College of Adult & Professional Studies
Each course meets one time each week for five or six weeks. Two groups start each year in September and February.
The associate of arts degree contains a balanced program of liberal arts education without orientation to a particular major. Requirements for the degree, 60 semester credits, including 48 credits of general education courses and 12 credits of elective courses, are listed below. The course work can usually be completed in two years of full-time study. Credits are listed in parentheses.
General Education Courses: 48 credits
BIBL230 • The Bible in Real Life (3)
Learners
will engage key portions of the Bible and explore the connections
between its story and message with challenges in their own lives. They
will trace the journey of God’s people from Abraham and Sarah through
the New Testament church, highlighting the unifying self-disclosure of
God in the various cultures and types of writing of the Old and New
Testaments.
CHMN140 • Spiritual Quest (3)
Exploration
of a Christian model of spirituality. Hermeneutical and exegetical
skills will guide learners as they examine this concept in biblical and
extra-biblical contexts. Though asked to explore spirituality from a
Christian perspective, learners will be free to decide how they wish to
define it.
COMM160 • Basic Communication Skills (3)
Examination
of the fundamentals of the communication process with an interactive
emphasis on interpersonal, groups/teams, and public speaking;
integrating these three specific components and concentrating on how
meaning is created, communicated, and transformed within the
social/social diversity and human contexts.
GENS110 • Succeeding in College (3)
Introduction
to foundational strategies and resources for effective studying,
writing, and researching; principles of a Christian liberal arts
education at Bethel; relationships between college, family, and
career; and Blackboard.
GENS130 • Successful Writing (3)
Development
of skills necessary for expressing oneself competently through writing.
Emphasis will be on the writing process (invention and organization),
revision (with peer and instructor feedback), sensitivity to audience,
and core documentation skills and responsibilities.
GENS150 • Reading and Responding to the Arts (3)
Cultivation
of reading and writing skills through an examination of literary works,
many inspired by artistic expressions found in classical, traditional,
and popular forms. Learners attend at least one live creative
performance; write short responses to weekly reading assignments; and
complete a final synthesizing essay exploring ‘What is art?’ and ‘What
role does art play in society, culture, and religious worship?’
GENS220 • Academic Research Writing (3)
Focus
is on the higher order skills needed for writing in the context of
formal, extensive research including critical thinking, logic, and the
skills associated with research writing; long document skills; and
formal citation formats. Review of general writing skills such as
planning, drafting, revising, editing, and citing material initially
covered in other courses.
GENS240 • Christianity and Civilizations (3)
Survey
of the mutual influence of the Christian church and the civilizations
that arose from the Roman Empire. Learners will consult historical
documents, literary and philosophical texts, video and audio clips, and
artistic images. Includes reflection on how the past shapes and informs
the present.
HEPE260Q (HPE260QX) • Physical Wellness for Life (3)
Focus
is on helping learners live healthier, more active lives by
understanding and practicing healthy exercise and nutritional habits.
Examination of the use/non-use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs in
healthy Christian living, as well as strategies to practice regular
physical activity and healthy eating.
ORGL120 • Personal Mission and Leadership Development (3)
Development
of an understanding of personal mission and a study of the application
of that mission to leadership roles. Emphasis is on identifying
personal talents and gifts, and developing leadership skills for
interdependent realities.
Choose one course for 3 credits from each of the following categories:
Elective Courses: 12 credits