|
|
 Introduction
The Honors Program of Philadelphia Biblical University
seeks to develop Christian scholars who integrate
their biblical studies with their general and professional
education. The essence of the program is a biblically-centered,
interdisciplinary community.
The Honors Program provides an enriching and challenging
education for academically accomplished students.
Students accepted into the program are generally those
who have graduated from high school with a superior
academic record. Honors students are expected to be
well read and to demonstrate good writing skills,
as honors work revolves around effective communication
in the English language. It is hoped that the academic
nurture and training provided by the Honors Program
will encourage and prepare its participants for further
education at distinguished graduate schools.
Honors Curriculum
The Honors Program emphasizes the conversation between
the Bible and the Great Books that has shaped the
Western tradition. Through reading and studying foundational
texts in Western philosophy, political science, church
history, and literature, students develop reasoning,
speaking, and writing skills. In the core honors courses,
with enrollment in each limited to 15 students, classes
consist of discussion-based seminars complemented
by tutorials which present the historical-cultural-intellectual
context for the texts read.
 Honors
Curriculum
Honors Activities
In addition to the honors courses, the honors community
of faculty and students meets bi-weekly for a meal
and a colloquium. Honors colloquia include student
or faculty presentations and discussion of selected
topics under the direction of the honors faculty.
Each semester one of the colloquia is designated a
university-wide forum. These honors forums cover a
broad range of interdisciplinary topics and foster
intellectual stimulation and collegiality within the
larger university community. Twice each semester special
activities are planned that expose the students to
the historical, cultural, artistic, and academic opportunities
in Philadelphia and the surrounding region.
Honors activities have included:
-
Shakespeare’s MacBeth at the
Folger Theater, Washington, DC
-
Greek Antiquities of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York
-
J. S. Bach’s B minor Mass,
presented by the Princeton Theological Seminary
-
Honors Banquet at the Union League
of Philadelphia
Previous forums have included:
-
“Why Scientists Must Believe
in God: Divine Attributes of Scientific Law”
- Dr. Vern Poythress
-
“Exploring the Fibonacci
Sequence in Science and Art” - Mr. James
Rahn
-
“Toward a Theology of
the Arts” - Dr. Leland Ryken
 Honors
Apprenticeship
Honors apprenticeship centers on the mentor-apprentice
relationship, the scaffolding of the student's development.
Knowing that a successful apprenticeship depends
as much on attitude as on learning skills, members
of the honors community value the qualities of humility,
curiosity, patience, and commitment and accept responsibility
for their own learning. The honors program provides
skilled mentors, curriculum, activities, and project
supervision to help each student accomplish the goals
of the program, but the apprentice supplies the motivation,
commitment, and effort to achieve these goals.
Honors Project
The honors project is the capstone of the Honors
Program experience and is completed during the senior
year under the direction of
an honors project mentor. Throughout the research
process, students work closely with their mentors
as they learn and apply fundamentals of research
and
writing a thesis. The project they choose integrates
the various components of their education.
Honors Program Committee
Application
The Honors Committee selects up to ten students from each
entering class who have proven their ability to participate in
study, critical thinking, and dialogue. Applicants submit a completed application and have an interview with the honors
committee. Students with an SAT of 1250 or higher and cumulative
GPA of 3.5 or higher have a greater probability of entering the
program, but no applicant is accepted or refused solely on the basis of these scores.
Prospective students and currently enrolled students who wish to apply to the Honors Program should submit their application and address further questions to Dr. Brian Toews in the School of Biblical Studies. E-mail: btoews@pbu.edu. Phone: 215.702.4227.
Scholarship availability
Students with a 3.6 GPA and an SAT score of 1350
(ACT 30) or higher will be eligible for consideration
for the Honors Academic Scholarships of $8,000 per
year.
(Return to top of Page)
|
|
