Bishop Cornelius and Dorothye Henderson School of Religion

Mission and Vision Statements

Mission: 

To be a diverse and inclusive educational community with a strong Christian focus and an enduring African American heritage that creates opportunities for transformational dialogue between students, scholars, and society.

Vision: 

To provide challenging, interdisciplinary, and value-centered education at both undergraduate and graduate levels consistent with the vision and mission of the University that encompasses its African-American heritage and the tradition of community service started by Mary McLeod Bethune.

Program Overview

The School of Religion stands on the foundation of the university’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values. In our teaching and learning, both in the classrooms and community service engagements, we strive to reach our highest calling to the service of humanity.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of Bethune-Cookman University as described in the Admissions and Enrollment Services  section of this catalog.

Educational Outcomes

Program Objectives:

1. To provide challenging, interdisciplinary, and value-centered education at both undergraduate and graduate levels that is consistent with the vision and mission of the University and that encompasses its African-American heritage and the tradition of community service started by Mary McLeod Bethune.

2. To be a diverse and inclusive educational community with a strong Christian focus and an enduring African-American heritage that creates opportunities for transformational dialogue between students, faculty, and community.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will apply philosophical, theological, and religious studies models of intellectual inquiry that arise from and are in dialogue with the African American experience.

2. Students will produce rigorous scholarship that advances theological and philosophical knowledge with an emphasis on social justice.

3. Students will elaborate on the ways in which the African American experience informs responses to fundamental human questions and contemporary ethical issues.

4. Students will explore leadership practices within communities of faith and society at large in light of philosophical, sociological, biblical, and historical concepts with an emphasis on theologies of liberation and ecumenicity.

5. Students will articulate ways in which various religious philosophies have affected societies historically and are influencing global events today.

Graduation Requirements

All students are encouraged to earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher for all courses required to complete their program. However, for course credit toward graduation in a major area, students must earn at least a “C” grade. Before graduation, each student must pass an exit examination covering the major subject areas of their major and complete a senior level research paper. A minor shall consist of 18 Semester Hours, and the grade “C” (2.0) or better for all classes taken toward the minor must be earned. A student must complete a minimum of six credits of coursework exclusive to the minor.