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Mission Statement & Learning Outcomes

The theology program in the Whitworth Department of Theology & Philosophy is primarily a Christian-studies program, strong in the classical disciplines of biblical studies, church history, and Christian theology (with emphasis on the Reformed and evangelical traditions). Its mission is to provide students with an academically challenging, spiritually robust foundation in Christian studies that would prepare them well for a life of serving Christ in the world.

The learning outcomes of this major include the following:

Guiding Values

Spiritual Values: Spiritually, the theology program seeks to deepen students’ love for God, devotion to Jesus Christ, and experience of the Holy Spirit. More specifically, the program seeks to nurture in students the following things:

• a love of the Bible (interpreted Christo-centrically, with focus on the gospel and biblical theology);
• a love of the historic faith (with emphasis on its Reformed and evangelical expressions);
• a love of the church (understood as God’s people, the Body of Christ universal, with specific commitment to a local congregation);
• a love of spiritual discipline (i.e. the practice of reading Scripture, as well as meditation, prayer and worship);
• a love of Christ’s work in the world (embracing witness, ministry, Christian service, and the worldwide mission);
• a sense of life-direction and personal Christian vocation.

Academic Values: While nurturing this love of things Christian, the program also seeks to foster academic excellence throughout the curriculum. More specifically, the program seeks to develop in students the following:

• a spirit of open inquiry;
• an appreciation of careful, honest scholarship;
• the ability to think critically and well, and to understand and argue a point of view;
• the courage to come to independent conclusions and to live by one’s deepest convictions;
• research skills;
• well-honed skills in reading, writing, and speaking.

The philosophy program of the Whitworth Theology & Philosophy Department introduces students to the content and methodology of the discipline of philosophy. While emphasizing the history of philosophy and current philosophical issues, the department’s courses help develop logical-reasoning and critical-thinking skills. The program focuses on both the critical and the constructive aspects of philosophy while encouraging Christian character development and career preparation. The learning outcomes of this major include the following:

Content mastery, including knowledge of the following:

• The history of philosophy, including key authors and texts
• Key issues, key questions, & major alternatives
• Central issues relative to intersection of philosophy with other disciplines, e.g. philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind

Critical thinking, including the ability to do the following:

Develop analytical skills:

• ability to listen and analyze various modes of discourse;
• ability to read texts carefully.

Develop argumentation skills:

• Identify and follow arguments (including the ability to discern fallacies, detect assumptions, identify presuppositions and implications of ideas).
• Construct arguments both orally and in writing – including the ability to assert, explain, and justify a position.

Constructive Synthesis

• Understand worldviews.
• Articulate competing worldviews (with particular exposure to a Christian worldview)
• Recognize worldviews in dispute.
• Develop a personal worldview.
• Develop ability to connect ideas, pulling ideas from various sources to enhance and synthesize
• Integrate philosophy into one’s personal life

Christian Character Development

• Cultivate moral virtues and aid in character development through teaching, modeling, and mentoring.
• Expose students to the Christian faith as a viable option for thinking persons.

Career Preparation

• Prepare some students for law school, seminary, philosophy graduate programs and other liberal-arts graduate programs.
• For all students: Translate acquired skills into marketable professional competencies.