Rome, Italy

This course will maximize the experience of living in Europe by developing the student’s cultural intelligence to enable them to function effectively with other cultures. Students will be introduced to survival Italian language learning to help in their daily lives in Rome. Students will also have an introduction to the cultural history of Rome by exploring the daily life of ancient Romans in relation to their language, culture, and religion. Students will be introduced to the historical and cultural context of the Roman world as it affected future developments in Western society. As they live in Rome, students will combine classroom sessions with field trips to the modern city of Rome as well as the ancient sites ofRome and Pompeii.

Required Course

This course will offer a survey of the life and theology of the Apostle Paul as described by the book of Acts, and the 13 bible books attributed to him. Besides the trinity, no other person in history has made such a large contribution to the growth of the church, the structure of the church, and the development and the systematic presentation of God’s redemptive and life-changing plan made possible by the death and resurrection of Christ and the giving of the Holy Spirit. This course will explore the person and character of Paul and the Christian experience that changed not only his life, the lives of millions who have walked with Jesus after him. Our understanding of Paul and his mission will be enriched by exploring the social, political, religious, economic, and geographical background of Paul’s life and writings. Paul will become our model to follow in service, growth, suffering, rejoicing, persevering, and knowing the all-sufficient grace of God in our lives to accomplish the purposes to which God has called us.

A study of what Christian Spiritual Formation is and how it is actually transformative in nature. The students will be studying what is involved in the process of becoming more like Christ through reading, discussion, and personal times of prayer and reflection. There will be special emphasis given to understanding the importance of one’s identity being in Christ as a basis for all Spiritual endeavor, as well as discovery of the many things that compete for finding one’s identity in them. There will be significant time spent on the problem of the hidden heart and the part sin plays in this journey.

Ethics is a branch of learning at the intersection between philosophy, theology, sociology, psychology, history, technology, etc. attempting at answering the questions related to the morality of human reasoning and actions, e.g. what is right and wrong in given situations according to the different subjects involved. The course will expound a“perspectival” approach to ethics by way of tackling it in terms of three inter-related perspectives: Normative, Situational, and Existential. Students will be introduced to ethical systems (both ancient, modern, and contemporary ones) which give priority to one or the other, often at the expense of other perspectives and therefore leading to unbalanced ethical systems. Students will have the opportunity not only to detect strengths and pitfalls of non-Christian ethical systems but also to appreciate the richness and viability of the Christian moral framework.

Learn the value of art through experience! Engage with the ancient ruins of Rome, sacred spaces of worship, the cityscape of Florence, and some of the greatest sculptures and paintings of Western civilization. This course provides an interactive approach to understanding and appreciating art. General art appreciation involves subject and style studies, specific art and architectural assignments, exercises in creative and expressive thinking, exploration of the elements and principles of design, and skill development in a biblical worldview of art analysis and critique. Learn on location with daily site-specific encounters using exercises and projects of Ancient Art through Baroque art. A short supply list of necessary art materials will be provided and will then be the responsibility of the student to obtain before the start of the course.