The Department of Religion at Grove City College serves the overall mission of the College in two different yet complementary ways. First, the Department faculty offer instruction that can lead to the fulfillment of requirements for one major and one auxiliary program: the Christian Thought major and the Christian Ministries Auxiliary. The department also provides instruction in the Biblical languages, Hebrew, and Greek.

Second, the Department members offer instruction for the fulfillment of the College’s General Education requirement by teaching three of the six Humanities Core courses and the Studies in Science, Faith and Technology that help fulfill the general education components. This responsibility is taken very seriously because we believe that all students at Grove City are better equipped for life through careful and thoughtful introduction to the essential ideas of western civilization integrated with a Christian faith perspective. We seek to do this, moreover, by encouraging critical and analytical thinking that assesses Biblical, theological, and ministry issues and concerns in a fair and balanced way that invites interaction with and sensitivity to other differing perspectives.

 

CURRICULA

Christian Thought
This major explores issues in Biblical, theological, and historical studies, both in order to be grounded in the texts, issues, and concerns of the Christian Church throughout the centuries, and in order to deal competently with the questions posed both by Christians and non-Christians about the Christian faith in this new century. For those students who wish to attend seminary after college, the Christian Thought program will prepare them well. No matter what their major, Pre-Theological students are advised to include a number of liberal arts courses in their work, including English, history, philosophy, religion, psychology, sociology, political science, Greek, and a modern foreign language.

The Christian Ministries Auxiliary
The Auxiliary program can be taken in conjunction with any other major the College offers. It avails students the theoretical and practical instruction that will help equip them for the vocational opportunities present in both lay and pastoral contexts. For those looking toward seminary and/or graduate school in Religion (and even for those who simply wish to know them), the Department also offers instruction in the Biblical languages, Hebrew and Greek. We also encourage non-majors to take Departmental offerings as electives that will help them mature in a holistic way.