Students at these schools would get a vastly different education as compared with a secular school, even one that contains religious clubs, theology departments, and regular worship services. Not all religious schools are the same, however. Here are some things to understand when considering a Christian college.
Consider your denomination, or non-denomination
Most denominations have a college with their name on it, such as Calvin College in MI and Eastern Mennonite University in VA. Several states have a Wesleyan college, and Baptist colleges can be found almost everywhere. Consider one of these if you want to enter or remain within the theological constructs of a particular denomination.
Most Christian colleges are affiliated with a denomination, so be sure to read the mission statement or ask the admissions officer if it is not clear. Northwest University in WA, for example, is of the Assemblies of God. Christendom College in VA is Roman Catholic. Messiah College in PA is, “…rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions….” If pure faith or ecumenism is most important to you, then consider attending a non-denominational Christian college such as Westmont College in CA or Wheaton College in IL.
Christian liberal arts colleges
A Christian liberal arts college is like any other college in that it offers a wide variety of courses and degree programs preparing you for the professional world or further academic study. What makes it different is the overall campus culture. Religious symbols are everywhere, and often times, class begins with a prayer. Along with the basic freshman prerequisites, students are required to take certain religion classes. Teachers and fellow students assume knowledge of basic Christian beliefs. Text books can be written by Christian authors who include Scripture verses with academic information. Students are permitted to raise questions of faith and morals in the classroom. Often times, students will even be asked to give a moral reflection on what they are learning.
Fellowship opportunities are plentiful on Christian campuses. In addition to clubs, students can participate in ministries. Some religious activities are even required of the student body. Gordon College in MA, for instance, has a chapel service three times a week where attendance is taken. Dorm life is tempered by strict behavioral rules that often disallow alcohol and co-ed living. Other lifestyle activities can be limited with rules about dancing, dating, dress codes, and co-ed visits. Not all Christian colleges are alike in this regard. Some are more conservative than others. Ask questions and be aware of your personal needs when making the choice.
How steeped do you want to be in religious culture? Some universities that started out Catholic – such as Fordham in NY and Notre Dame in IL – are slowly shaking their religious identity. There is a religious affiliation, but diversity in the academic and student body leads the overall culture toward modern ideals over traditional values. Schools with a strong reputation for upholding their Catholic identity include Franciscan University of Steubenville in OH and Ave Maria University in FL. Here you will find students and faculty who are committed to living their faith.
Bible Colleges and Institutes
Bible Colleges prepare you for the mission field, whether overseas or closer to home. Often times, living arrangements are structured to mimic life in remote areas, placing restrictions on what students can keep in their dorm rooms. Here, there is an even stricter code of conduct as compared with a Christian liberal arts college.
Course selections are specific to biblical study, church history, Christian living, theology and apologetics in order to equip students to live out the Great Commission. One can focus on urban studies, women’s studies, or youth ministry to learn how to reach a certain demographic. Programs outside of that – such as communications, aviation, and music as offered by Moody Bible Institute in IL for example – exist to train students for ministry using particular professional skills. Evangelization remains the focus. Most Bible colleges are Pentecostal in nature. An exception is Guadalupe Bible College in OH, which is Roman Catholic.
Seminary
None of the schools above would be considered, in and of themselves, seminaries. They may have a seminary associated with them, but the two schools would be different entities. The Catholic University of America in DC holds classes for seminarians from Theological College, Saint Josephat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary, Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary, and others. The Catholic University of America, however, is not a seminary. It is, first and foremost, a university with various degree offerings and students from different backgrounds. Some universities have a seminary attached to them, such as The University of Dubuque in IA. The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary is an accredited seminary for the Presbyterian Church.
Seminaries are not colleges in the traditional sense because their goal is to prepare people for active ministry in a church. Protestant seminaries offer Master’s degrees, and therefore require applicants to already have a Bachelor’s. Graduation often includes ordination, but not always. Sacred Heart Major Seminary in MI, for example, is one Roman Catholic seminary that offers degrees for lay people as well as those preparing for ordination. St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary in NY is another. These are more the exception rather than the rule. When Catholic and Orthodox seminaries offer programs for lay people, they also accept women. These degrees are very specific to philosophy and theology. Laity who are studying for degree programs here are not considered seminarians since they do not participate in programs for diaconal or priestly formation. Protestant seminaries, more frequently, prepare people for lay ministry as well as for ordained ministry.
In general, seminary prepares you for religious leadership. The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches will only ordain men, but women can attend seminaries and get ordained in most other denominations. Men and women can become Episcopal priests at the Virginia Theological Seminary in VA. Nazarene Theological Seminary in MO will ordain you in the Church of the Nazarene. Yale Divinity School in NH is ecumenical in the sense that it prepares ministers for ordination in various denominations. Once ordained in a particular denomination, a pastor is unlikely to be appointed in another.
When choosing a Christian college, be mindful of your calling and career goals. Each type of school sets you on a different path. If you are not sure, then a Christian liberal arts college is the best place to start because from there you can go anywhere.
Sheila Kirbos - Sheila Kirbos graduated from Gordon College with a BA in Communications, and took graduate classes in Church History at The Catholic ...
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