ASSESSMENT AND RETENTION
This course examines the roles, theories and practices of assessment and retention in American higher education. We will introduce students to factors that contribute to effective assessment and retention practices, implementation strategies and models, and various resources that provide continuing information and insight. We will also evaluate ways in which a Christian perspective may provide understanding, critique, and direction to assessment and retention conversations.

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CAPSTONE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
As a capstone course, this course is intended to provide integration, cohesion, and summary to the entire course of study. We will revisit and reflect upon the foundational hopes of the program for student learning. Likewise, students will complete a culminating project that illustrates their interests, knowledge, and proficiencies within the field of higher education.

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COLLEGE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
This course offers a comprehensive overview of American college students. More specifically, it provides a multifaceted profile of who is currently in college. The course also examines and critiques major human development theories that attempt to "explain" students′ development. In this context, the course considers the feasibility of a Christian theory of students′ development during the college years.

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COLLEGE STUDENT SUCCESS
Since national six-year college graduation rates hover at approximately 50%, it seems reasonable to inquire about the extent to which the American colleges and universities are effectively promoting student success in college. This course takes on this "problem" by examining research and literature about college student success to identify particular policies, programs, and practices that promote students′ success in American higher education.

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COUNSELING AND ADVISEMENT
This course is designed to provide a working knowledge of the theories, concepts and competencies necessary for students interested in pursuing a career in student affairs/higher education. In keeping with a scholar/practitioner focus, this course will provide theoretical underpinnings and practical tools associated with counseling, advising and mentoring college students including professional association guidance and standards, developing communities of care and a mentoring culture, emergency and crisis response, legal and ethical concerns, counseling diverse populations, counseling for life-calling, and academic advising.

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FOUNDATIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
This course is designed to introduce students to what might be called the worldviews that shape and have shaped the academy. More specifically, students will uncover and analyze underlying assumptions, perspectives, and practices that are present in American higher education historically and presently. Students will also be introduced to a biblical worldview as a framework for examining other worldviews that are currently operating in the American academy.

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FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE
course explores the major philosophic systems that have functioned as foundations for Western higher education, and investigates the interplay of theories of knowing and models of learning in the context of higher education. In either case, it pays special attention to the use of Biblical categories to analyze and to direct the discussion toward the development of normative and practical alternatives for higher education.

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HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
This course provides a general overview of the historical development of American colleges and universities, beginning with the colonial period and continuing through the current scene. The course will also explore the interplay of Christian faith with the historical development of American higher education.

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RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION
This course is intended to provide an introduction to various research design and methodology skills that are relevant to educational research. We will also examine the nature of the research process as well as the roles of researcher. Our hope is that students will become both more proficient and more accustomed to understanding, valuing, and interpreting educational research as well as designing, conducting and presenting effective research.

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RESIDENCE LIFE
This course examines the development of residence life in American higher education. It will explore theoretical issues such as residence life as education, as well as more functional issues such as staffing and supervision, program development and assessment, architectural design, and addressing relevant personal and structural problems. The course emphasizes translating theoretical understanding into practical initiatives to enhance student learning.

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SOCIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
This course examines various contexts in which American higher education currently operates. We will explore macro contexts that focus on higher education systems and include issues such as classification taxonomies, institutional diversity, accountability, governance, and society′s investment. We will also examine micro contexts that focus on colleges as organizations and include issues such as institutional missions and values, leadership, decision-making, and organizational change. Understanding larger and smaller contexts ostensibly offers significant insight into how to function more effectively in the academy.

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THE HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL
This course examines the concepts of vocation, work, and faith commitment particularly as they take shape within the context of higher education. We will discuss biblical and theological perspectives on vocation and work in an effort to assess their merit and relevance for professional and personal life. In addition, we will consider the issue of leadership and its relationship to personal and professional development.