Apr 06, 2026  
2025-2026 Academic Catalog 
  
2025-2026 Academic Catalog

BPCU Institutional Core

Location(s): On-Campus, Online


General Education and Single Core Goals

The Core Learning Goals apply to all Brewton-Parker undergraduate program graduates. Each student must demonstrate competence in the overall knowledge, skills, and values associated with a Christian liberal arts institution, in addition to the specialized knowledge, skills, and values associated with a particular program of study. As both the B.A. and A.A. degrees in General Studies do not require the development of specialized knowledge, they are governed by the core learning outcomes.

In completing a BPCU core, a successful student will achieve the following goals:

  • GOAL 1: Students will demonstrate integrity and respect for self and others in all academic, athletic, career, and other interactions at Brewton-Parker.
  • GOAL 2: Students will develop critical and creative thinking skills.
  • GOAL 3: Students will write, read, speak, and listen logically, clearly, and precisely.
  • GOAL 4: Students will demonstrate numeracy, scientific literacy, and technical competence.
  • GOAL 5: Students will develop an understanding and appreciation of human artistic expression.
  • GOAL 6: Students will develop an understanding of the history of civilizations and of the forces shaping contemporary society.

The institution operates on a three-year assessment cycle for program learning outcomes that support the core learning goals. These learning outcomes are housed in the college’s assessment planning documents.

Policy on Degree Classification: Professional vs. Liberal Arts Degrees

In alignment with the mission of Brewton-Parker Christian University-to provide liberal arts and professional programs in a learning community shaped by biblical truth, character, servant leadership, and cultural engagement, the institution has adopted a classification framework that reflects the university’s dual commitment to both foundational education and career-focused preparation. BPCU establishes a clear framework for classifying undergraduate degree programs at Brewton-Parker Christian University as either professional degrees or liberal arts degrees. The distinction supports academic planning, curriculum development, accreditation compliance, and student advising by identifying the primary purpose, structure, and intended outcomes of each program. Students complete an approved grouping of core classes based upon that classification. Liberal Arts and Professional degrees are defined as follows:

Liberal Arts Degree

A liberal arts degree provides a broad, interdisciplinary education in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics. These degrees emphasize critical thinking, communication, inquiry, and moral reflection. Although many include an internship or capstone, they prepare students for a wide range of career paths or graduate studies and are especially aligned with the university’s mission to foster lifelong learning and service in Christ.

The following majors are considered to be part of the liberal arts program at BPCU, and as such, graduates from these programs must complete the liberal arts core.

Christian Studies Criminal Justice General Studies
Ministry Psychology (BA) Exercise Science*
Missions Psychology (BS) Pre-Athletic Training*
Music Sport Management Pre-Physical Therapy*
Worship Ministry English Health Professions*
General Science History Forensic Science*

*Pre-professional programs that prepare students for graduate school or post-baccalaureate certifications receive the liberal arts designation at BPCU.

Professional Degree

A professional degree prepares students for direct entry into a specific vocation or licensed profession. These programs focus on career-specific knowledge, skills, and practices. They typically include intensive internships, practicums, fieldwork, or preparation for certification or licensure. These degrees reflect the university’s commitment to equipping students for lifelong service in applied, real-world settings.

The following majors are considered to be part of the professional degree program at BPCU, and as such, graduates from these programs must complete the professional core.

Accounting Marketing Secondary Science Education
Business Administration Ministry Secondary English Education
Computer Information Systems Worship Arts Special Education
General Business Early Childhood Education Nursing
Management Middle Grades Education Allied Health
  Music Education Education

 

Core Policy for Double Majors

Students who pursue a double major that includes one professional major and one liberal arts major will complete the core curriculum associated with the professional major. The liberal arts core will not be required in full for the addition of a liberal arts major. If a student later removes the professional major, the student will be required to complete all core curriculum requirements associated with the remaining liberal arts major.

Shared Institutional Core


All students at BPCU must complete the following core requirements:

Area A1 - First Writing Course


All degree-seeking students admitted to the college must register during their first semester either in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG 101), along with the Developmental Writing Lab (ENG 101L), if required, or Rhetoric and Literature (ENG 102), the core writing sequence in English language studies. In each ensuing semester, students must advance to the next course in sequence until completing ENG 101 and 102 with proficiency grades of A, B, or C. Students failing to earn a proficiency grade in ENG 101 or 102 must repeat the course in the next ensuing semester without interruption until course credit is earned for all courses in sequence.

Area A1 - Second Writing Course


All degree-seeking students admitted to the college must register during their first semester either in Writing and Rhetoric (ENG 101), along with the Developmental Writing Lab (ENG 101L), if required, or Rhetoric and Literature (ENG 102), the core writing sequence in English language studies. In each ensuing semester, students must advance to the next course in sequence until completing ENG 101 and 102 with proficiency grades of A, B, or C. Students failing to earn a proficiency grade in ENG 101 or 102 must repeat the course in the next ensuing semester without interruption until course credit is earned for all courses in sequence.

Area A2 - Quantitative Skills


All students must take one of the following courses. Students should consult their degree plan for the appropriate math course.  BPCU recommends that non-science majors take MTH 101.

Area B - Student Success Institutional Requirement


All students must take one of the following courses.

Area B - First CHR Requirement


All students must take one of the following courses.

All degree-seeking students at BPCU are required to take one Christian Studies (CHR) course each academic year-fall, winter, spring, or summer-until they have completed all courses in the core Christian Studies sequence (Area B).

Area B - Second CHR Requirement


All students must take one of the following courses.

All degree-seeking students at BPCU are required to take one Christian Studies (CHR) course each academic year-fall, winter, spring, or summer-until they have completed all courses in the core Christian Studies sequence (Area B).

Area D - Lab Science


All students must take a science course and science lab. BPCU recommends non-science majors take: BIO 100, BIO 150, BIO 210, CHM 100, CHM 105, PHY/S 101, or PHY/S 111.

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BPCU Liberal Arts Core


Students graduating with a liberal arts degree will also complete the following core requirements, for a total of 40-41 credit hours of core courses.

Area B - Liberal Arts Health Requirement


All students receiving a liberal arts degree must take one of the following courses.

Area C - Liberal Arts Core Fine Arts & Culture


All students receiving a liberal arts degree must must take 3 hours of approved fine arts and culture classes, shown below.

Area C - Liberal Arts Core Literature


All students receiving a liberal arts degree must take one of the following courses.

Area E - Liberal Arts World History Requirement


All students receiving a liberal arts degree must take one of the following courses.

 

Students with one semester credit each in US History and American Government from a regionally accredited institution automatically fulfill Brewton-Parker’s 6-hour history requirements in Area E. Students transferring only one of US History or American Government will receive credit for one 3-hour History requirement in Area E and are required to take World Civilization (HIS 151 or HIS 152) at Brewton-Parker.

Area E - Liberal Arts Second History Requirement


All students receiving a liberal arts degree must take one of the following courses.

 

Students with one semester credit each in US History and American Government from a regionally accredited institution automatically fulfill Brewton-Parker’s 6-hour history requirements in Area E. Students transferring only one of US History or American Government will receive credit for one 3-hour History requirement in Area E and are required to take World Civilization (HIS 151 or HIS 152) at Brewton-Parker.

Area E - Liberal Arts Social Science


All students receiving a liberal arts degree must take one of the following courses.

 

Students with one semester credit each in US History and American Government from a regionally accredited institution automatically fulfill Brewton-Parker’s 6-hour history requirements in Area E. Students transferring only one of US History or American Government will receive credit for one 3-hour History requirement in Area E and are required to take World Civilization (HIS 151 or HIS 152) at Brewton-Parker.

Area F - Liberal Arts Core Elective


All students receiving a liberal arts degree must also take an additional 3 hours from areas C-E or another CHR course from Area B.

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BPCU Professional Core


Students graduating with a professional degree will also complete the following core requirements, for a total of 32 credit hours of core courses.

 

Area C - Professional Core Humanities, Fine Arts, & Culture


All students receiving a liberal arts degree must 6 hours of humanities, fine arts, or culture courses. The 6 hours do not have to be in the same subject area or genre.

Area E - Professional Core History & Social Sciences


All students receiving professional degree must take 6 hours from the following courses. The 6 hours do not have to be in the same subject area.