2008-10 ACADEMIC CATALOG Contents General Information 3 Admissions 11 Financial Registration 16 Financial Aid 19 Student Development 28 Academic Information 36 Curriculum 56 Academic Programs 63 Supporting Programs 151 Minors 162 Course Descriptions 171 Administration & Faculty 227 Index 236 Appendix A 240 Appendix B 241 Your life. Our Mission. General Information Mission Statement Vision Statement The Heritage The Means The Early Days of North Central North Central Expands North Central Organizational Structure G. Raymond Carlson Institute for Church Leadership Carlstrom Deaf Studies Off-Campus Studies Accreditation General Information we believe • The Bible to be the inspired and only infallible blood of Christ. and authoritative Word of God. • That regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolute- • That there is one God, eternally existent in three ly essential for personal salvation. persons: God the Father, God the Son and God • That the redemptive work of Christ on the cross the Holy Spirit. provides healing of the human body in answer • In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His to believing prayer. virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in • That the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily Acts 2:4 is given to believers who ask for it. resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal future return to • In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by this earth in power and glory to rule a thousand whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live years. a holy life. • In the Blessed Hope, which is the Rapture of the • In the resurrection of both the saved and the Church at Christ’s coming. lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation. • That the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious Mission Statement is church-focused and there are practical ministry North Central University, owned and operated by the requirements which are fulfilled with service in the Assemblies of God, is a Christ-centered Pentecostal church and community. The University seeks to develop school with a commitment to academic excellence that a robust Christianity based on a Christian worldview prepares students to fulfill biblical models of leadership developed through a meaningful, integrated general and ministry throughout the world. (Ephesians 4:11-12) education core program. It offers various majors which The University is committed to enable students to are designed to develop leaders who are functioning become knowledgeable in God’s inerrant Word and Pentecostals and who know how to interact evangelisti- competent in its application and proclamation; to cally with their world. develop spiritually mature, dedicated persons; and to Most majors are geared toward church-oriented maintain academic excellence in the highest tradition of vocations. All majors are designed to be ministry- Christian scholarship. Students are trained in all aspects focused, training students to serve God in a variety of of church-related ministry, with emphasis on pastoral ways according to their calling and gifts. Program focus leadership, preaching, teaching, evangelism, church at North Central is particularly centered upon urban planting, missions and music. and international settings, utilizing the urban context of the campus as a laboratory for effective ministry and Vision Statement providing a full array of creative international learning North Central University is a Christ-centered school in opportunities. the Bible college tradition, with urban and international focus, whose purpose is to prepare Pentecostal leaders The Heritage to serve God in the church and in the world. Located in the heart of Minneapolis, North Central In order to accomplish this task, NCU is commit- University is a coeducational, undergraduate, primarily ted to the requirement of a minimum of 30 credits of residential college owned and operated by 11 Assem- Bible/Theology for all majors, including the 21 credit blies of God districts of the upper Midwest. Founded in Bible Core. It also requires daily chapel attendance and 1930 as North Central Bible Institute, program offerings other meaningful methods of spiritual formation. NCU were expanded in 1955 to include a four-year degree. 4 General Information In 1957, the institution’s name was changed to North The Curricular Support Central Bible College and in 1964, North Central was ac- All students are expected to accomplish the above goals credited by the American Association of Bible Colleges. by completing both academic and personal development Recognizing its commitment to the needs of its constitu- programs. Student development programming involves ents, North Central continued expanding its offerings students in numerous real-life experiences through which and was accredited in 1986 by the Higher Learning they learn to apply skills and knowledge gained in the Commission of the North Central Association of Col- classroom. leges and Schools (NCA). Academic programming consists of three major com- 30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400 ponents: the General Education Core, the Biblical Studies Chicago, IL 60602 Core and the major or vocational core. The four-year Phone: 1.800.621.7440 degree curriculum prepares students for ministry careers Web: www.higherlearningcomission.org in the church, for graduate study and for other areas of At the spring 1998 meeting of the Board of Regents, life. The one or two years of foundational biblical and the college’s name was changed to North Central Uni- general education curriculum at the Certificate or Associ- versity. ate Degree level gives students a foundation for the future In keeping with the vital and growing character of the that may include additional career or vocational training. school, enrollment has more than tripled from 401 stu- The University has clearly defined the ends sought for dents in 1975 to a present enrollment of approximately each of these curricular areas. It is clear as to its purposes 1,500 in the residence and distance education programs and has been in a strongly creative revision process for in 2004. The stability and strength of North Central has all of its curriculum so it can be even more successful in produced more than 24,000 alumni, and of its graduates, accomplishing its desired ends. These end-sought state- 75 percent are presently in ministry positions through- ments written at the beginning of each curricular pro- out the United States and around the world. gram can be found throughout the catalog. Curricular changes place NCU on the cutting edge of meaningful The Means higher education designed to prepare students for the new The Biblical Support millennium. As a Christian institution, North Central University ap- Completion of the academic degree programs and the proaches its purpose from the biblical foundation found non-academic learning opportunities make it possible for in John 13:34-35. The purpose of the University is to pro- the student: duce Pentecostal leaders to serve God in the church and 1. To communicate clearly and effectively within the in the world. As a result of their training at North Central, church and with a world which desperately needs students should, therefore, be able to: to know the Savior. 1. Maintain a vital, stable and consistent relationship with God 2. To relate the present to the past through an un- with openness to revival and ongoing spiritual growth and derstanding of the historical process. demonstration in the Pentecostal tradition. 3. To demonstrate expanded perceptions of life and 2. Interact with members of the campus community and the refined aesthetic sensibilities. church in such a way as to maintain supportive, caring, loving, 4. To develop and maintain a practical wellness model forgiving and accountable relationships which are life-chang- for living. ing for all. 5. To utilize a systematic approach to examine nature 3. Demonstrate an informed, evangelistic and serving orientation and solve quantitative problems. to the peoples of the world, including those majority urban 6. To solve problems in a disciplined and imaginative dwellers throughout the United States and the world. way through analytical and critical thinking skills. 4. Utilize their integrated Christian worldview and specially 7. To observe and interpret human behavior within developed skills to provide leadership in the church and the the richness of social and cultural diversity. world. 5 General Information North Central Bible Institute, 1937. 8. To acquire foundational knowledge of Bible North Central Expands content and history and develop a basic research The Institute’s graduating classes from 1933 to 1936 methodology for biblical study. increased steadily. In 1936, when over 200 students regis- As a result, students should be able to build into their tered, it was evident that new quarters were needed. The lifestyle and ministry the skills, knowledge and attitudes following September, students and faculty relocated to that will help them make a significant contribution to their NCU’s new home, the former Asbury Hospital at 910 El- generation. They should become flexible lifelong learn- liot Avenue. This five-story building, a city block in length, ers who are curious, adaptive, analytical, literate, morally included adequate dormitory, office and classroom space sensitive, critically appreciative and theologically literate. to accommodate 500 students. In February 1955, the Minnesota District authorized The Early Days of North Central the change to a four-year program, and the Institute grad- North Central University enrolled its first 26 students uated its first bachelor’s degree class of eight students in in classes beginning October 1, 1930, under the name 1956. In April 1957, the parent district requested that the of North Central Bible Institute. The Institute’s original school name be changed to North Central Bible College. home was in a newly erected Assemblies of God church, For the next 16 years, a five-story building provid- the Minneapolis Gospel Tabernacle, in downtown Minne- ing housing for male students and the cafeteria was apolis.