Seeing the bigger picture: Why NGU’s curriculum is designed the way it is
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
As NGU students sit in classrooms during sunny days, notebooks open and pen in hand, their minds may begin to wonder, why does this class matter?
Whether it’s hours spent in a lab or a hand cramping from taking notes in history lectures, the struggle to find purpose in required classes can feel confusing and frustrating. In a world of higher education where homework piles up and obligations loom, understanding how every class fits into the bigger picture is important for every student.
At NGU, a curriculum committee devotes hard work, time and a lot of thought into the classes students must take. This committee works to develop and revise the curriculum, while getting input from various programs, faculty and departments.
New proposals for classes, majors or changes are presented to the committee who meets regularly. If the committee approves, the proposals go to the faculty to vote. If the faculty approves, the proposal then moves to the board of trustees for a final approval.
The curriculum is regularly reviewed and updated. When new programs or changes are proposed, faculty members look over these and determine if they should be approved. Any change or additions go through a hefty process to make sure that they align with the broader goals and visions of the university.
NGU is a liberal arts college, meaning that it requires various classes that will expose students to knowledge from every field and give them a broad, general education. Because of this, the core curriculum is designed to help students become well-rounded and exposed to important areas of study such as history, English, math and Christian studies.
But, in the moment, taking these classes is frustrating for students who have no interest in them. For the most part, students want to stick to their major-specific classes, get a degree and move on. So, why take a physical science class at 8 a.m., write essays on seemingly pointless matters or learn a language you’ll never speak outside of the classroom?
Joshua Styles, professor of criminal justice and Christian studies at NGU and a regular attendant on the curriculum chair, said that these classes are intentionally designed the way that they are. Challenging classes such as physical science and college algebra are intentionally in the curriculum to educate students and to grow their knowledge and patience. Even though taking these classes may result in frustration, students reap much benefit from acquiring this knowledge and learning to do hard things.
For students who may be confused about the specifics of class requirements, Styles explained that most universities require a total of 121 credit hours to graduate. Because of this, courses are assigned different credit hours to ensure that everything fits within that total number needed. For example, at NGU, both Engaging the Biblical Narrative and Integrating a Biblical Worldview are three-credit-hour courses. However, Interpreting the Biblical Text is only worth two credit hours. The reason for this difference is to keep the overall degree program within the 121-hour limit. If Interpreting the Biblical Text were worth three credit hours, it would push the total to 122.
Students may also have questions about foreign language requirements. While some majors require 12 credit hours in a particular language, others don’t require any language credits at all. Styles said that while certain majors are seen as more specialized for certain disciplines such as foreign language, others don’t find it as valuable for their programs.
Styles noted that even though all the details of the requirements and the necessity in taking them may be frustrating and confusing, students should remember two things.
First, someone is paying for a student to take every class. Each class period a student goes to in a day is around $80. There is knowledge and wisdom to be gained from each class, as well a large sum of money spent, so students should make every effort to view the classes as a gift from God, and an opportunity to become more educated in various aspects.
Secondly, Styles encouraged students that whether they see the immediate value in certain courses or not, every class at NGU has a Biblical worldview incorporated in it, and every class is an opportunity to engage deeply, think critically and grow in discipline.
Styles also encouraged students to see these classes as opportunities to glorify the Lord.
“If I’m a Christian, I should be doing that to the glory of God and for the good of others. It’s a way of loving my neighbor, ultimately, and loving God with my mind,” Styles said.
