CURRICULUM
The following programs are included in CCSI Online:
Early College
Bridge Program
Peak Leadership Program (Undergraduate & Graduate)
Piper Certificate in Christian Study
University+
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
Note: students should consult their local Study Center Director for information about
available course offerings , academic calendar, and class schedules.
Christianity in American History (3)
An examination of events, ideas, peoples, and groups that have helped to shape religious life in American from the colonial era to the present, with special attention to the Protestant and Catholic traditions. For Protestantism, the conflict between modernism and fundamentalism is also featured as well as the development of evangelical Christianity in the United States. Upper division.
College Composition (3)
Training and practice in writing, including the writing process, the fundamentals of composition, the structure of argument, and editing skills. Lower division.
College Algebra (4)
A study of pre-calculus mathematics, including real numbers, inequalities, systems of equations, complex numbers, polynomial and rational functions, sequences, mathematical induction and binomial theorem. Lower division.
History of Christianity (3)
A survey of the history of the Christian church from the apostolic period to the present, with a focus on intellectual, cultural, political, theological, and institutional developments in the early church, patristic period, medieval church, Reformation, modern era and the contemporary world. Lower and upper division sections.
History of United States to 1865 (3)
A study of the early history of the United States of America from the Colonial Period until the end of the Civil War. Special emphasis is given to the political, economic, and religious history of the United States during this period of time. Among the topics to be discussed are: the nature of Colonial life, the American Revolution, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, Jeffersonian democracy, the westward expansion, religious movements, Manifest Destiny, slavery and the South, and the Civil War. Lower division.
History of United States Since 1865 (3)
A study of the history of the United States of American from the Civil War to the present. Special emphasis is given to the political, economic, and religious history of the United States during this period of time. Among the topics to be discussed are: Reconstruction, westward expansion, the Gilded Age, industrialization, WWI, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the New Deal, WWII, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Civil Rights movement, the Great Society, the Vietnam War, and the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton Presidencies. Lower division.
History of Western Civilization to the Reformation (3)
A study of Western Civilization from ancient times to 1500 A.D. Among the topics to be discussed are the following: the ancient cultures of Sumer and Egypt, the Assyrians and Babylonians, the history of ancient Israel, the Persian period, Greco-Roman culture and history, the early Christian Church, feudalism and the middle ages, the medieval Church, the Crusades, the Hundred Years War, the War of the Roses, and the Italian Renaissance and the Reformation of the 16th century. Lower division.
History of Western Civilization from the Reformation to the Present (3)
A study of Western Civilization from the Reformation of the 16th century to the present. Among the topics to be discussed are the following: the scientific revolution, the Age of Discovery, the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, nationalism and imperialism, social Darwinism, WWI and WWII, the Great Depression, socialism and communism, Hitler and the Nazis, the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Lower division.
Introduction to American Literature (3)
A study of major American authors in historical and cultural contexts. Lower division.
Introduction to Communication Studies (3)
An introduction to various dimensions of human communications and communication theory. Topics covered include models of communication, language, non-verbal communication, and interpersonal, intercultural, group, and mediated communication. Lower division.
Introduction to Critical Thinking (3)
An introduction to informal logic, belief systems, value systems, and persuasion, with a special focus on contemporary issues. Lower division.
Introduction to English Literature (3)
A study of major British authors in historical and cultural contexts. Lower division.
Introduction to Ethics (3)
First section of the course involves a study of major ethical concepts, theories, issues, and history, including the reading of significant primary sources in historical and contemporary ethics. Second section involves application of the concepts, distinctions, and theories learned to several applied ethical issues, including the reading of significant primary sources related to contemporary debates. Lower division.
Introduction to Leadership (3)
An introduction to leadership in interaction with recent research and literature. Examines the nature of leadership, styles of leadership, and functions of leadership in different organizational contexts. Lower division.
Introduction to Online Learning (1)
Prerequisite for all courses offered through CCSI Online.
Introduction to Philosophy of Religion (3)
An introduction to the philosophy of religion in which students will engage in analysis and argumentation regarding various issues including the existence of God, the relationship between faith and reason, the nature of morality, religious pluralism, and the problem of evil. Lower division.
Introduction to Political Science (3)
An introduction to forms, nature and purpose of government, and issues such as political activity, governmental authority, and the responsibility of citizens. Lower division.
Introduction to Psychology (3)
A study of human behavior. Consideration is given to methodology and concepts in the areas of learning, motivation, emotions, perception, intelligence, and personality. Lower division.
Introduction to Sociology (3)
An examination of basic sociological ideas including social relations, social interaction, social structure, and social change. Lower division.
Introduction to Worldviews (3)
An introduction to worldviews, their nature and role in human life and thought, and a survey of major religious and philosophical paradigms. Lower division.
Music Appreciation (3)
A basic survey course designed to increase the interest and understanding of music as an art form, with an emphasis on developing listening skills and the Western music tradition. Lower division.
Physics of Everyday Life, 1 (4, including 1-credit Lab)
A course for nonscientists using the physics encountered in everyday life including light bulbs, insulation, heating, balls, and scales. Lower division.
Physics of Everyday Life, 2 (3)
A continuation of Physics of Everyday Life,1, exploring the physics of electricity, radio, television, and computers. Lower division.
The Christian Tradition (3)
A study of the major theological ideas, practices and institutions of Christianity including biblical origins, historical developments and contemporary perspectives. Students are introduced to Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Lower and upper division sections.
The New Testament & Christian Origins (3)
A study of the birth of Christianity in the cultural environments of Judaism and the Greco-Roman world. The first half of the course deals with a study of the historical Jesus, emphasizing representative passages from the Synoptic Gospels and John, interacting with modern methods of Gospel criticism. The second half of the course focuses on Acts, the Epistles, and the Apocalypse, paying special attention to critical issues which arise in these areas. Lower and upper division sections
The Religion & Literature of Ancient Israel (3)
A study of the Old Testament of the Christian Bible against the historical and cultural backdrop of the Ancient Near East. Special attention is given to the literary genres, development of religious concepts and practices, and the contributions of modern biblical scholarship. Lower and upper division sections.
World Religions (3)
An introductory study of the origin, growth, beliefs, practices and worldviews of major non-Christian religious traditions, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto. Lower division.
GRADUATE COURSES
Foundations of Critical Thinking (3)
A study of informal logic, belief systems, value systems, and persuasion, with a special focus on contemporary issues and the role of reason in matters of Christian worldview.
Foundations of Leadership (3) This course examines the biblical and theological foundations for leadership in dialogue with current marketplace research. It also focuses on the development of skills and attitudes among team leaders. Students pursue a path of leadership that maximizes their own gifts and strengths.
Survey of Christian Theology (3)
A one-semester survey of Christian theology, with an examination of biblical foundations of, historical developments and contemporary perspectives.
Survey of Church History (3)
An historical overview of the Church from the apostolic period to the present, with an introduction to key figures and events in the shaping of the Christian tradition.
Survey of the New Testament (3)
A one-semester survey of the New Testament, introducing students to the content and major themes of New Testament books and introductory issues such as author, date and historical setting and contemporary issues in New Testament scholarship.
Survey of the Old Testament (3)
A one-semester survey of the Old Testament, introducing students to the content and major themes of Old Testament books and introductory issues such as author, date and historical setting and contemporary issues in Old Testament scholarship.
PEAK LEADERSHIP COACHING & ASSESSMENTS
The Peak Leadership Program features a number of assessments that can be taken online or remotely, as well as life-coaching in one-on-one and small group formats utilizing online and other digital media.
