Full Course Catalog 

Below are descriptions of all of our offered courses.
For access to any of our syllabi, please email us.

Baltimore Urban Studies Program

Required Courses for the Semester Program

  • This course is delivered through an intensive 3-week hybrid module combining classroom lectures, seminar discussions, and field learning experiences to facilitate an immersive introduction to public health and epidemiology. Students learn undergraduate principals of epidemiology through the lens of justice and reconciliation in the US urban context. This course allows students to learn the foundational concepts of social and behavioral health, environmental health, health systems and global health policy, and epidemiology and statistical reasoning.

  • This course provides the theological framework for the spiritual formation curriculum for Baltimore Urban Studies. Students will learn from diverse cultural perspectives as they investigate the foundational beliefs of discipleship and Christian formation. This course gives focused attention on the implications of Christian formation in an urban context, the relationship between the Church and culture, and how theology informs, guides and facilitates personal transformation and community reconciliation. A component of this course delves into equipping students to cultivate contemplative practices that will help them deepen their personal relationship with Christ.

Students are Required to Select one Practicum or Internship Course

  • This course provides academic scaffolding, guided reflection, seminar-based learning, and assessment for internships in the urban context. Mentorship from multicultural community leaders in private, government, non-profit, and religious agencies facilitate student learning of foundational principles of vocational praxis. Specialized semester-long internships exist for business administration, Christian ministry, church leadership, communications and leadership development, elementary and secondary education, environmental sciences, microbiology, non-profit management, psychology, refugee and immigrant community development, sociology, social work, and wholistic spiritual recovery from addiction and homelessness. This is a variable-credit course. Students earn 1 credit per 40 hours of internship - Minimum 3 credits (120 hours) & Maximum 12 credits (480 hours).

  • This course provides academic scaffolding, guided reflection, seminar-based learning, and assessment for urban public health internships. There are two options for a 120-hour internship (3 credits) or a 160-hour internship (4 credits). Internships include mentorship from multicultural Christian clinicians and learning experiences in human protection, health improvement, and health services in urban clinics and public health agencies of Baltimore, MD, and Washington DC. Students will gain an introduction to the foundational principles of public health and engage in constructivist learning from three months of urban public health learning experiences supported by academic readings, seminary discussions, and reflective writing assignments.

  • This course provides academic scaffolding, guided reflection, seminar-based learning, and assessment for Social Work Field Practice in the urban context. Practicum learning experiences include mentorship from multicultural and interdisciplinary community leaders in private, government, non-profit, and religious agencies of Baltimore, MD while completing a minimum of 400 student social work practicum hours. Learning opportunities are structured to connect social work theory with practice and develop social work skills with various client systems within an agency context utilizing theory-based practice knowledge.

Courses with Lab

  • Epidemiology is the study of the distribution of diseases and determinants of health and illness in diverse human populations. This course provides the opportunity for students to learn the principles and methods of epidemiology, with an applied focus on global and urban case studies. All students participate in synchronous online epidemiology laboratory (STATA) performing statistical analyses of measures of disease frequency, transmission, and graphical representations of associations between exposures, or risk factors, on health and disease outcomes. This course includes mentorship from epidemiologists and clinicians who integrate Christian faith into public health practice in domestic and international contexts.

  • This course will This course covers general aspects of undergraduate microbiology with emphasis on endemic microorganisms and human interaction. Topics include introduction to microbiology, microbial taxonomy, methods of microbial identification, immunology and infection. This course includes microscopy, staining, and microbiology laboratory applications with over 40 laboratory hours at the Baltimore Underground Science Station.

  • This course challenges students to learn the foundational principles of human nutrition across the lifespan. Students learn physiology and functional science of nutrition from all 24 chapters of Discovering Nutrition (Insel et al.). Additionally, the course includes 10 public health nutrition laboratory experiences. Nutrition laboratory includes analysis of the factors, systems, and structures that impact dietary patterns, dietary behaviors, food assistance, and safety net programs in the US. Students explore the policies, history, and complexities of urban access to healthy food and gain an introduction to the physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors that affect eating behaviors.

Theology & Social Justices Elective Courses

  • This course confronts students with the realities of injustices in Baltimore and other U.S. cities, and challenges them to answer the question, based on Micah 6:8, how does the LORD require me to integrate my faith with approaches that address inequities through the lens of reconciliation. Students will learn from community leaders and ministers that are practicing justice and reconciliation-based approaches in various fields. A component of this course delves into equipping students to cultivate contemplative practices that will sustain their efforts in tackling injustices, so they are not overwhelmed by exhaustion or undermined by apathy.

  • Bioethics is the study of the ethical issues that arise in the study of human biology, ecology, nursing, medicine, public health, and other biological research fields. Drawing on a variety of ethical cases from recent biomedical literature, this course covers the conceptual foundations of moral theory, principles of justice, and the application of conceptual tools developed from those principles. This course includes two units: (1) Moral theories, distributive justice theories, and the ethical treatment of patients, the environment, and communities and (2) Consideration of alternative approaches to rationing health care.

Various Elective Courses

  • The disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS in global cities coupled with a decrease in HIV mortality and morbidity provide an opportunity to apply principles of community psychology to guide student understanding of the complex interplay of environmental and individual-level drivers that influence HIV prevention, treatment, and care. This course offers a unique perspective on how social structures, neighborhoods, and individuals shape HIV prevention and care delivery particularly for communities living in urban poverty. Specific theories of participatory-action research, multi-level community interventions, structural dimensions of HIV stigma, and public health policy implications will be critically examined and discussed.

  • This course is an interdisciplinary sociology and history course challenging students to analyze the social dynamics of Baltimore City from 1861 to 2023. Critical analysis of topics including: urbanization, migration, segregation, socioeconomic dynamics, and public policy. Students learn from the historical demography and contemporary issues that define the structure and culture of Baltimore city. This narrow geographical focus enables students to generate broad and deep sociological analyses of the major social challenges of Baltimore that are shared with many other global cities; and the historical and cultural context that often garner national and international attention.

Ecuador Semester Program

Below is a list of our courses offered at our Ecuador location. The required courses vary depending on the specific track the student is taking.

  • In this class, students will begin to develop the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish while learning about Spanish-speaking cultures, in particular Ecuadorian culture.

  • Students will begin to develop the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish while learning about Spanish-speaking cultures, in particular Ecuadorian culture, building on concepts that were mastered in Spanish 101.

  • Students will continue to develop the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish while learning about Spanish-speaking cultures, in particular Ecuadorian culture. Spanish 201 will be taught in a communicative manner. This approach to language instruction has proven to be highly successful for adult learners. Therefore, the class will be conducted in Spanish, using language is a communicative way through listening and speaking.

  • Spanish 202/250 is a 3-credit reading, writing and intermediate to advanced grammar course. In

    order to increase fluency and grammar accuracy in Spanish, we will utilize authentic readings and

    student experience outside of the classroom as they interact with people and culture in Quito. This

    course will teach reading strategies and provide advanced reading practice in a variety of genres

    which will introduce them to literature in Spanish, increase vocabulary to a more advanced level and prepare students for higher-level Spanish classes. Students will be assigned activities in all four modalities: reading, writing, listening, and speaking, with a focus on analyzing readings. Readings will be from different genres, which will then be the basis for writing and conversation tasks. We will review and learn new major grammar principles and build on those concepts to more advanced structures.

  • This course is a 3-credit conversation and advanced grammar course. In order to increase fluency and grammar accuracy in Spanish, we will utilize student experience outside of the classroom as they interact with people and cultures in Quito. Students will be assigned activities in all four language modalities: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Assignments will be both formal and informal. We will review major grammar principles and build on those concepts to more advanced structures.

  • This course is a 3-credit advanced composition course. In order to increase fluency and grammar accuracy in Spanish, we will utilize experience outside of the classroom as they interact with people and cultures in Quito. Students will be assigned activities in all four language modalities: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Readings will be from different genres, which will then be the basis for composition tasks. Assignments will be both formal and informal. We will review major grammar principles and build on those concepts to more advanced structures in both speaking and writing.

  • Este curso es de nivel avanzado y combina la investigación, la redacción, y el debate a través de temas importantes y complejas presentadas desde la perspectiva ecuatoriana tanto para desarrollar y mejorar el idioma y profundizar el conocimiento histórico y cultural del Ecuador. A la vez, el estudiante tiene el desafío de integrar la fe y la cosmovisión bíblica al considerar estos temas importantes.

  • Ecuador tiene una diversidad de riqueza histórica, cultural, y natural. La diversidad presenta oportunidades y también desafíos para el desarrollo de la nación. Este curso enfocará en ayudar a los alumnos a entender e interpretar los siguientes temas: 1) Historia del Pueblo Indígena (Antes y Después de Contacto) 2) Historia y Contexto de las Creencias Culturales, Actitudes, y Hechos de Ecuador, particularmente al desarrollar la persistencia de la Tradición Oral. 3) Historia del Arte Ecuatoriano: Estilos, Formas, y Expresión. 4) Estructuras y Figuras Políticas de Ecuador. 5) Historia del Movimiento Misionero/Evangélico en Ecuador.

  • El curso trata de forma general los aspectos literarios y culturales de américa latina. La literatura latinoamericana fue galardonada por cinco oportunidades con el premio Nobel de Literatura. Se conocerán los aspectos principales de las obras literarias de esos autores representativas de nuestra cultura y desarrollemos lecturas seleccionadas para trabajar con ellas. Este curso afirma conocimientos gramaticales avanzados del idioma español. Los estudiantes conocerán modismos y frases idiomáticas propias del idioma español. A través de los temas de cultural ecuatoriana los estudiantes podrán entender algunos aspectos de la variedad de la cultura y de esta forma relacionarse cómodamente con los ecuatorianos.

Spanish Courses:

  • This course provides an overview of the history, art, and culture of Ecuador, along with the relationship between various factors. The course includes guest speakers from local organizations and visits to community groups, along with lectures and readings. The one-unit seminar is required for all students. Completing the course for three units is an elective.

  • An introductory course designed to provide a broad survey of biological principles and is primarily designed to provide meaningful and adequate exposure to biology for the non-science major. It will also help to prepare students for further study in the biological sciences. Because Ecuador is rich in biodiversity, it is an ideal place to survey biological principles. These principles will include the nature of science, discussion of origins, ecology, cell biology, genetics, zoology, and human anatomy, as well as an overview of their effects on daily life. While there is no laboratory class required for this course, a hands-on lab component and field experience will be included.

  • This course is designed to examine the principles and practices of communicating from one culture to another. The focus for the course lies in differing perceptions, ways of thinking, values, non-verbal expressions, language expression, and subgroups within a culture as they relate to the media and the message. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to discuss strategies for practical application that will address these issues and integrate Christian values.

  • This course will examine the dynamics of personal development in student'’ lives, focusing on spiritual growth. Biblical principles that govern the character and conduct of Christians will be addressed. Students will employ analytical tools and reflection skills to develop greater self-awareness. From this foundation, they will explore the process of spiritual formation and establish an initial life plan for the regular practice of spiritual disciplines.

  • The goal of this course is to understand the nature of a worldview and the function of faith and reason in developing a worldview. To define and analyze eight basic worldviews (Christian theism, deism, naturalism, nihilism, existentialism, Eastern pantheism, New Age spirituality and postmodernism). To explore and critique six major world religious traditions: Judaism, Christianity, Taoism & Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. To offer an internal critique of each worldview and an evaluation from the standpoint of historic Christianity.

  • Social Entrepreneurship is an emerging and rapidly changing business field that examines the practice of identifying, starting, and growing successful mission-driven for-profit or nonprofit ventures, that is, organizations that strive to advance social change through innovative solutions. This course is designed to provide a socially relevant academic experience in order to help students gain in-depth insights into economic and social value creation across sectors including social justice, poverty alleviation, energy, health, and sustainability. Through case studies, lectures, and classroom dialogue, students will learn to think strategically and act opportunistically with a socially-conscious business mindset. Topics will include problem/opportunity assessment, acquiring the necessary resources to grow a social enterprise, including leadership and management styles, and the tradeoffs between social and financial returns on investment. Students will also gain exposure to various social organizational models that are making tangible and potentially scalable progress in serving the poor.

General Studies Courses

  • This course offers the student the opportunity to process the international internship experience under the professional supervision of the professor. This course will discuss re-entry components of the international experience and will incorporate a discussion of globalization as it relates to social work and the diversity of the social work profession in other countries. The senior international seminar is held two (2) hours weekly in which students submit their own practice records for critical study and offer constructive feedback to their peers. Emphasis is placed on the integration of students' social work theoretical knowledge and skills as they enter the profession. Students must demonstrate all social work competencies designated by the Council on Social Work Education.

  • This course provides an educationally directed practicum, introducing the student to agency-based social work practice. The student completes 150 hours in a social service setting, engaging in direct social work practice, under the guidance of a professional social worker. The student begins to integrate theory and practice and demonstrates beginning social work practice behaviors.

  • This course provides an educationally directed practicum, introducing the student to agency-based social work practice. The student completes 400 hours in a social service setting, engaging in direct social work practice, under the guidance of a professional social worker. The student begins to integrate theory and practice and demonstrates beginning social work practice behaviors.

Social Work Courses

  • An integrative cross-cultural experience designed to help the student understand and form his or her Christian worldview, cross-cultural engagement, and understanding of diverse social and cultural contexts. A 1-hour per week course requires the attendance of all students. The goal and emphasis of this course are to provide students with a set of tools to utilize in interacting with people in work, community, or educational settings. Community development interventions in this course are understood as activities to facilitate, strengthen, and improve less-advantaged communities, empower residents to define and participate in the development process, and interact in larger social, political, and economic systems on behalf of the community. As part of this course, all students complete a local internship. This course can be taken for one or three credits. Students may request to take the course for more units if needed but must receive approval from L&LI.

Internship Course

Italy Semester Program

All students enroll in Cultural Understanding and then may select an additional three or four courses for a total of 13-16 college credits. Students can either select International Business or Exploring the Art of Italy which are taught at the same time.

Courses

  • This course is an introduction to the history of Western ideas in the ages of Classicism, early Christianity, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Modernism, and Postmodernism. Its design provides students with a more enhanced sense of how historical human thought and events shaped modern Western world views and how a Christian worldview appropriates these ideas. These eras are further examined in light of their aesthetics that reflect the thoughts and feelings of the movements, primarily through philosophy, theology, and literature, while secondarily throughout art, architecture, music, and science. Field trips to classic sites in and around Rome, as well as to Athens and Corinth, are an integral feature.

  • 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. Choose from three tracks: Drawing and Sketching, Watercolor Painting, or general ArtAppreciation. Each track 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.

  • 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 of Rome and Pompeii.

    Required Course

  • History of Christianity is a survey of the development of the Christian Church from the close of the New Testament period to the present time, with special attention to the role of Rome in the development of Christian thought. The course will provide an examination of the church as an institution and as a people. Thus, while context, dates and names establish the background for historical understanding of the institution of the church, ideas will also be discussed from an explicitly evangelical perspective. Students will therefore gain a historical basis for understanding current ideas and trends in the church and in ministry.

  • This international business course covers topics such as globalization, trade, the impact of politics and culture on international business, the international monetary system, entry strategies, marketing, supply chains, and the importance of understanding religious and ethical issues when conducting international business. The course recognizes the complexity of cross-cultural understanding/venturing and seeks to deepen the understanding of faith in the global business environment.

  • 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.

  • 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.