Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Five-Year Bachelor’s and Master’s Program


College Business, Education, Ministry, Social & Behavioral Sciences
Academic Awards Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master in Teaching, Master in Ministry, Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts

The five-year approach to completing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are accelerated programs that allow a student to begin taking graduate courses during their junior and senior years, applying those credits to both their undergraduate major and the graduate degree. The student is then able to complete the remainder of the graduate program in the following 12 to 18 months, thus eliminating approximately one year of college tuition.

Students will have the opportunity to complete up to 18 graduate level credits as part of this program. Depending on individual graduate program requirements, students may be limited to completion of 12 graduate credits as an undergraduate. In addition, students will be limited to 6 graduate credits each semester.

In order to be prepared for graduate level work, students will need to have previously demonstrated a high level of academic capacity. Due to differences in delivery models, students will need to work closely with their undergraduate academic advisor and the graduate program to select courses and ensure degree requirements are satisfied.

Program Offerings

The following graduate programs will be available for students to choose from:

College of Business: Master of Business Administration

College of Education: Master of Education or Master in Teaching (with approved endorsement-related bachelor’s degrees: Biology, English, Environmental Science, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Mathematics, Music, Music Ministry, Pastoral Ministries, Psychology)

College of Ministry: Master of Arts in Bible and Theology, Master of Arts in Leadership Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership, or Master in Ministry

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences: Master of Arts in International Community Development; Master of Science in Data Analysis and Research Psychology 

Notes:
  • A minimum of 12 elective credits within an undergraduate degree is typically necessary for completing bachelor’s and master’s degrees within five years.
  • Undergraduate students are limited to one online course each semester.
  • Students transferring credit will require individual evaluation based on credits completed and degrees pursued.

Requirements

The requirements and expectations for students include (please also see specific program application):

  • Apply to the program at the end of sophomore year or beginning of junior year with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 or above. Application includes an essay describing interest in program.
  • Applicants will be required to meet the eligibility requirements for the graduate program.
  • Generally students will take 3-6 graduate level credits and 6-9 undergraduate credits each semester (second semester junior, fall and spring senior years). The junior and senior year credits are charged at the undergraduate tuition rate. All remaining undergraduate credits must be completed at Northwest.
  • No more than 18 graduate level credits may be taken while still an undergraduate.
  • No more than 6 graduate level credits may be taken during one semester.
  • Once students complete all undergraduate courses, they will be charged at the graduate tuition rate for their program.
  • Maintain 3.3 GPA during junior and senior year.
  • Students take all required courses for graduate program.
  • This program is not available to students enrolled in Center for Online and Extended Education programs.
  • Students will need to replace undergraduate requirements or elective credits with graduate course work. Students can substitute courses for their undergraduate major by taking equivalent graduate level courses listed in the following equivalency tables below.
  • Transfer students must complete one semester at NU before applying to this program.

Overview of Degree Requirements

The following reflect how graduate level courses will be applied to undergraduate courses.


College of Business: MBA


Master of Business Administration: 12

Students who are not pursuing a Business degree will be required to take BUSM 5001 – Introduction to Finance and Accounting or tutorial.

Graduate Course


(Substitutes for Undergraduate Requirement)

  • BUSM 5073 Management Communications (BMGT Elective)
  • BUSM 5413 Organizational Management (BUSM Elective)
  • BUSM 5463 Operations Management (BUSM Elective)
  • BUSM 5573 Financial Management (BACT/BFIN Elective)

College of Education: M.Ed; MIT


Master of Education; Master in Teaching: 12

Students who are pursuing the Master of Education will be required to participate in relevant work or volunteer activities during their fifth year.

Graduate Course


(Substitutes for Undergraduate Requirement)

  • EDMA 5073 Community Engagement/Student Achievement (EDUC Elective)
  • EDMA 5083 Action Research (EDUC Elective)
  • EDMA 5613 The Integrated Teacher (EDUC Elective)
  • EDMA 5833 Learning Strategies and Applied Technology (EDUC Elective)

College of Ministry: MA; MIM


MA in Bible and Theology; MA in Leadership Studies; MA in Ministry Leadership; Master in Ministry: 18

Students who complete the undergraduate BIBL 2553 – Biblical Interpretation course with a B+ or higher will be allowed to take a BIBL Elective in place of the graduate course, BIBL 5553 – Reading the Bible.

Graduate Course


Graduate Courses: (Specific substitutes for Undergraduate Requirement; others may be available in conversation with Dean or Director of Graduate Studies) 

  • BIBL 5003 – Bible Lands Trip (BIBL 3893 - Biblical Lands Experience) 
  • BIBL 5303 - Entering the Biblical Narrative (BIBL 3/4000 Elective) 
  • BIBL 6413 - Deuteronomy (BIBL 3/4000 Elective) 
  • BIBL 6533 - Gospel of Mark (BIBL 3/4000 Elective) 
  • CMIN 5253 - Christian Formation (CMIN 2203 Discipleship & Spiritual Formation) 
  • LANG 6413 - Hebrew I (LANG 2113 Biblical Hebrew I) 
  • LANG 6423 - Hebrew II (LANG 2123 Biblical Hebrew II) 
  • LANG 6513 - Greek I (LANG 2213 New Testament Greek I) 
  • LANG 6523 - Greek II (LANG 2223 New Testament Greek II) 
  • PMIN 5413 - Ministry Essentials (THEO 3413 Theology of Ministry Essentials) 
  • PMIN 6193 - Pastoral Care and Human Development (PMIN 3513 Pastoral Care & Counseling)
  • PMIN 6313 – Christ-Centered Preaching (PMIN 4223 Preaching II)
  • THEO 5473 - Cultural Understanding and Theological Engagement (CMIN 3663 The Church in Contemporary Society) 
  • THEO 6423 - Historical Theology  (CHIS Elective) 
  • Must take both graduate courses for the following undergraduate substitutions to count: 
    • THEO 5243 - Systematic Theology I: First and Last Things (THEO 3213 Systematic Theology I) 
    • THEO 5253 - Systematic Theology II: Life in Christ, Life in the Spirit (THEO 3223 Systematic Theology II) 

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences: MAICD or MSDARP


Environmental Science, BS


MA in International Community Development: 12

In the case of a student majoring in Environmental Science (Environmental Policy Track) who is accepted into the 5 year BA-MA program, the following substitutions will apply:

  • GLST 5153 Research for Social Change 3 credits for SCIE 4923 Research Topics
  • GLST 5313 Community Development 3 credits for SOCI 1113 Survey of Sociology
  • GLST 5503 Culture Studies in a Global Context 3 credits for PHIL 2753 Introduction to Philosophy
  • GLST 6343 Social Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking 3 credits for an Undergraduate Elective

Psychology, BA


MA in International Community Development: 12

In the case of a student majoring in Psychology who is accepted into the 5 year BA-MA program, the following substitutions will apply:

  • GLST 5153 Research for Social Change 3 credits for a PSYC Elective
  • GLST 5313 Community Development 3 credits for a PSYC Elective
  • GLST 5503 Culture Studies in a Global Context 3 credits for a PSYC Elective
  • GLST 6343 Social Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking 3 credits for a PSYC Elective

MS in Data Analysis and Research Psychology: 12

Students in either the Research or General conservation of the Psychology degree will substitute their four concentration courses with the following MSDARP courses.  

  • PSYC 5053 Introduction OT Research and Statistics 3 credits 
  • PSYC 5063 Regression and Correlation 3 credits 
  • PSYC 5083 Quantitative Research Methods 3 credits 
  • PSYC 5393 Qualitative Methods and Analysis 3 credits 

Undergraduate, BA


MA in International Community Development: 12

In the case of a student  who is accepted into the 5 year BA-MA program, the following substitutions will apply:

  • GLST 5153 Research for Social Change 3 credits for an Undergraduate Elective
  • GLST 5313 Community Development 3 credits for an Undergraduate Elective
  • GLST 5503 Culture Studies in a Global Context 3 credits for an Undergraduate Elective
  • GLST 6343 Social Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking 3 credits for an Undergraduate Elective

See applicable Graduate Catalog for details