Mission Statement
Heritage Christian University exists for the advancement of Churches of Christ by equipping servants through undergraduate and graduate programs and continuing education. HCU produces effective communicators, preachers, teachers, and missionaries for real-world ministry with a focus on evangelism and a commitment to scripture.
Vision Statement
We envision that congregations all around the globe will be effectively living out the story of God and His mission to the world as a result of our efforts to inspire and educate the next generation of servant leaders for the church.
Core Values
- God is Sovereign, Christ is Lord
- Committed to Scripture
- Focused on Evangelism
- Bound by Honesty
- Faithful and Trustworthy
- Accountable and Continually Improving
- Collaborative in Community
- Eager to Listen
- Hungry for Information, Sensitive to its Limitations
- Rooted and Grounded in Love
Institutional Goals
To ensure a preeminent biblical education, Heritage Christian University will:
- Provide general studies courses.
- Provide degree offerings in biblical studies to give students the skills necessary to meet the needs of the church.
- Offer a quality library to assist students, faculty, and alumni in research, ministry, and personal development.
- Assist students in achieving their educational goals by making available student and educational support services.
- Operate with a systematic, broad-based research, planning, and evaluation process for the ongoing pursuit of institutional effectiveness and continuous improvement.
- Utilize a qualified, competent faculty, staff, and administration dedicated to carrying out the role, scope, and mission of the institution as adopted by the Board of Directors.
- Operate with adequate physical, financial, and relational resources to accomplish the role, scope, and mission of the institution.
Distinctiveness
Heritage Christian University exists to help Christians answer God’s call to ministry. We offer a balanced, comprehensive, practical education that impacts the whole person. We aim to:
- Challenge students academically.
- Enhance their passion for ministry.
- Strengthen their skills for service.
Within our rigorous academic program under the direction of experienced Christian leaders, HCU students engage in the study of Scripture, explore the roots of the faith, receive training in ministerial service, identify patterns for character formation, articulate goals, and practice knowledge in a variety of contexts within God’s world. Our distinctive focus maintains real-world ministry and occurs as an outpouring from God’s transformation of the person: heart, mind, whole being.
Undergraduate and Graduate Programs at Heritage Christian University
Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies | AA
General Education Program Objectives
The student will:
- Think logically and critically.
- Develop awareness of strong values.
- Appreciate diversity.
- Communicate effectively.
- Demonstrate the ability to locate and utilize information.
- Engage in life-long learning.
- Demonstrate responsible citizenship.
Biblical and Theological Studies and Professional Studies Program Objectives
The student will:
- Acquire comprehensive knowledge of the Bible.
- Value the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- Apply knowledge in diverse ministry settings.
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies | BA
General Education Program Objectives
The student will:
- Think logically and critically.
- Develop awareness of strong values.
- Appreciate diversity.
- Communicate effectively.
- Demonstrate the ability to locate and utilize information.
- Engage in life-long learning.
- Demonstrate responsible citizenship.
Biblical and Theological Studies and Professional Studies Program Objectives
The student will:
- Recall general Bible content.
- Employ the basic elements of biblical interpretation.
- Articulate the multifaceted role of the minister.
- Demonstrate skill at diverse ministry responsibilities.
- Appreciate the historic theological traditions of Christianity.
- Display commitment to the mission of the Christian church.
Master of Arts in Christian Scripture | MA
Program Objectives
The Master of Arts in Christian Scripture enables graduates to:
Demonstrate a critical approach to scripture. This objective reflects our commitment to genuine
comprehension of scripture rather than propagating traditional understandings and dogmas. Students are taught to engage high-quality, scholarly resources and explore new ways of interpreting scripture.
Read New Testament Greek and/or biblical Hebrew. Reading scripture in its original languages has proven fundamental to a renewed appreciation for God’s revelation to man, as opposed to a reliance on traditional interpretation. The student of Greek and Hebrew can better understand biblical passages and more easily utilize standard scholarly resources.
Appreciate the theology of scripture. Viewing scripture theologically entails seeing the whole of scripture as a revelation of God to humanity and relating the individual books or passages to this overall conception of scripture. This degree trains students to teach the theology of scripture to God’s people as a vital component of their task as ministers.
Conduct independent biblical research. The MA trains students to read with comprehension in scripture (in one or more languages) and biblical scholarship of the highest level. Graduates will learn to interact critically with scripture and scholarship.
Master of Ministry | MMin
Program Objectives
The Master of Ministry enables students to:
- Identify the biblical foundation for authentic ministry.
- Formulate a life-long process for spiritual maturity.
- Assess various ministry specializations through critical consideration of context, content, and processes.
- Practice ministry competently in real-world settings.
- Acquire a scholarship that provides a foundation for ongoing studies such as the MDiv degree.
Master of Divinity | MDiv
Program Objectives
The student will:
- Develop an appreciation for the Christian heritage associated with the American Restoration Movement.
- Interpret the Bible both critically and theologically for the benefit of the church.
- Develop holistic spiritual disciplines.
- Evaluate people and their personal circumstances and provide appropriate pastoral care or referral.
- Know how to plan ministries and employ programs that serve the church.