About the Program
In the Christian Leadership Accelerated Degree Program at APU, students may complete their degree in 15 months. The accelerated 39-unit curriculum is concentrated into 61 weekly four-hour class sessions offered in a lock-step format that coordinates students’ class and work schedules and allows students to begin the program as it suits their schedules. For students’ convenience, all texts and materials are delivered directly to their classroom.
Courses are taught sequentially, and the rich diversity of experiences which students bring to the class result in lively discussions involving shared experiences. Because students stay with the same group throughout the course of the program, they develop a strong rapport with other group members who act as a support system through the completion of the degree. Many students find the networking opportunities that arise through participating in the program to be invaluable.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Be able to observe and assess behaviors in a group setting in order to gauge their effectiveness.
- Assess own experiential learning via Kolb model.
- Describe and assess critical factors in family dynamics from a Christian perspective.
- Use the sociological perspective to understand the various dimensions of religion, including belief, ritual, experience, and community.
- Be able to articulate the leadership philosophy of a religious leader and compare it to contemporary theories of leadership.
- Be able to describe one’s own philosophy of Christian leadership.
Benefits
The degree in Christian Leadership enhances communication, research, cognitive, managerial, and interpersonal skills from a distinctly Christian perspective. The following is a list of the competencies that can be achieved through successful completion of the Christian Leadership Degree Completion Program:
Communication Skills
- Write clearly and concisely.
- Develop ethical motivational and persuasion techniques.
- Understand verbal and nonverbal symbols.
- Lead discussion and focus groups.
- Deliver formal presentations effectively.
- Write reports and executive summaries.
Research Skills
- Identify research questions.
- Understand research designs and methods.
- Analyze and interpret data.
- Conduct a literary review.
- Develop data-collection instruments.
- Present and report findings.
Cognitive Skills
- Develop inductive and deductive reasoning skill.
- Expand analytical and critical-thinking competence.
- Deepen problem-solving and decision-making acumen.
Managerial Skills
- Develop biblically based leadership skills.
- Develop, coach, and mentor employees.
- Study and apply organizational analysis and development theories and practices.
- Manage organizational change.
- Manage conflict effectively.
- Motivate and set goals for employees.
- Enhance negotiating skills.
- Approach diversity in the workplace from a Kingdom perspective.
Interpersonal Skills
- Facilitate small groups.
- Resolve conflict successfully.
- Manage group effectiveness.
- Maximize task-oriented functioning.
- Broaden interpersonal skill development.
- Lead team building efforts.
