Off-campus Programs

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Off-campus Program General Information

Biola University values experiential and cross-cultural learning. We are committed to providing opportunities for our students to participate in off-campus and study abroad programs. Off-campus programs offer unique opportunities for students to make the world their classroom, going beyond the confines of the traditional classroom experience. These programs are vital to fulfilling our mission to educate students in mind and character and to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.

In most cases, students can participate in Fall and Spring semester off-campus programs at the same cost of on-campus tuition, room and board. Please refer to the Financial Information / Payment Options section of the catalog for information on individual payment plans for Fall and Spring semester off-campus programs. Participating students may continue to qualify for federal, state and Biola aid in most Fall and Spring programs. This allows students to continue to obtain the maximum aid possible while participating in an off-campus program. All students participating in Fall and Spring off-campus programs are charged a $50 non-refundable Registration Fee.

The students’ financial aid will be affected if less than 12 units apply towards their degree requirements. Under Financial Aid regulations, a minimum of 12 units must apply towards the 131 units for graduation. Units taken toward a minor, unless counted within the major degree requirements (i.e. as open electives) may not be used to qualify towards the minimum 12 unit requirement.

It is the University policy that students participating in an off-campus program may only be registered in the off-campus program units. When students are away in an off-campus program their tuition and fees are separately budgeted and sent to pay for the off-campus program and the student is not allowed to use Biola resident faculty on campus for course registration and / or credit when they are away with another faculty in an off-campus program.

Students who are interested in this type of educational experience should contact the specific Biola faculty program director or the Off-Campus Programs Coordinator in the Office of the Registrar.

All students participating in off-campus programs must complete the Off-campus Programs Registration Form (available online at www.biola.edu/offcampusprograms) in addition to the program application. The Biola faculty program directors are available to help students determine their coursework.

Coursework taken through off-campus programs does not count toward resident units at Biola for a major or minor. A minimum of 15 upper division units must be taken in residence toward the completion of a major. A minimum of 6 upper division units must be taken in residence towards the completion of a minor. Of the 30 units of Bible required, 15 units must be taken in residence.

Students earning a Bachelor of Arts degree who take foreign languages while studying abroad (in CCCU or other off-campus programs) are advised to use the units as elective credit since the student could find difficulty in finding the second and third semester instruction in the languages not offered at Biola. Students earning a Bachelor of Science degree may be able to fulfill the language requirement while abroad as only four units are required.

Initials in parentheses, next to program name, represent University transcript codes.

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), an association of 105 campuses in the U.S. and Canada, offers the following semester and Summer programs to students of its member institutions. The programs offer a unique opportunity for students to make the world their classroom. These interdisciplinary learning opportunities are available to second-semester Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.75 (with the exception of the Scholars’ Semester in Oxford, which requires a minimum GPA of 3.5). For further information regarding academic requirements, course equivalencies, application deadlines, registration and program costs see the Off-campus Programs Coordinator (in the Office of the Registrar) or the Biola faculty program directors listed below for each program. Interested students can visit Biola’s Off-campus Programs website: www.biola.edu/offcampusprograms and the CCCU website: www.bestsemester.com.

American Studies Program (ASP)

Founded in 1976, the American Studies Program has served hundreds of students as a “Washington, D.C. campus.” ASP uses Washington as a stimulating educational laboratory where collegians gain hands-on experience with an internship in their chosen field, tailored to fit the students’ talents and aspirations. Participants also explore pressing national and international issues in public policy seminars led by ASP faculty and Washington professionals. Beginning in Fall 2008, students will select between a Public Affairs or Marketplace track. Both tracks examine the same public issues and culminate in field projects assessing those issues in light of biblical principles and Christian responsibility. However, students in the Public Affairs Track will use policy concepts to evaluate contending approaches while students in the Marketplace Track will analyze the issues by assessing how business and commercial environments shape different perspectives. The aim of the program is to help CCCU schools prepare their students to live faithfully in contemporary society as followers of Christ. Students earn 16 semester hours of credit.

For additional information, contact Dr. Dave Peters (dave.peters@biola.edu) in the Department of History, Government & Social Science. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses			Recommended Credits
	Topics in Vocational Leadership		3
	Select one of the following:      Topics in National Affairs      Topics in Leadership Management		3
	Topics in International Affairs and Globalization		3
	The Internship Course		6
	The Mentorship Course (optional)		1
	Total		16 units

Australia Studies Centre (ASC)

 Since Spring 2004, the CCCU has partnered with the Wesley Institute in Sydney, Australia to offer the Australian Studies Centre. Throughout the semester, students study theology, global justice issues affecting Australia, Indigenous cultures and the arts. Every student is required to take the courses: The View from Australia: Issues in Religion, Politics, Economics & Cultural Values and Indigenous History, Culture & Identity. Additionally, students choose from electives in theology/ministry, music, drawing / graphic design, dance and / or drama. Home stays, service learning and travel around Australia are important components of the ASC. Students observe Australia’s beautiful landscape, live in the cosmopolitan melting pot of Sydney, serve the poor of Sydney’s multi-cultural ghettos, and engage the political capital Canberra and its power players. Students also come to know the traditions of Aboriginal people during an Outback excursion and spend the last week of each semester traveling to New Zealand to meet with Maori people. ASC students receive 16 semester hours of credit.

For more information, contact Loren Baker (loren.baker@ biola.edu or ext. 3607) in the Department of Art. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses			Recommended Credits
	Culture Emphasis (required): The View from Australia: Issues in Religion, Politics, Economics & Cultural Values		3
	Indigenous History, Culture & Identity		3
	Discipline Emphasis Integrative Studies Course		0-2
	Discipline Courses: Theology / Ministry; Drawing / Graphic Design; Music; Drama / Dance		6-11
	Total		16-17 units

China Studies Program (CSP)

The China Studies Program enables students to engage China’s ancient history and intrigue from an insider’s perspective. While being immersed in Chinese culture, students participate in seminar courses on the historical, cultural, religious, geographic and economic realities of this strategic and populous nation. Students choose between completing a broad Chinese Studies concentration or a Business Concentration including an internship in an international business in China. Students will also study standard Chinese language and apply their skills by serving in an orphanage or tutoring Chinese students in English. The program introduces students to the diversity of China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Xiamen. This interdisciplinary, cross-cultural program enables students to communicate and understand the unique culture and people of China with an informed, Christ-centered perspective. Students earn 16 semester hours of credit.

For more information and application materials, contact Dr. John Liang (john.liang@biola.edu) in the School of Intercultural Studies for the China Studies Concentration. Students interested in the Business Concentration should contact Dr. Steve Rundle (steve.rundle@biola.edu). Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses					Recommended Credits
Core Courses (required)
			Chinese History		3
			Intercultural Communication		3
			Contemporary Society & Public Policy		3
China Studies Concentration
			Chinese I		3
Select one of the following:
			Chinese II		3
			Eastern Philosophy & Religion		3
Select one or both of the following:
			Chinese Art		1
			Tai Chi		1
Business Concentration
			Chinese I		2
			International Business in China		3
			Business Internship		3
			Total		16-17 units

Contemporary Music Center (CMC)

The Contemporary Music Center provides students with the opportunity to live and work in the refining context of community while seeking to understand how God will have them integrate music, faith and business. The CMC offers three tracks: Artist, Executive and Technical. The Artist Track is tailored to students considering careers as vocalists, musicians, songwriters, recording artists, performers and producers. The Executive Track is designed for business, arts management, marketing, communications and related majors interested in possible careers as artist managers, agents, record company executives, music publishers, concert promoters and entertainment industry entrepreneurs. The Technical Track prepares students for careers in live sound, concert lighting and studio recording. Students within each of the tracks receive instruction, experience and a uniquely Christ-centered perspective on creativity and the marketplace, while working together to create and market a recording of original music. Each track includes coursework, labs, directed study and a practicum. Students earn 16 semester hours of credit.

For more information contact Dr. Michael Gonzales, (mike.gonzales@biola.edu) in the Cinema and Media Arts Department. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses             Recommended Credits
Core Courses (required)
	Faith, Music & Culture		3
	Inside the Music Industry		3
	Practicum		1
Artist Track
	Essentials of Songwriting		3
	Studio Recording		3
	Performance		3
Executive Track
	Artist Management		3
	Artists & Repertoire		3
	Music Marketing & Sales		3
	Technical Track
	Advanced Recording Techniques		3
	Live Sound Reinforcement		3
	Lighting		3
	Total		16 units

Latin American Studies Program (LAS) 

Based in San Jose, Costa Rica, the Latin American Studies Program introduces students to a wide range of experiences through the study of the language, literature, culture, politics, history, economics, ecology and religion of the region. Through service learning and living with local families, students become a part of the day-to-day lives of typical Latin Americans. Students also take part in a service opportunity and travel for three weeks to nearby Central American nations. Students participate in one of four concentrations: Latin American Studies (offered both fall and spring terms); Advanced Language and Literature (designed for Spanish majors and offered both fall and spring terms); International Business: Management and Marketing (offered only in fall terms); and Environmental Science (offered only during spring terms). Depending on their concentration, students travel to nearby Central American nations including Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba and Panama. Students in all concentrations earn 16-18 semester credits.

For additional information, contact Dr. Hugo Garcia (hugo.garcia@biola.edu) in the Modern Languages Department at least two semesters prior to anticipated participation. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses				Recommended Credits
Core Courses:
		Spanish Language Study		6
		Latin American History, Contemporary Issues & Perspectives		3
		Travel Practicum / Study Trip		1-3
Latin American Studies Concentration (Fall and Spring)
		Faith & Practice Seminar		3
		Service Internship		3
Advanced Language and Literature Concetntration (Fall and Spring)
Language and Literature Seminar                                                                                                  3
Service Internship                                                                                                                        3
International Business Concentration (Fall only)
		Business Seminar:		4
		Case Study Project / Internship		3
Environmental Science Concentration (Spring only)
		Science Seminar		4
		Field Research		2
		Total		16-18 units

Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAF)

Founded in 1991, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center is designed to train students to serve in various aspects of the film industry with both professional skill and Christian integrity. Each semester, students live, learn, and work in L.A. The curriculum consists of two required seminars, Hollywood Production Workshop and Theology in Hollywood, focusing on the role of film in culture and the relationship of faith to work in this very influential industry. In addition, students choose one elective course from a variety of offerings in film studies. Internships in various segments of the film industry provide students with hands-on experience. The combination of the internship and seminars allows students to explore the film industry within a Christian context and from a liberal arts perspective. Students earn 16 semester hours of credit.

For additional information contact Peggy Medberry (peggy.medberry@biola.edu) in the Cinema and Media Arts Department. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses			Recommended Credits
	Internship: Inside Hollywood		6
	Hollywood Production Workshop		3
	Theology in Hollywood		4
Electives (choose one):
	Motion Picture Production		3
	Professional Screenwriting		3
	Independent Study		3
	Total		16 units

Middle East Studies Program (MES)

Based in Cairo, Egypt, this program offers students a unique opportunity to explore and interact with the complex and strategic world of the modern Middle East. Students explore diverse religious, social, cultural and political traditions of Middle Eastern peoples through interdisciplinary seminars. Students also study the Arabic language and work as volunteers with various organizations in Cairo. Through travel in the region (typically Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Turkey), students are exposed to the diversity and dynamism of the region. At a time of tension and change in the Middle East, MESP encourages and equips students to relate to the Muslim world in an informed, constructive and Christ-centered manner. Students earn 16 semester hours of credit.

For information contact Dr. Judith Rood (judith.rood@biola.edu) in the Department of History, Government & Social Science. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses			Recommended Credits
	Introduction to Arabic Language		4
	Peoples & Cultures of the Middle East		4
	Islamic Thought & Practice		4
	Conflict & Change in the Middle East		4
	Total		16 units

Russian Studies Program (RSP)

The Russian Studies Program strives to give students a broad learning experience in the largest nation in the world. RSP students are exposed to the depth and diversity of Russian culture through encounters with the Federation’s three largest cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg and Nizhni Novgorod. Students are offered three seminar courses: History and Sociology of Religion in Russia; Russian Peoples, Culture and Literature; and Russia in Transition, and receive instruction in the Russian language, choosing either four or six semester hours of language coursework. For those choosing four hours of Russian, a seminar course, International Relations and Business in Russia, is available. The majority of the semester is spent in Nizhni Novgorod, where students complete intensive language instruction, participate in service learning and live with a Russian family. Additionally, students study in Moscow, the heart of both medieval and modern Russia, and the intriguing city of St. Petersburg, the Russian “window to the West.” Students earn 16 semester hours of credit.

For additional information contact Dr. Aaron Kleist (aaron.kleist@biola.edu) in the Department of English. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses			Recommended Credits
	Russian Language		4 or 6
	International Relations & Business (optional course)		2
	History & Sociology of Religion		3
	Russian Peoples, Culture & Literature		4
	Russia in Transition		3
	Total		16 units

Scholars’ Semester in Oxford (SSP)

The Scholar’s Semester in Oxford is designed for students interested in completing intensive scholarship. Working with academic tutors, students advance their academic writing and research skills and explore the disciplines and interests of their choice. As visiting Students of Oxford University and members of Wycliffe Hall, students have the privilege to study and learn in one of the University’s historic halls. SSO students enroll in a Primary and Secondary Tutorial, an Integrative Seminar and the course Christianity and Cultures. The SSO is designed for students interested in the fields of Classics, English & Literature, Theology & Religious Studies, Philosophy, and History. Applicants are generally honors and other very high-achieving students and must have a 3.5 GPA to be considered for the program.

For more information contact Dr. David Horner (david.horner@biola.edu) in the Biblical Studies Department. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses			Recommended Credits
	Christianity & Cultures		4
	Integrative Seminar		4
	Primary Tutorial		6
	Secondary Tutorial		3
	Total		17 units

Uganda Studies Program (USP)

Winston Churchill is credited with nicknaming Uganda the “Pearl of Africa,” and many visitors since his time have come to agree with him. The USP offers students a very personal encounter with many cultures and people of East Africa. Uganda Christian University (UCU), serves as the base of study for students in the USP. Set on the outskirts of the capital city Kampala, this rapidly growing institution brings USP students together with the UCU Honours College. Courses taught by local faculty in the British tutorial tradition will immerse students in a uniquely African education. Topics such as Christianity and Islam in Contemporary Africa, African Literature and East African History will present many insights into African life because of the guidance of faculty who live in and love Uganda and East Africa. Homestays, travel, service learning and daily interaction with Honours College students form the backbone of the USP experience. Students select between the Uganda Studies Emphasis and the Intercultural Ministry and Missions Emphasis (IMME). IMME students live in semester-long homestays and explore the role of missionaries and development workers from an in-depth perspective. Uganda Studies students explore the changing Africa from a variety of perspectives. In addition to the core experiential course, students will choose from an approved selection of courses from the UCU Honours College to earn up to 16 hours of credit.

For more information contact Dr. Evanson Wamagatta (evanson.wamagatta@biola.edu) in the Department of History, Government & Social Science. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Washington Journalism Center (WJC)

The Washington Journalism Center is a semester-long study program in Washington, D.C., created for students interested in the field of journalism. While in Washington, students take classes focusing on their personal writing skills and on the history and future of the media. These classes—Foundations for Media Involvement; Reporting in Washington; and Washington, News and Public Discourse—combined with an internship at a top news publication, help students learn to integrate their faith in a journalism career. Students also participate in service learning opportunities as part of the WJC experience. Students earn 16 semester hours of credit.

For more information, contact Dr. Michael Longinow (michael.longinow@biola.edu) in the Journalism Department. Also visit www.bestsemester.com.

Academic Courses			Recommended Credits
	Foundations for Media Involvement		4
	Reporting in Washington		3
	Washington, News & Public Discourse		3
	Internship		6
	Total		16 units

Oxford Summer Program

www.bestsemester.com

The Oxford Summer Program is a program of the CCCU and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. The program is designed for students wishing to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between Christianity and the development of the West. Students are given the opportunity to learn under expert Oxford academics in the areas of History, Religious Studies, Political Theory, Philosophy, English, and History of Science. The Program is structured for rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, graduate and seminary students, non-traditional students, teachers, and those enrolled in continuing education programs.

Biola students attend the Oxford Summer Program independent of Biola and transfer the credit upon completion of the summer program. All fees are paid directly to the CCCU. Students are required to complete substitution request forms prior to departure. For full program description and online applications, visit www.bestsemester.com.

For more information contact Dr. David Horner (david.horner@biola.edu) in the Biblical Studies Department. Also visit bestsemester.com.
 

Azusa Heidelberg Semester (APU)
www.apu.edu/heidelberg

In cooperation with Azusa Pacific University, Biola offers the opportunity to music students for a semester of study in Heidelberg, Germany, considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. In this setting students will find an inspiring, stimulating atmosphere in which to grow as a musician, with ample opportunities to learn and perform. One of the highlights of the program is the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of professional musicians as students study with members of the Heidelberg Philharmonic and other local professionals, and hear them making a contribution to the lively concert life of Heidelberg and the surrounding areas. Students also participate in trips to other cultural centers in Germany and Austria with visits to the hometowns and residences of famous composers such as Mozart, Bach, Schumann, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Wagner, Strauss, and others will bring to life what may only have been read about in textbooks.

The Heidelberg Semester is a 14-week program. Students will live and study together in the old town section of Heidelberg. The curriculum will include opportunity to study the German language, world history, music history, conducting, applied music (both privately and in ensembles), as well as the possibility of other courses through directed study. Ideally students will be in their junior year. Consideration will also be given to second semester sophomores and first semester seniors.

After experiencing the sheer beauty of the landscape surrounding Heidelberg with its old town and its cobblestone streets, churches, museums, theaters, cafes and concert halls nestled between the meandering Neckar river on one side and forested hills on the other, students will understand why so many musicians, artist, philosophers and poets have called Heidelberg home.

Interested students should obtain information and application forms from the Biola Conservatory of Music Director, Dr. George Boespflug (george.boespflug@biola.edu).

www.biola.edu/biolalondon
In cooperation with Roehampton University in London, Biola offers the opportunity for a Fall semester of study in the United Kingdom. Roehampton is composed of four colleges: Digby Stuart College, Froebel Institute College, Southlands College and Whitelands College. It is located near Wimbledon, six miles southwest of the center of London. Application, payment of tuition and room are made through Biola. The applicant must be a junior or a senior not graduating in December with a 3.0 GPA and must be approved by the department of the student’s major, the coordinator of the program and Roehampton University.

Students who are accepted live in campus housing and take three or four courses in the regular University curriculum. An additional course will be taught by an instructor designated by Biola, which fulfills the Bible integration requirement (BBST 465). Roehampton offers courses in a wide variety of academic disciplines, but students should inquire early to see if their academic needs can be met by the program. Because of the nature of British higher education, students are encouraged to take their courses in their areas of specialization.

The program gives students the opportunity to experience the British educational system firsthand, while enjoying the unique historical and cultural environment of London and the British Isles. Students receive an orientation at Roehampton before starting the term of study, and a Biola-designated faculty member will mentor the students while at Roehampton, providing counsel and guidance throughout the semester.

Students participating in the program are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of Roehampton University; in addition, they are expected to maintain Biola’s code of conduct as they would on the La Mirada campus. At the end of the semester Roehampton will forward the student’s transcript to Biola, where it will be interpreted in light of our American grading system.

For additional information, visit www.biola.edu/biolalondon, contact Biola London’s Program Director, Todd Pickett (todd.pickett@biola.edu), or email Mary Dejong (mary.dejong@biola.edu), Biola London’s Department Secretary.

creationcsp.org

CCSP is a high-caliber academic semester in Belize or New Zealand & Samoa that connects Christian faith with the most complex, urgent global issues of the coming decades. Focused on environmental studies, sustainable development, and an intentional focus on spiritual formation and Christian community, CCSP offers a robust cross-cultural and interdisciplinary integrated semester of learning and discipleship. CCSP is suitable for all majors, but especially ICS, biology, and sociology majors. CCSP is offered Spring and Fall semesters.

While studying with CCSP students interact with their local communities and discover hands-on the remarkable natural wonders of Belize or New Zealand & Samoa. Some highlights of CCSP-Belize include excursions to local Mayan ruins, snorkeling the world’s second largest barrier reef, and exploration of pristine rain forests. The home base for students attending CCSP-South Pacific is nestled on New Zealand’s beautiful south island close to the ocean, but with views of the Southern Alps. The CCSP-South Pacific semester includes an extended field trip to the remote tropical island of Samoa. Both CCSP programs involve homestays with local families and include ample opportunity for independent travel.

For information and an application, contact Dr. Murray Decker (murray.decker@biola.edu) in the School of Intercultural Studies.

www.calvin.edu/academic/off-campus

Biola students attending the Development Studies in Honduras spend a spring semester living with Honduran families and studying economic development theories in the context of poor communities in Honduras. In your host city of Tegucigalpa, you’ll learn about the factors that make Honduras the third poorest country in the western world. Then you’ll use that knowledge as a lens to look at the rest of the world. Come to Honduras and watch as development theories leap off the pages of your Calvin textbooks and come alive at garment factories, banana plantations and subsistence farms. Then, use all these experiences to better understand your role as a Christian in our world today.

For additional information, see Dr. Brad Christerson (bradley.christerson@biola.edu) in the Sociology Department.

Academic Courses			Recommended Credits
	Exploring a Third World Society		3
	The Problem of Poverty		3
	Development Theory in Practice		3
	Spanish Language Study		3
	Total		12 units

www.focusinstitute.org

The Focus on the Family Institute in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a highly competitive college opportunity that focuses on leadership training with the goal of restoring families, reviving the church and transforming society. A semester at the Institute provides personalized experience that strengthens students’ love for Christ and for families. The program offers up to 15 credit hours (or eight credits during the summer) in a supporting and exciting community living and learning environment. Regardless of academic discipline, a semester at the Institute is considered one of the best “life training experiences.”

Biola students may apply to the Focus on the Family Institute following their sophomore year.

For more information, contact the Office of the Rosemead School of Psychology.

International Student Exchange Program (ISE)

The International Student Exchange Program provides unique opportunities for Biola students to study at Christian universities in Korea and Japan. Students can study as exchange students at Handong University, Hannam University, Seoul Women’s University, and Yonsei University in Korea, or at Tokyo Christian University in Japan. Biola students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher may apply for up to two semesters of exchange study.

For additional information and an application, contact Dr. Sung Lee (sung.lee@biola.edu) Director, English Language Studies Program.

nycams.bethel.edu

At the New York Center for Art and Media Studies (NYCAMS), the city is your classroom. NYCAMS is within walking distance from some of the most prestigious galleries and museums in the world; these extraordinary cultural resources will be an integral aspect of your learning experience. In addition, internships with internationally renowned artists and institutions will provide you with unique opportunities to experience and engage professionally with the arts. As an epicenter of contemporary art, New York attracts artists from all over the world to engage in the continuing cultural dialog. NYCAMS students immerse themselves in the unique opportunities and experiences that this dynamic and diverse urban community has to offer. The program provides an academically challenging and structured environment where art students will encounter contemporary trends in the visual arts and learn how to engage the culture with their faith and creativity. NYCAMS faculty are committed to an intentional integration of faith and art while equipping students for successful careers in the arts.

For more information, contact Loren Baker (loren.baker@biola.edu) in the Department of Art.

Biola Interterm and Summer Off-Campus Programs

During interterm & summer, Biola offers several different study trips, taught by Biola Faculty, that travel both nationally & internationally. Application materials, course offerings, cost & payment deadlines are specific to each program. Each Biola interterm or summer off-campus program has individual student contracts & a refund policy that cater to the specific needs of each program. Payment is due in full prior to departure. Failure to pay 100% prior to departure will result in the immediate cancellation of the student’s registration. Financial aid is not available for Interterm or Summer off-campus programs. All students participating in an interterm or summer off-campus program are charged a $50 non-refundable Registration Fee.

Art Department Interterm (IP)

Biola Italy is an 18 day, European study-tour sponsored by the Department of Art that occurs during January Interterm. It focuses on the art, architecture and culture of the Italian Renaissance. Participants visit museums, palaces, galleries, and historical / archeological sites in Rome, Florence, Pisa, Sienna, Assisi and Venice. Enrollment is limited to 25 students. While art majors are given priority, a limited number of spaces are reserved for non-art majors. Art majors may receive lower or upper division art credit (ARTS 126 History of Western Art II or ARTS 410 Seminar in Art History). Non-art majors may fulfill the general education fine arts requirement (ARTS 100 Art Appreciation) with this course. For additional information, contact the Department of Art.

Biola Baja is a three-week interterm field trip in January to Baja California, Mexico, to study the natural history of the Baja peninsula. The program uses the Vermilion Sea Field Station in Bahia de Los Angeles on the Sea of Cortez as a base of operations. Students receive three units of either general education science credit (BIOS 120 Current Topics: Plant and Animal Studies) or upper division biology elective credit (BIOS 333 Natural History of Baja California) by studying the systematics, distribution, behavior and ecology of common plants and animals in a field setting. Emphasis is placed on desert ecology, bird and whale migrations, and natural resource management. Art courses may also be offered: ARTS 410 Seminar in Art: drawing, watercolor, photography, etc. Enrollment is limited to 20 students who must be in good health and physical condition. The trip fee covers the cost of food, camping, boat use, field station rental and transportation.

For additional information and an application see Dr. Rafe Payne (rafe.payne@biola.edu) in the Department of Biological Sciences.

 www.mcom.biola.edu/events/sundance

The leading venue for independent film, the Sundance Film Festival, is an immersive plunge into the art and commerce of the entertainment industry. During interterm, 20 Biola students and faculty will travel to the festival’s site in Park City, Utah, attend screenings, sit in on filmmaker interviews, course lectures, and participate in dialogues on film, faith and social responsibility as part of a three-unit intensive course highlighting independent filmmaking and its distribution process.

 Biola students will join others who are part of the Windrider Forum, sponsored by Priddy Brothers Productions. Windrider is a loose partnership of several faith-based institutions, including the Colorado extension of Fuller Seminary, undergraduate film students from Biola University and Taylor University, award-winning student filmmakers from Angelus Film Festival, and members of the Park City church community. Participants screen ten films during their time at Sundance.

For more information, contact the Cinema and Media Arts Department at extension 4052. 

Every two years, the Cinema & Media Arts department sends a class of Biola students to Tokyo to produce a short film in conjunction with Christians in the Arts Network (CAN). The project is a three unit interterm class that takes place during the month of January. Students spend a total of 12 days in Japan, half of which are committed to shooting a high quality project in HD. The other six days are for exploring Tokyo and tasting the Japanese culture. Students are then involved with post-production at Biola over the course of the spring semester.

The prerequisite to participating in this program is the Advanced Production class that takes place during the preceding fall semester. During this pre-production class, CMA students will learn conversational Japanese, write the script and plan for an overseas shoot. Previous participants have not only grown as filmmakers, but have been touched by the people of Japan.

The Spiritual Formation Summer Program (SFSP) takes place at Hilltop Renewal Center during the first few weeks of summer. Hilltop is a Christian retreat center located on 15 acres of forest land in Idyllwild, CA. SFSP is a very unique program in that faculty, their families, graduate interns, and a small number of undergraduate students live together at the retreat center studying the topic of spiritual formation and practicing spiritual disciplines in community. SFSP is made up of two 3 unit upper division biblical studies courses (BBST 450 and BBST 465). For further information and application materials contact Dr. Steve Porter at steve.porter@biola.edu.

Talbot Bible Lands is a 4 unit interterm course that gives students a unique perspective on the Biblical lands, integrating archaeology, geography, and history on-site. The Bible has been read and studied by innumerable people worldwide. Yet no matter how familiar we may be with the words in the Bible, being able to connect them with real places brings a new dimension to our understanding. Dr. Richard Rigsby directs the program and teaches the preparation class in the Fall. Refer to the Talbot section of the catalog for further information or visit www.talbot.edu/academics/biblelands.

Torrey Off-Campus Programs (TH)

There are additional opportunities for Torrey Honors students to participate in Interterm and Summer off-campus programs.

Refer to the Torrey section of the catalog for further information, visit www.biola.edu/academics/torrey, or email the Torrey Honors Institute at torrey.honors@biola.edu.

A continuing summer session program provides students with the opportunity for a greater degree of flexibility in planning their total program. Students may enrich their course of study and reduce the overall time spent in school or decrease their regular course load by careful selection of summer session courses. Visiting students find it refreshing to study in a different atmosphere and perhaps a different locale, and entering students find it helpful in gaining advanced standing. Work taken may be applied to both the degree and the teaching credential programs. Instruction is offered in standard courses by the Biola faculty and capable visiting professors. Certain courses or workshops may be offered in the summer that are not listed in this catalog. These may be innovative or the course may be in response to specialized needs or current topics.

Courses offered cover the areas of art, Bible, theology, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, biological science, sociology and other subjects, including education courses for teaching credential candidates. Graduate courses in education, intercultural studies, theology and psychology enable graduate students to continue their programs during the summer. Credit is also available in connection with excellent foreign tours conducted during the summer.

Tuition, room and board are lower than regular charges at private colleges; total costs are competitive with state summer school charges. See section on financial information for summer session tuition. Visiting students need to obtain a Special Student Status Application from the Office of Admission. Admission to the summer program does not presuppose or grant acceptance to the University for the regular school year. For further information, please contact the Office of Admission.

To facilitate the completion of graduation and also to allow exposure to creative learning and to enrich students’ academic programs, the University provides a three-week interterm program in January. A balanced program of general education, Bible, electives and graduate courses is offered on campus. Students may enrich their course of study and reduce the overall time spent in school or decrease their regular course load by careful selection of interterm courses. Certain courses or workshops may be offered during interterm that are not listed in this catalog. Courses may be innovative or the content may be in response to specialized needs or current topics. Opportunities to participate in travel and other non-traditional courses are also offered by various departments.

Undergraduate tuition charges are about one half of the regular tuition charge. Resident hall rooms are provided at no extra charge for on-campus fall students who occupy a room during the spring semester. All other students attending interterm are charged a prorated weekly rate. Separate prices will be available for meals during interterm. For further information, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program is available to all students of Biola University through the Department of Military Science of California State University, Fullerton. Army ROTC provides scholarships and challenging leadership training. The curriculum includes rappelling, physical fitness development, practical application of managerial techniques, and classes in military history and tactics. Army ROTC also allows students to pursue commissions in the U.S. Army.

Programs

The military science curriculum is divided into two parts. Basic Course is the first two years of lower division study during which students complete 12 units of leadership classes. Advanced Course is the last two years of upper division study consisting of 14 units of leadership classes, and a six week summer camp typically between junior and senior years. (Cadets receive an allowance for travel expenses and are paid for attending this camp.) Students who did not enroll in Army ROTC as a freshman or a sophomore can receive equivalent credit in several different ways (see Two-Year Program below).

Admission to the Advanced Course is limited to students who meet all academic and physical requirements. Students in this course receive a subsistence allowance of between $250 and $400 a month for 10 months during each of the two academic years, plus military science books and uniforms. After completion of the Advanced Course and college, students are eligible to be commissioned as second lieutenants in one of the Army’s 17 specialty areas in either the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, or active Army. Students’ desires are a major factor in determining which service option is selected.

The active duty obligation for those students selected to enter the National Guard or Army Reserve is typically four months. Students entering the Active Army serve longer periods. ROTC students desiring to obtain advanced degrees may be granted a delay in reporting to their initial assignment.

Scholarship

Scholarships are available on a national and regional basis. Two and three year scholarships are available on a competitive basis to any qualified student of Biola University who desires to compete. An Army scholarship will pay for most tuition costs, school supplies, and provide a monthly subsistence allowance of between $250 and $400. The scholarship competition is conducted from November through February during the school year prior to when the scholarship would go into effect. Scholarship winners are announced in May, and the scholarship becomes effective at the start of the following fall term.

Two Year Program

This program is designed for students who receive placement credit for two years of ROTC. Placement credit may be given for a variety of conditions. Included are: completing three years of high school ROTC; attending a special one-week Basic Course summer camp; joining the Army Reserves or National Guard; prior military service on active duty (veterans may receive VA benefits concurrently with Advance Course benefits); and by completing two years of college level Air Force or Navy ROTC.

Extra Curricular

Cadets in Army ROTC are eligible to participate in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. Included are rappelling, land navigation, parachuting and other adventure opportunities.

Further Information

Biola University students who desire more information regarding this program may write: Department of Military Science, CSUF, P.O. Box 6830, Fullerton, CA 92834; or call (714) 278-3007.

Through arrangements with Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in west Los Angeles, students may participate in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program. AFROTC offers a variety of two-, three- and four-year scholarships, many of which pay the full costs of tuition, books, and fees. Successful completion of AFROTC academic classes and leadership laboratories can lead to a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Classes consist of one hour of academics and two hours of leadership laboratory for freshmen and sophomores and three hours of academics and two hours of leadership laboratory for juniors and seniors. The academic hours earned can normally be counted as elective credit toward graduation. All AFROTC classes and laboratories are held on Friday to better accommodate students commuting from other colleges and universities. Currently, LMU does not charge for the courses and offers cross-town students free parking while attending AFROTC activities. Additionally, AFROTC cadets under scholarship and all juniors and seniors receive a monthly, tax-free stipend.

For more information, contact the Loyola Marymount University Department of Aerospace Studies (AFROTC) at (310) 338-2770, lmu.edu/acad/rotc/main.htm. Other AFROTC detachments are located at: University of Southern California, (213) 740-2670.

In cooperation with the Summer Institute of Linguistics and Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA, the University offers, through the Department of Applied Linguistics & TESOL (ALT), a high-quality linguistics program for students planning to work in cross-cultural missions. Experienced instructors from Wycliffe cooperate on teaching courses such as phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, literacy, and Bible translation. These courses are equivalent to those offered at other SIL schools and are recognized as valid for membership in Wycliffe and other similar organizations. They can also form part of a degree or minor for regular students who complete all other requirements in their departments. Some students, however, may need to take additional courses at Biola or other SIL summer programs to meet all their SIL training requirements, depending on the expected field of service and specialty. This collaboration enriches ALT’s applied linguistics program, by offering students both undergraduate and graduate training for culturally appropriate field-based work.

Interested students should contact the Department of Applied Linguistics & TESOL for additional information.