C A S C

Christian Academic Studies Certificate

Goals 

This international Christian Academic Studies Certificate is rooted in an awareness of the importance of cooperation and coordination among institutions of Christian higher education around the world to address the urgent need for a new generation of Christian leaders.

In today’s world it is essential that the needs and aspirations of Christians in higher education--individuals and institutions--be addressed in global terms.  The rapid development of communication technology greatly enhances the possibility of significant contact among Christian students/scholars and institutions.  The rapid spread of Christianity in non-Western regions brings exciting new challenges for the development of Christian learning.  In particular, extremely rapid emergence of new institutions of Christian higher education in Africa, Latin America and Asia brings with it a critical need for professors with a developing awareness of the nature of their calling as Christian scholars. This need for a new generation of Christian academic leaders is also acute in North America and Europe.  This critical situation underscores both the need and opportunity for Christians to share their particular gifts and resources (including educational resources) for the benefit of all.  Such cooperation can begin to address not only the need for the training and development of a new generation of Christian leaders, but can also contribute to the ongoing development of Christian scholarship and the creation of a greater sense of academic community among Christian students/scholars worldwide.

The Christian Academic Studies Certificate (CASC) will help address these global needs.  The Certificate represents an international effort to identify and deliver a graduate level program of study that will provide participants with a grounding in integral Christian scholarship. 

Program

The CASC consists of five graduate courses in five categories.  Courses are offered by IAPCHE member institutions through distributed learning*, and traditional methods. Candidates may choose courses from one or several institutions around the world. The Certificate** is awarded by the institution where the preponderance of required courses are completed, conjointly with IAPCHE.

The CASC courses will fulfill part of the requirements for the Master of Worldview Studies program offered by the Institute for Christian Studies (Toronto). Other IAPCHE institutions are invited to provide a similar arrangement to students who wish to obtain an advanced degree at their institution, i.e. by including a statement in their respective academic calendars indicating their general policy regarding the granting of advanced standing to applicants who have completed the CASC.