ICS Degree Requirements
In addition to courses required for General Education and SBU Graduation, the ICS major offers three groups of courses:
1. The INTERCULTURAL STUDIES CORE (32 credit hours) emphasizes cultural understanding, personal growth, cross-cultural communication, and theological truth.
- ICS 2013 Cultural and Global Awareness
- BIB 2093 Method of Biblical Interpretation
- ICS 2911 Cross-cultural Service Project
- ICS 3033 World Christian Foundations
- PHI 4023 World Religions
- ICS 3073 Storying or ICS 4023 Indig.Com
- ICS 3043 Spiritual Prep for Service
- ICS 4121 International Platforms
- Elective from Bible or Phil. of Religion
- Christian Doctrine or Church History
- Elective from ICS, Bible, Philosophy or Theology
- ICS 3053 Survival Abroad
2. The SEMESTER ABROAD (16 credit hours) immerses the student in language, culture, cross-cultural service and research projects. The Semester Abroad is six months (June to December) and will occur in the student's senior year. Cost for this incredible experience is about $6,000 plus the regular SBU tuition (unless the student utilizes a subsidized program such as Hands On with IMB). Students must take a good laptop computer. If the ICS student is married, spouse and family must participate in this overseas experience as well.
- ICS 2118 Barefoot Language Learning places the student in a month-long homestay with a national family, where he/ she learns language and culture within these social relationships.
- ICS 2911 Cross-Cultural Service Project and ICS 4982 Apprenticeship Practicum engages the student in projects such as ESL or sports under the direction of a career cross-cultural worker.
- ICS 4082 Ethnography and Strategy will lead the student to research a people group.
- BIB 4063 Intercultural Theologizing examines how cultures interpret the Bible differently.
3. The MARKET SKILL PLATFORM (at least 15 credit hours) equips the student with a secular market skill. Having such a skill may help the student enter a restrictive country, and having such a skill will always be useful in cross-cultural service. The least-intensive Platforms (requiring as little as 15 credit hours) are: Business Management, Computer Science, Education, English as a Second Language, Health Care, Sports Management, Social Work, and a Customized Platform. However what is most recommended is that the student take a second Major or a Minor in some discipline outside Theology and Ministry (such as Art, Music, Education, Biology, Theater, Sociology, Communication, Business), which then satisfies this Market Skill requirement. A special program has been put together for a Nursing and ICS (PDF).
FACULTY
The ICS major is part of the Redford College of Theology and Ministry, which has a reputation for excellent academics and conservative theology. Dr. Rodney Reeves is the Dean. Dr. Jim Frost and Dr. Kelly Malone are the ICS faculty. ICS majors will also have courses with other Redford College faculty as well as with the University faculty. Two-week classes are also offered with experienced adjunct faculty, such as, “Islamic Studies”, “Children of the World at Risk”, and “Global Health.” Students have opportunity to build relationships outside of class with faculty through the Fall ICS Retreat and various fellowships.
MINOR IN INTERCULTURAL STUDIES (22 credits)
Students, interested in cross-cultural ministry but who major in another academic discipline, may still complete a Minor in Intercultural Studies. The Minor includes most of the ICS Core but does not include the six month Semester Abroad.
- ICS 2013 Cultural and Global Awareness
- BIB 2093 Methods of Biblical Interpretation
- ICS 2911 Cross-cultural Service Project
- ICS 3033 World Christian Foundations
- PHI 4023 World Religions
- ICS 3073 Storying and Discipling Cross-culturally
- Two electives from Bible, Theology, Philosophy or Intercultural Studies.
For enrollment or information, contact Admissions, Southwest Baptist University, 1600 University, Bolivar, MO 65613, at 1-800-526-5859, or email admitme@SBUniv.edu.