies.
Prerequisites: BUS 344. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 410 • Advanced Accounting 3 Credits
Principles and problems relating to partnerships, international accounting, consolidated financial statements, corporate mergers, and governmental accounting.
Prerequisites: BUS 311 and all business core courses except BUS 481. Offered: Fall.
BUS 414 • Auditing Principles and Procedures 4 Credits
Auditing objectives, standards, and procedures employed in the examination of business enterprises and verification of their financial statements. Includes an evaluation of internal control, preparation of work papers, report writing, professional ethics, and current trends.
Prerequisites: BUS 311 and All business core courses except BUS 481 and Senior standing. Offered: Spring.
BUS 416 • Business Forecasting and Data Mining 3 Credits
Teach students business time-series forecasting, database management and querying, and some tools for data mining in business analytics. Specific application will include forecasting sales and revenue, economic trends, clustering data and classifying outcomes. Case studies, real world data, and relevant software will be used.
Prerequisites: BUS 317; BUS 100M or MAT 124M; COS 100 and Senior standing. Offered: Spring.
BUS 417 • Business Analysis and Analytics Seminar 3 Credits
Capstone course in Business Analysis and Analytics emphasis. Integration of theories and practices learned in other courses through casework and practical exercises focused on equipping students to enter the business analysis, business analytics and business consulting market. Examines ethical questions that influence decision making.
Prerequisites: BUS 317; BUS 334; all business core courses except BUS 481. Offered: Spring.
BUS 420 • Marketing Seminar 3 Credits
Capstone course in the marketing emphasis. Main course elements include case study analysis where students integrate prior course knowledge with relevant brand examples. Students utilize critical and ethical analysis of marketing practices and develop marketing strategies and plans with a real client.
Prerequisites: Four of the following: BUS 309, BUS 315, BUS 318G, BUS 319, BUS 321, BUS 324, or BUS 357; all business core courses except BUS 481; Senior standing. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 430 • Strategic Management 3 Credits
Strategy and policy formulation and implementation from the general manager’s perspective. Includes written and oral analyses of comprehensive cases involving multifunctional applications.
Prerequisites: All business core courses except BUS 481. Offered: Spring.
BUS 440 • Capital Markets 3 Credits
Comprehensive overview of the capital markets with an emphasis on major financial institutions and international financial centers. Evaluation of managing risk within the context of the capital markets in both a domestic and a global economy.
Prerequisites: All business core courses except BUS 481; BUS 390 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 470 • Finance Seminar 3 Credits
Capstone course in the Finance emphasis. Systematic examination of financial, economic, cultural, ethical, and systemic factors that influence financial decision making. Through a case study approach, students integrate the theories and practices learned in other finance courses. Use of Excel to complete detailed analysis.
Prerequisites: All business core courses (except BUS 481) and BUS 390 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall, Spring.
BUS 475 • Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seminar 3 Credits
Development of an individualized and intensive personal business plan as major course project. Plan is submitted to a panel of entrepreneurs to evaluate as part of a competition. Seniors are evaluated on their written plan, their presentation, and the overall viability of the proposed new venture. Includes ethical discussions, entrepreneurial guest speakers, and case analyses of entrepreneurial ventures.
Prerequisites: All business core courses (except BUS 481) and BUS 333. Offered: Spring.
BUS 481 • Internship in Business 3 Credits
A learning/practicing experience to apply understanding and skills in an off-campus professional setting. Includes participation in an online course with weekly assignments.
Prerequisites: Major or minor within the Business department; Completion of 20 credits of BUS/ECO courses; Consent of department. Grade exceptions: Graded on an S/U basis. May not be transferred into Bethel. Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
BUS 493 • Seminar - Human Resource Management 3 Credits
Capstone course in the Human Resource Management emphasis. Integration of theories and practices learned in other courses through casework and practical exercises focused on equipping students to enter the HR labor market. Examines ethical questions that influence HR decision making.
Prerequisites: All business core courses (except BUS 481) and Senior standing in the HR emphasis. Offered: Spring.
POS 100 • American Politics and Government 3 Credits
Structure and workings of major parts of the United States national government, such as the Constitution, the presidency, Congress, the courts, the electoral process, and others. How these institutions help Americans deal with significant current issues.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
POS 202U • Introduction to International Relations 3 Credits
How governments interact to further their different political, military, and economic interests; basic factors affecting international cooperation and conflict; topics such as summit meetings, terrorism, arms control, and food and energy resources distribution; one or more international crisis simulation exercises.
Prerequisites: Second-semester freshman standing or higher; GES 130 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall, Spring.
POS 205 • Introduction to Comparative Politics 3 Credits
An introduction to the subfield of Comparative Politics with special emphasis on the nature, history, and development of political regimes. Systems to be covered include Western democracies, communist and post-communist states, military dictatorships, and politically developing states.
Offered: Fall.
POS 211 • The Political Quest 3 Credits
Major problems of politics and international relations, such as the proper goals of political life, the nature of justice, and the role of the state. Methods of inquiry. Development of the student’s personal political stance and its relation to his or her maturing faith.
Prerequisites: One political science course. Offered: Fall, odd # years, Spring.
POS 216L • American Constitutional History 3 Credits
Examination of the origins and development of American constitutional ideas and institutions from the colonial period to the present. Particular attention paid to the historical connections between major constitutional cases and broader social, political, economic, and cultural trends.
Prerequisites: GES 130; GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Interim or Spring. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in history.
POS 221L • American Political Ideologies 3 Credits
Major modern American ideologies. Anarchism, conservatism, democratic liberalism, fascism, gender and ethnic, liberation theology, and socialism politics. Christian interfaces with various political theories.
Prerequisites: GES 130; GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Spring.
POS 230L • Politics and Religion in the United States 3 Credits
Examines the historical and contemporary relationship between religion and politics in the United States. Divisions and political affiliations of various religious communities are considered alongside discussion of secularism, pluralism, and civil religion in America.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160] or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Occasionally. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in religious studies.
POS 241L • Revolution and Political Development 3 Credits
Theory and process of modernization, with special emphasis on the Anglo-American historical experience; examinations of U.S. efforts to promote democracy internationally in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East since World War II.
Prerequisites: GES 130; GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Interim. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in history.
POS 250 • Political Science Practicum 1 Credit
In consultation with the Political Science department, students select an off campus program of academic study. Students create a presentation to share their experiences in a colloquium with other international relations, political science, and business and political science majors. Integrates off campus experiences with curricular learning experiences.
Prerequisites: One POS course; Consent of the Political Science department; Major in international relations, business and political sciences, or political science, or minor in political science. Special Notes: Graded on an S/U basis. Offered: Fall, Spring.
POS 252L • History and Politics of Sports 3 Credits
The history of sports in the modern era, with particular attention paid to sports' connections to international politics and public policy and to sports as a mirror for the history of race, gender, education, business, labor, and religion in the United States.
Prerequisites: GES 130 and GES 160 or GES 244. Offered: Spring, even # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
POS 304 • Political Parties 3 Credits
Examines the role of political parties and elections in democratic political systems, focusing on the electoral process, political parties, and citizen participation. Uses the American case as the first large-scale democratic system to examine a number of other electoral systems from the developed and developing worlds.
Prerequisites: Sophomores with consent of instructor. Offered: Occasionally. Special Notes: POS 100 is a recommended prerequisite.
POS 305G • The Cold War 3 Credits
The Cold War as an event in international history, studied from the perspective of the United States, the Soviet Union, China, Europe, and the Third World. Introduces students to ongoing historical debates and to the sources historians use in those debates (including declassified documents available online).
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course]. Offered: Fall, even # years. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in history.
POS 306 • Public Administration 3 Credits
How public policy is put into effect through the administrative agencies of government and the problems in management of such agencies and their relations with the public.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in business. POS 100 is a recommended prerequisite.
POS 310 • American Foreign Relations 3 Credits
Development of United States foreign policy since the Nixon administration, with particular attention paid to contemporary issues, long-range historical trends, and the ways in which foreign policy is formulated and carried out.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing with consent of instructor. Offered: Fall, even # years. Special Notes: POS 100 and POS 202U are recommended prerequisites.
POS 313G • Globalization and International Institutions 3 Credits
Examination of the processes, institutions, relationships, and dynamic trends in the international system. Attention is given to the creation or maintenance of international economic systems and international organizations as they address emerging or enduring problems of world politics. Key international institutions.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course]. Offered: Spring, even # years. Special Notes: POS 202U is a recommended prerequisite.
POS 315 • The Politics of Terrorism and Counterterrorism 3 Credits
Analyzes terror and terrorism both historically and contemporaneously through study of the political psychology of terrorists and terrorist groups, the tactics of terror, and the complex relationship between terror and states. Special attention paid to the motivations for terror and the effect of religion on terrorism as a political strategy.
Prerequisites: POS 202U. Offered: Spring, odd # years.
POS 317 • Political Psychology 3 Credits
Political psychology is concerned with the causes, dynamics, and consequences of human thinking and action in the context of politics. This field survey covers the psychology of decision making, political attitude formation, public opinion, personality and emotions, intergroup relations, ideology, and the role of mass media in politics.
Prerequisites: One political science course. Offered: Fall, odd # years. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in psychology.
POS 321 • Contemporary Democracies 3 Credits
The meaning of democracy in theory and practice throughout history and in the modern political systems of Great Britain, Japan, and Mexico. Independent research in other democratic systems.
Offered: Spring, odd # years. Special Notes: POS 100 or POS 211 are recommended prerequisites.
POS 324G • Human Rights in International History 3 Credits
International and comparative exploration of how human rights have been defined, violated, and protected. Historical topics (e.g., abolition of the slave trade, social reform and Christian missions, genocides of the 20th century) as well as contemporary issues. Includes a service-learning project.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course]. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in history. Offered: Fall, odd # years.
POS 325 • Political Communication 3 Credits
Analysis of the theoretical background behind political communication from a public speaking and media perspective. Attention to decision-making skills required in political campaigns. Discussion of advanced persuasive campaign theory.
Prerequisites: COM 110, POS 100, or Consent of instructor. Offered: Occasionally interim. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in communication studies.
POS 329 • African Politics 3 Credits
Consideration of political development in Africa from the pre-colonial era through the present, focusing on changes in political regimes through time, the nature of economic struggles, and sources of violent conflict.
Offered: Spring, even # years. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in history, POS 202U and POS 205 are recommended prerequisites.
POS 340 • American Political Institutions 3 Credits
Examination of the U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and presidency, with attention to the effects of institutions on the democratic and policy processes. Consideration of political science research on political institutions and contemporary issues facing them.
Prerequisites: POS 100 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Spring, odd # years.
POS 342 • American Public Policy 3 Credits
Examination of public policy-the result of government action-through consideration of the policy process, policy design, and current status of American public policy. Special attention devoted to social policy with student investigation and research in public policy.
Prerequisites: POS 100 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Spring, even # years.
POS 345 • Modern Political Thought 3 Credits
In-depth examination of selected political thinkers such as Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Nietzsche, Kuyper, Rawls, and Taylor. Concentrates on primary sources.
Prerequisites: One course in political science, philosophy, Western history, or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall, even # years. Special Notes: Carries cross credit in history and philosophy.
POS 356 • Modern Middle East 4 Credits
Political, social, religious, economic, and cultural history of the Middle East since 1800. Particular attention is paid to colonialism, globalization, war, gender roles, revolution, and reform. Controversies such as the Arab/Israeli conflict, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, and the U.S. war on terror are discussed.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in history.
POS 360 • Classical Political Thought 3 Credits
In-depth examination of selected political thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, and Hobbes. Concentrates on primary sources.
Prerequisites: One course in political science, philosophy, or history. Offered: Fall, odd # years. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in philosophy and history.
POS 410 • Topics in Political Science 3 Credits
Intensive study of a specialized topic in political science. The topic to be studied and the subfield of the course are announced prior to the relevant registration period.
Prerequisites: Junior standing and Two courses in political science. Repeatable course: Students may repeat the course for credit provided a different topic is covered. Offered: Occasionally.
POS 481 • Internship in Political Science 1-4 Credits
An off-campus working experience in a government agency or political organization under appropriate supervision. Placement is individually arranged with the Political Science department.
Prerequisites: Consent of department chairperson. Offered: Fall, Spring.
POS 491 • Applied Humanities Seminar 4 Credits
An interdisciplinary, experiential capstone course in which students draw on their studies in history, philosophy, political science, or the digital humanities in order to study a major challenge in contemporary society, analyzing causes, effects, and exisiting responses, and then work together to propose new responses to it.
Prerequisites: Senior standing and Major in one of the following programs: history, philosophy, political science, digital humanities, international relations, business political science, or social studies education 5-12. Offered: Fall, Spring.
Overview
The Ministry Scholars program is Bethel University's bachelors to master's degree program that reduces cost and time-to-completion by streamlining undergraduate and graduate education. Graduates receive a bachelor's degree from Bethel University's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and a master's from Bethel Seminary. This program is well suited for a variety of majors who want to become equipped to lead churches, parachurch organizations, and other ministries. It is also a good fit for ministry-minded students who want to pursue bi-vocational ministry or work outside of professional ministry. Students learn from successful ministry leaders and experts in Biblical and Theological Studies, Spiritual and Personal Formation, and Transformational Leadership. This program offers supplemental training resources, developmental activities, and discipleship opportunities to prepare ministry-minded students for effective ministry leadership. Students also gain valuable field experience in local churches and ministry settings.
The objectives of the program are that graduates will demonstrate age-appropriate growth and ultimately ministry leadership preparedness in the following domains:
- Spiritual life: Students will grow spiritually, deepening their love for, commitment to, and dependence on God, and develop an instinct to trust in God and to connect intimately with God.
- Discernment of call: They will clarify and reaffirm their sense of calling to vocational ministry and what that looks like in a changing world.
- Emotional maturity: They will become emotionally mature adults, possessing the ability to sense and manage emotions, to see others’ perspectives, to sympathize and empathize, to follow and lead as appropriate and to foster healthy relationships.
- Cultural competence: They will become culturally aware, gaining a perspective that all cultures possess strengths and vulnerabilities, an ability to work across cultural lines and an appreciation that diverse teams are stronger teams.
- Bible knowledge: They will gain a clear understanding of the Bible’s content and a deep and abiding passion for the truth of the Gospel.
- Spiritual wisdom: They will grow in wisdom, possessing a capacity to apply the Bible so that others are inspired by their teaching and preaching to live out biblical truth and experience human flourishing.
- Intellectual virtues: They will develop virtues such as critical thinking, respect for data, intellectual humility, and thirst for learning, combined with the skill to interpret and teach the Bible accurately.
- Leadership capacity: They will learn to follow leaders and to lead followers—enlisting people, building teams, leading change and achieving results.
- Godly character: They will become virtuous people—individuals who love others, speak truth, live humbly, sacrifice their own interests, live justly, express joy and show compassion.
What is Bethel looking for in a Ministry Scholar?
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Ability to maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA (cumulative college grade point average or unweighted high school GPA if the student has less than one year of college experience) throughout the duration of the Ministry Scholars program while enrolled at CAS and Seminary.
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Ability to provide a pastoral and ministry leader reference that speaks to the student’s character and call to ministry.
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Commitment to prioritizing activities, discipleship opportunities, and retreats offered to Ministry Scholars, designed to enable the individual to develop a strong sense of community.