Northwestern adds new minor

Northwestern College has added a minor in Christian community development (CCD) to the academic programs it offers. The new minor is especially relevant for students interested in justice, missions or urban ministry and could be added to nearly any major.

“We hope students majoring in non-religion majors like business or education, for example, will add this minor to their program,” says Dr. Michael Andres, religion professor and director for the CCD program. “It’s relevant preparation for anyone who wants, through their career, to participate in God’s plan of reconciliation and redemption of people and communities.”

A key feature of the new minor is community development immersion experiences, which students will gain through courses with service-learning components and CCD-oriented off-campus experiences. Students will be encouraged to participate in a short-term mission experience or complete an internship through Northwestern’s Denver Urban Semester or Romania Semester.

The CCD minor incorporates a variety of disciplines, including religion, social work, sociology, economics and political science. The 24-credit minor includes courses in Christian witness, intercultural communication, diverse populations and social justice, and state and local governments.

“The minor equips Christians to bear witness and pursue justice by critically analyzing social, political, economic and spiritual poverty in order to holistically develop communities toward self-sufficiency and spiritual renewal,” says Andres.

“The immersion component helps participants understand that developing communities is dependent on actually living in a community—in solidarity with the people you’re trying to serve.”

For more information about the Christian community development minor, visit www.nwciowa.edu/ccd or contact Dr. Andres at 712-707-7097 or andres@nwciowa.edu.