Learning Communities
PBA’s learning communities provide a perfect way for you to connect with other students who have similar academic interests. They also further the connection between you and your professors — and allow you to explore your proposed major much earlier in your PBA experience. Learning communities are curricular approaches that intentionally link two or more courses, usually around a particular interdisciplinary theme. You will enroll in a learning community along with a group of other students, called a “cohort.” This experience:
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| Students studying in the Lassiter Student Center |
- Builds community
- Enhances learning
- Fosters connections among students, faculty and disciplines
Major-Specific or Program-Specific Learning Communities
• Biology Majors
• Frederick M. Supper Honors Program
• Lower-Division Nursing Majors
• Medicinal Biological Chemistry Majors (includes pre-pharmacy)
• Psychology Majors
• Rinker School of Business Majors
• School of Ministry Majors
• Teaching Majors (elementary education, secondary English or math, K-12 art or P.E.)
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| One of our most dynamic communities, Baxter Hall is a residence hall housing 240 students. |
Exploratory Learning Communities
(required for students who have not yet chosen a major)
• People Helping People
• My Own Boss
• White Coats
• The Write Way
• Globe Trotters
• Wherefore Art Thou?
Major-Specific Learning Communities:
Biology Majors
The biology learning community is designed for entering freshmen who wish to work in the biological sciences. In the first semester, students will be exposed to some of the basic concepts fundamental to an understanding of the natural sciences by completing Biology I, a mathematics course which will help enhance quantitative skills, while the First Year Experience course will help with the transition into college life. Our goal is to provide a solid background upon which to achieve success in upper-division classes, graduate programs, and as professional scientists.
Frederick M. Supper Honors Program
The Frederick M. Supper Honors Program exists to establish a community of scholars. This community, consisting of faculty and students, encourages, challenges, and supports one another in the endeavor to seek wisdom. Honors students share a genuine passion for intellectual contemplation and discussion, and members of this community provide leadership for the entire student body. The primary goal of the Honors Program is to encourage students to develop a thoughtful and insightful Christian worldview. The study of a variety of ideas and concepts provides a coherent frame of reference for all thought and action. Recognizing that one’s worldview provides the basis for values and decisions, an honors education is intended to produce servant-leaders who glorify God in thought, word, and deed. In the first semester students who have been invited to and accepted by the honors program will take The World of Polis and Covenant. Other classes include Rhetorical Eloquence, First Year Experience, and Writing About Literature.
Lower-Division Nursing Majors
The lower-division nursing learning community is designed for entering freshmen who are thinking about becoming nurses. The foundation of nursing education is basic sciences. Principles of Chemistry provides a foundation for understanding physiological processes and medications. Biology I provides the foundation in life sciences required for later studies in Human Anatomy and Physiology. Together, these courses prepare students to take Microbiology and Nutrition. The First Year Experience class explores issues in professional nursing and helps students to see themselves as nursing students.
Medicinal Biological Chemistry and Pre-Pharmacy
This learning community is designed for entering freshmen who wish to enter pharmacy school after completing required undergraduate preparatory courses, or who enter as majors in Medicinal Biological Chemistry. In the first semester, the schedule will include Biology I, and General Chemistry I. A mathematics course will help enhance quantitative skills, while the First Year Experience class will help with the transition into college life. Our goal is to provide a solid background upon which to achieve success both in graduate pharmacy programs and as professional pharmacists.
Psychology Majors
This learning community is planned for entering freshmen with a declared major in psychology. General Psychology and the First Year Experience are the two classes in this community.
Rinker School of Business Majors
Entering freshmen who are declared business majors will be enrolled in: Introduction to Business and the First Year Experience course.
School of Ministry Majors
This learning community is for freshmen entering a School of Ministry degree program. This community will challenge students to grow in the knowledge, skills, and character needed in various ministry settings. Courses in the community include Foundations of Christian Ministry and the First Year Experience. This experience will enrich and encourage students to become emerging leaders in ministry.
Teaching Majors (elementary education, secondary English or math, K-12 art or P.E.)
This learning community is planned for entering freshmen students with a declared major in one of the teaching fields: elementary education, secondary English or math, K-12 art or P.E. The First Year Experience and Intro to Teaching are the two courses in this community.
Exploratory Learning Communities:
Discover your calling through exploration.
Not everyone dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse, elementary art teacher, or college philosophy professor. Some have to try a number of majors before finding the one that fits. Still, others have so many interests it seems that they will never be able to decide. Once upon a time, these thoughts and feelings made choosing a major an overwhelming task. But not anymore! Exploratory Learning Communities at PBA allow you to discover your major by exploring various, related areas of study, all within the support of a community-building environment made up of students with similar interests. So if the following statement describes you, “As long as I’m making my own hours, I’m happy,” then you may want to consider the group titled, “My Own Boss.” Meet other innovators like yourself. Explore opportunities you had not considered. Make lasting friendships with people of like goals. Or come to the startling realization that you need too much structure to make your own hours. Either way, you will be one step closer to discovering yourself.
In Fall 2013, freshmen in Exploratory Learning Communities have the following choices. The top three should be chosen on the Learning Community Selection Form in myPBA.
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| Rinker Hall houses students involved in outdoor recreation programs. |
People Helping People
This exploratory learning community is designed for entering freshmen who are interested in working with people. Students in this group will explore areas pertaining to ministry, psychology, and education. In this learning community, students will take General Psychology and the First Year Experience together. Possible areas of interest include pastoral ministry, Biblical studies, counseling, teaching (such as art, music, or physical education), and worship ministry.
My Own Boss
This exploratory learning community is designed for entering freshmen who are interested in self-employment. Students in this group will explore areas within business and entertainment industries such as management, popular music, cinema, and television. In this learning community, students will take Public Speaking and the First Year Experience together. Possible areas of interest include business management, communication, cinema/television, public relations, marketing, and popular music production.
White Coats
This exploratory learning community is designed for entering freshmen who are interested in research and health-related studies. Students in this group will explore areas pertaining to nursing, biology, chemistry, athletic training, and pharmacy. In this learning community, students will take Exploring the Bible and the First Year Experience together. Possible areas of interest include scientific research in biology or chemistry, athletic training, medicine, or forensic science.
The Write Way
This exploratory learning community is designed for entering freshmen who are interested in intellectual work requiring strong writing abilities. Students in this group will explore areas pertaining to English, journalism, pre-law, and philosophy. In this learning community, students will take Humanities I and the First Year Experience together. Possible areas of interest include poetry or fiction, marketing, journalism, pre-law, philosophy, and history.
Globe Trotters
This exploratory learning community is designed for entering freshmen who are interested in working with diverse populations around the world. Students in this group will explore areas pertaining to understanding how to work in other cultures, international business, foreign languages, and political science. In this learning community, students will take the First Year Experience and Humanities I together. Areas of interest include missionary work, cross-cultural studies, government and politics, international business, and learning languages such as Spanish, French, and German.
Wherefore Art Thou?
This exploratory learning community is designed for entering freshmen who are interested in the performing and visual arts. Students in this group will explore areas pertaining to music, dance, theatre, or graphic arts. In this learning community, students will take the First Year Experience together and choice of a two-credit music/art/dance/theatre experience. Areas of interest include acting, screenwriting, theatre production, graphic design, creative writing, vocal performance, and dance.
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