2023-2024 University Catalog

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Bachelor’s Degree Overview

Although Multnomah offers a wide range of majors, in addition to completing a Bible/Theology core students can choose to pursue a Bible and Theology major. Multnomah continues to offer a recognized undergraduate biblical major leading to a bachelor’s degree. The major in Bible and Theology is designed to bring students to a sound working knowledge of the Word of God, so that they may share those life-transforming principles in a variety of contexts. Thus the development in skills for communicating biblical truth and for ministry are provided through additional majors and/or minors in ministry areas.

Bible & Theology Core

Multnomah University believes that the Word of God is basic to all successful Christian service and that nothing can be substituted for it. For this reason, the undergraduate school has made the teaching of Bible and Theology a core component of the bachelor’s degree.  Within this Bible and Theology core students learn to study the Word of God and integrate their faith and beliefs with other fields of study in an environment that fosters the freedom to ask questions, voice doubts, and honestly wrestle with the complex issues of life.  Courses engage pressing questions like where God is in the midst of pain and evil, how to deal with so many conflicting opinions about what the Bible says, and how the Bible relates to the issues of our contemporary world.  Students learn to express their beliefs with humility, respect others' views, and recognize acceptable diverse interpretations within a framework of core essential teaching.  The Bible and Theology core focuses on the following objectives:

Objectives:

  • Reads each of the OT and NT books covered in the required Bible core.
  • Summarizes the content and message of these biblical books.
  • Surveys the majors issues of Christian theology covered in the required Theology core.

Outcomes:

  • Exhibits basic skills for interpreting the biblical text.
  • Demonstrates dependence upon the biblical text and Christian theological principles as an authoritative guide for life and godliness.
  • Relates the biblical text and Christian theological principles to other fields of study.
  • Displays humility in expressing opinion, respect for other's views, and a recognition of the faith inherent in those who reach different conclusions.

Students who complete the 18 hour core in Bible and Theology will be awarded a minor in Bible and Theology.

Major or Minor

A varied program of majors and minors has been provided to enable students to specialize in a particular area of interest for preparation in the liberal arts, ministry and the professions. Entering students are encouraged to begin a major their first year. Each of the majors and minors is explained as to importance, purpose, and requirements­ in the pages that follow. All majors emphasize integration of faith and learning, and lead students through a developmental program appropriate to the discipline.  The result is knowledge and leadership skills commensurate with the bachelor’s level in Arts and Sciences, Ministry, or other professional areas. Students selecting a minor in addition to a major choose to specialize in an additional area of interest. The program gives vision for future careers and develops leadership for involvement in God’s work throughout the world.

Majors and minors are available in these areas: accounting, Bible and Theology, biology, business administration, business and organizational psychology, English, environmental science, exercise science, global studies, Greek, Hebrew, history, humanities, human resources management, ministry and pastoral leadership, professional sales, psychology, supply chain management, TESOL and youth & educational ministries.

Students can also choose to just focus in the area of Biblical and Theological studies by completing the 39 hour major in Bible and Theology. Students who major in Bible and Theology may want to add an advanced concentration (an additional 12 hours) in Biblical Studies, Theology of Cultural Engagement or Theological Studies.

Declaring a Major or Minor

All students are expected to declare a major by the time they have earned 32 semester hours. Transfers entering with 32 credits can delay registering their major for the first semester, but must declare their choice by the end of the first semester in residence at Multnomah. Students who have not declared a major, nor arranged for an extension with the registrar by the time they have completed 32 credits, will be unable to register the following semester until they have clarified their degree plans with the registrar.

Liberal Arts Core

Liberal Arts education provides learn­ing experiences to enhance and complement­ the academic majors and provides the student with an integrated Christian worldview. A Liberal Arts education supplies an understanding and awareness of broad areas of language, history, philosophy, communication, science, and human development, an essential complement to biblical studies in shaping godly attitudes and behavior in our contemporary world. 

Students should complete the majority of Liberal Arts courses by the end of the sophomore­ year as displayed in the program of study. Students must complete ENG 100 Writing Foundations and ENG 120 College Writing during the freshman year. ENG 220 Critical Reading and Writing must be completed during the sophomore year.  Information about CLEP and AP credit for Liberal Arts is available from the registrar.