Certificate of Christian Education

EDU 301: History of Christian Education (3 units)
This course takes students on a journey through the history of Christian education, tracing its roots from biblical times to the modern era. Special emphasis is placed on the development of the Christian homeschool and private school movements, particularly from the early 1970s onward.

EDU 302: Models of Christian Education for Christian Schools (3 units)
An exploration of contemporary models of Christian education, this course critically analyzes each model’s origins, guiding principles, curricular design, and distinctive instructional methods, with a strong focus on practical applications in Christian school settings.

EDU 303: Theology of Christian Education (3 units)
In this course, students delve into the biblical foundations of Christian education. Theological concepts from Deuteronomy, Proverbs, and the New Testament will be examined, with particular attention to how these shape both the philosophy and practice of Christian education.

EDU 304: Christian Education by Age Group (3 units)
This course provides a comprehensive analysis of educational principles tailored to different age groups. Students will examine the distinctions between early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school education, learning to adapt teaching strategies accordingly.

EDU 305: Instructional Methods for Christian Education (3 units)
This course equips students with a deep understanding of instructional methods specific to Christian education. The course presents best practices for teaching in a Christian context, grounded in foundational pedagogical theories.

EDU 306: Leadership in Christian Education (3 units)
Combining biblical insights with leadership theory, this course addresses the unique challenges of leadership in Christian education. Students will develop leadership skills aligned with scriptural principles and tailored for educational settings.

EDU 401: Apologetics and Evangelism in Christian Education (3 units)
In this course, students explore the intersection of apologetics and evangelism within Christian education. The course highlights the role of education as a platform for apologetic and evangelistic engagement.

EDU 402: Spiritual Formation in Christian Education (3 units)
This course examines how Christian education can foster spiritual formation. Students will study biblical principles of spiritual growth, with an emphasis on cultivating an environment conducive to students’ spiritual development.

EDU 403: Perennial Issues in Christian Education (3 units)
Students in this course will engage with ongoing debates in Christian education, including the separation of church and state, the balance between sacred and secular educational practices, and the dynamics between Christian and public schooling.

EDU 404: Current Issues in Christian Education (3 units)
This course explores contemporary challenges and trends in Christian education. Students will examine legislative, social, and political pressures shaping today’s Christian educational landscape.

Specializations

Christian Early Childhood Education (CECE):

EDU 411: Basic Principles and Practices for CECE (3 units)
This course introduces foundational principles and practices of early childhood education in Christian schools. Students will compare age-specific developmental pedagogy from both biblical and secular perspectives.

EDU 412: Intermediate Principles and Practices for CECE (3 units)
Building on foundational concepts, this course provides a deeper exploration of early childhood education practices. Students will further investigate the differences between biblical and secular approaches to early developmental pedagogy.

EDU 413: Scope and Sequence for CECE I (3 units)
This course covers the essentials of curriculum planning for PreK in Christian education. Students will address key issues such as curricular spiraling, layering, and the complexities of managing blended classrooms.

EDU 414: Scope and Sequence for CECE II (3 units)
Focusing on curriculum design for Kindergarten instruction, this course continues the study of scope and sequence in Christian education, examining specific challenges related to curricular spiraling, layering, and blended classroom management.

EDU 415: Worldview Formation and CECE (3 units)
This course examines the principles of worldview formation at the early childhood level. Students will explore strategies for fostering a biblical worldview in young learners, with practical applications for Christian educators.

EDU 416: Character Formation and CECE (3 units)
In this course, students will study the process of character formation in early childhood. Biblical approaches to instilling moral values and traits in young children will be analyzed and applied.

Christian Elementary Education (CEE):

EDU 421: Basic Principles and Practices for CEE (3 units)
This course presents the foundational principles and practices for teaching elementary-aged students (1st–5th grade) in Christian schools. A comparative analysis of biblical and secular frameworks for developmental pedagogy is provided.

EDU 422: Intermediate Principles and Practices for CEE (3 units)
A deeper exploration of elementary education principles, this course expands on the comparison between biblical and secular approaches to developmental pedagogy.

EDU 423: Scope and Sequence for CEE I (3 units)
Students in this course will explore the fundamentals of curriculum design for 1st–3rd grade instruction. Topics include curricular spiraling, layering, and strategies for managing blended classroom environments.

EDU 424: Scope and Sequence for CEE II (3 units)
This course continues the study of curriculum planning, focusing on 4th–5th grade instruction. Students will address challenges related to curriculum design and implementation for upper elementary grades.

EDU 425: Worldview Formation and CEE (3 units)
In this course, students will examine the development of a biblical worldview for elementary students. Strategies for integrating worldview instruction into daily lessons will be explored and applied.

EDU 426: Character Formation and CEE (3 units)
This course provides an in-depth look at character development in elementary-aged students. Biblical approaches to fostering strong moral character will be studied and practiced.

Christian Middle School Education (CMSE):

EDU 431: Basic Principles and Practices for CMSE (3 units)
This course introduces the essential principles and practices for teaching middle school students (6th–8th grade) within a Christian framework. Students will compare biblical and secular approaches to pedagogy for this pivotal developmental stage.

EDU 432: Intermediate Principles and Practices for CMSE (3 units)
Building on foundational concepts, this course further examines the instructional methods specific to middle school education in Christian settings. Students will analyze developmental theories, comparing biblical and secular perspectives.

EDU 433: Scope and Sequence for CMSE I (3 units)
Focusing on curriculum planning for 6th grade instruction, this course explores the unique transitional challenges students face at this stage. Key topics include curricular spiraling, layering, and the management of blended classrooms.

EDU 434: Scope and Sequence for CMSE II (3 units)
In this course, students will delve into curriculum design for 7th and 8th grade instruction. Emphasis is placed on understanding the distinct educational needs of middle school students during these critical transitional years.

EDU 435: Worldview Formation and CMSE (3 units)
This course examines the role of worldview development in middle school education. Students will learn how to effectively guide students toward a biblical worldview, strategically addressing the challenges of this formative time.

EDU 436: Character Formation and CMSE (3 units)
Focusing on character development in middle school students, this course presents biblical approaches to instilling moral values during adolescence. Strategic methods for fostering character formation will be explored.

Christian High School Education (CHSE):

EDU 441: Basic Principles and Practices for CHSE (3 units)
This course introduces the principles and practices of high school education (9th–12th grade) in Christian settings. Students will compare and analyze age-specific pedagogy through both biblical and secular lenses.

EDU 442: Intermediate Principles and Practices for CHSE (3 units)
A continuation of foundational concepts, this course delves deeper into the methods and practices of teaching high school students in a Christian context. Key developmental theories and instructional methods will be discussed.

EDU 443: Scope and Sequence for CHSE I (3 units)
This course focuses on the design and implementation of curriculum for 9th and 10th grade instruction in Christian education. Special emphasis is placed on addressing the transitional challenges students face during their first years of high school.

EDU 444: Scope and Sequence for CHSE II (3 units)
Continuing the study of curriculum planning, this course centers on 11th and 12th grade instruction. Students will explore strategies for preparing high school students for college or other post-graduation pathways.

EDU 445: Worldview Formation and CHSE (3 units)
In this course, students will explore the process of worldview formation in high school students. The course focuses on strategies for helping adolescents maintain a biblical worldview throughout their high school years.

EDU 446: Character Formation and CHSE (3 units)
This course provides students with the tools to foster strong biblical character in high school students. The course emphasizes practical, strategic approaches to character development during the later teenage years.

Practicum

EDU 451: Christian Education Practicum I (3 units)
This practicum offers students the opportunity to apply their learning in a real-world Christian school environment. Covering days 1–90 of the practicum, students will engage in supervised teaching and administration specific to their specialization, culminating in the first part of a final portfolio.

EDU 452: Christian Education Practicum II (3 units)
The second part of the practicum spans days 91–180. Students will continue supervised teaching and administrative duties in a Christian school setting, concluding with the completion of their final portfolio.

Project

EDU 461: Christian Education Project I (3 units)
In this course, students will begin their research project by creating a comprehensive proposal related to Christian education. The course covers the fundamentals of undergraduate-level research and assessment, and students will present both written and spoken proposals for approval.

EDU 462: Christian Education Project II (3 units)
Building on the foundational work from Project I, students will conduct their research and compile the findings. The course culminates in the final presentation of the completed written and spoken project portfolio.