Campus News
New Academic Programs Expand Learning Options The University introduced and announced several new programs this academic year.
faculty on an independent study project, then begin a two- to threeyear doctoral project that focuses on individual ministry interests.
School of Music launches certificate and four degree concentrations
North Parker | Winter 2014
Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, Milton B. Engebretson Associate Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism, brings extensive experience Students in the School of Music are the first in the nation to have an and scholarship in urban and multicultural ministry as director of undergraduate academic certificate option to prepare them to teach the new program. A nationally recognized author, speaker, church classical music using El Sistema-inspired methods, the new certifi- planter, and professor, Dr. Rah was the founding senior pastor of cate in music for social change. Growing out of a social movement Cambridge Community Fellowship Church, a multi-ethnic church in Venezuela, El Sistema is a philosophy of providing free music committed to ministry in the urban context. education to school-aged children as one way of bringing communiMaster of arts in counseling psychology announced ties together and inspiring young students to achieve great things. The School of Adult Learning announced a new master of arts in The certificate in music for social change will introduce University counseling psychology program, targeted to launch in fall 2014. music majors to this philosophy through teaching stringed The two-year program sequence consists of 16 three-credit courses instruments to elementary-aged students. Through theory and in an accelerated seven-week format, culminating in a 600-hour methods courses, as well as three semesters of internship, graduates internship. For students seeking a pastoral focus in their counseling of the program will gain the tools and experience to use El Sistema- work, the Seminary is partnering with the School of Adult Learning inspired techniques throughout their career, developing young to offer course options that can be substituted for two of the required musicians who might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn degree courses. Students who choose to take the Seminary courses classical music. will still meet state professional counselor licensure requirements.
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The School of Music is also now offering an enhanced bachelor of “The degree will build upon the broader North Park identity of emarts (BA), providing concentration options for students to focus bracing cultural diversity and the active integration of an inclusivelytheir degrees. Now, along with a broad general studies option, stu- defined Christian perspective,” said Dr. Paul Priester, professor of dents can select concentrations in arts administration, composition, psychology. Priester said the program builds upon the assets that or instrumental jazz studies. the School of Adult Learning’s undergraduate degree in counseling psychology currently offers. “Our counseling psychology major also “Right now, students can come here and get a top-notch performance has an internship component, so we have already developed exceldegree, audition for graduate schools, and pursue their dream of lent networking with clinical sites in the Chicago area.” being a classical musician or opera singer,” said Dr. Craig Johnson, dean of the School of Music. “But they can also pursue this enriched Dual-degree engineering program announced BA with a much broader approach and free themselves up to experi- The University, in partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Engineering, will launch a dual-degree ment with many more options.” program in engineering in Fall 2014. Students who complete the Seminary launches doctor of ministry program will receive a bachelor of science in physics from North in urban ministry leadership Park University and a bachelor of science in civil engineering or The Seminary, in partnership with Fuller Theological Seminary, mechanical engineering from UIC, where North Park alumnus will launch its doctor of ministry in urban ministry leadership in Peter Nelson C’84 serves as dean of the College of Engineering. the spring semester. The new cohort doctoral degree is designed The five-year program will enable students to complete alternating for ministerial leaders to develop the theological foundation and coursework at both universities. practical skills for effective urban ministry and leadership. “With the dual degree, we now have a program where engineering The cohort program blends online learning throughout the year with and liberal arts portions of the program can be intermixed during face-to-face intensive courses in which students will meet annually the student’s five years in college,” said Dr. Johnny Lin, professor of in three different cities—Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta—for physics. “This will help the student experience an enhanced interdisone week. After completing three cohort years, students work with ciplinarity in their studies.”