BUF Foundational Curriculum

BUF has developed foundational curriculum in the General Education and Biblical/Theological areas of study to provide a foundation for the following degree programs. Each degree program requires 33 hours of General Education Foundation and 12 hours of Biblical/Theological Foundation in addition to each degree’s specific requirements. The foundational curriculum is listed below.

BUF General Education Foundation Competencies Outcomes

Student Learning Outcome 1: Reading

By the end of the General Education Foundation, the student will be able to do the following:

interpret the meaning of key terms (IG: IIb, IIc)
recognize the primary purpose of a passage (IG: IIb, IIc)
recognize explicitly presented information (IG: IIb, IIc)
make appropriate inferences (IG: IIb, IIc)
recognize rhetorical devices (IG: IIb, IIc)

Student Learning Outcome 2: Writing

By the end of the General Education Foundation, the student will be able to do the following:

recognize the most grammatically correct revision of a clause, sentence or group of sentences (IG: IIb, IIc)
organize units of language for coherence and rhetorical effect (IG: IIb, IIc)
recognize and reword figurative language (IG: IIb, IIc)
organize elements of writing into larger units of meaning (IG: IIb, IIc)
write accurate transitions from paragraph to paragraph (IG: IIb, IIc)
use accurately a designated format (MLA, APA, or Turabian) (IG: IIb, IIc)
develop a thesis statement (IG: IIa, IIb, IIc)
support assertions with citations and references (IG: IIa, IIb, IIc)

Student Learning Outcome 3: Communication

By the end of the General Education Foundation, the student will be able to do the following:

identify various types of audiences (IG: IIb, IIc, IId)
use information technology platforms to present data and information (IG: IIa, IIb, IIc)
give a speech that uses accurate grammar in standard American English (IG: IIb, IIc)
give a speech that is coherent and purposeful (IG: IIb, IIc)

Student Learning Outcome 4: Critical Thinking

By the end of the General Education Foundation, the student will be able to do the following:

distinguish between rhetoric and argumentation in a piece of nonfiction prose (IG: IIa, IIb, IIc)
recognize assumptions and fallacies (IG: IIa, IIb, IIc)
recognize the best hypothesis to account for information presented (IG: IIa, IIb, IIc)
infer and interpret a relationship between variables (IG l: IIa, IIb, IIc)
draw valid conclusions based on relevant information and sources (IG: IIa, IIb, IIc)

GENERAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Communications (9 hours)

ENG 151. Introduction to College Composition (3 hours)
ENG 152. Intermediate College Composition (3 hours)
COM 200. Introduction to Speech Communication (3 hours)

Humanities/Fine Arts (3 hours)

HUM 101. Appreciation of the Arts OR
HUM. 102. Applied Humanities OR
HUM 103. The Humanities: Ancient to Medieval OR
HUM 104. The Humanities: Renaissance to Twentieth Century OR
Any ensemble, any applied music course by audition: MT 100, MU 330, MU 201, MU 303 (3 hours)

Literature (3 hours)

ENG 221. Survey of World Literature OR
ENG 222. Survey of American Literature I OR
ENG 226. Survey of American Literature II OR
ENG 223. Survey of British Literature I OR
ENG 227. Survey of British Literature II OR
ENG 224. Survey of Christian Literature (3 hours)

Mathematics (3 hours)

MA 130. Business Mathematics OR equivalent OR higher (according to major) (3 hours)

History (6 hours)

HI 211. Western Civilization: Earliest Times to 1700 AND
HI 212. Western Civilization: 1700 to Present OR
HI 223. American History: Age of Exploration to Reconstruction AND
HI 224. American History: Reconstruction to Present OR
MH 403. Music History and Literature: Antiquity to Baroque AND
MH 404. Music History and Literature: Classical to Twentieth Century (according to major) (6 hours)

Science (3 hours)

SCI 201. Introduction to Biological Science OR
SCI 202. Introduction to Earth Science OR
SCI 203. Physical Science OR
SCI 204. Introduction to Chemistry

Psychology (3 hours)

PSY 201. General Psychology (3 hours)

Technology (3 hours)

IT 202. Information Technology Applications OR
EDU 2040. Information Technology for Educators OR
MU 202. Basic Technology for Worship Ministry OR
MUE 360. Technology for the Music Classroom: K-12 (according to major) (3 hours)

TOTAL: 33 SEM/HOURS

BUF Biblical/Theological Foundation Outcomes

Upon completion of the Biblical/Theological Foundation, students shall demonstrate foundational knowledge and comprehension of the following:

SLO 1: The message of the Bible, focusing on main teachings, interpretation, progression of God’s work of salvation beginning in the Old Testament and culminating in the New Testament, and application to present-day life; the context of Scripture, focusing on the places, cultures, and peoples of the Bible; the biblical texts as literature in terms of canon, genres, authors, audiences, dates, and occasions. (Institutional Outcomes: I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IIg)

SLO 2: The essential disciplines required for spiritual health, personal discipleship, and personal disciple-making. (Institutional Outcomes: I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IIg)

SLO 3: The essential doctrine, understanding, skills, and practice required for fruitful personal evangelism through local churches and in various missions settings. (Institutional Outcomes: I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IIg)

SLO 4: The theology of God’s nature as the God who saves and pursues the lost, the biblical and historical foundations that demonstrate this truth, and the practice and skills needed to join God in His mission to the world. (Institutional Outcomes: I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IIg)

BIBLICAL/THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION

BF 101. Old Testament Survey (3 hours)
BF 103. New Testament Survey (3 hours)
EV 201. Personal Evangelism (3 hours)
SF 101. Spiritual Formation (3 hours)
MI 202. Introduction to Christian Missions (3 hours)

TOTAL: 15 SEM/HOURS