For immediate release ~ Abbotsford, BC ~ In response to a need for transformational leaders within ministry and marketplace contexts, Columbia Bible College is expanding its program offerings to include a four-year degree in Applied Leadership. The program will combine Columbia’s signature Christian faith formation curriculum with courses designed to equip graduates with the concepts, skills, habits, and character they need to serve as effective leaders within a variety of settings.
The Bachelor of Arts in Practical Theology (Applied Leadership) builds on Columbia’s recently-launched two-year Diploma in Applied Leadership, which begins with a focus on self-awareness: self-management and understanding one’s unique gifts, dark sides, and capacity for influence. Second-year courses help students learn skills for engaging small teams and cultural dynamics. Students moving on to third- and fourth-year BA level courses will grow their skillset further, developing leadership theory and practice around organizational behaviour, leadership sustainability, management, and communication.
“What excites me is the progression students will move through in their understanding of leadership,” comments Kathleen Doll, Columbia’s Associate Dean of Students. Along with Athletic Director Matt Kaminski, Kathleen Doll is Co-Program Director for Applied Leadership. She goes on to highlight the Christ-centered perspective unifying the curriculum: “Through it all,” Kathleen explains, “students are studying Scripture and theology, grounding their identities as leaders within their relationships with Jesus.”
Plans for Columbia’s unique Applied Leadership program began over five years ago, when faculty-member Mike Richardson first expressed a vision for in-depth leadership training at Columbia. It was Mike Richardson who created and launched LEAD, a one-year intensive leadership certificate. When Mike and his colleagues became aware of a rich appetite for leadership development among Columbia’s students, they built on initial efforts to develop the Diploma and then the BA degree.
“This is an excellent addition to Columbia’s program offerings,” adds Bryan Born, president of Columbia Bible College. “A key strength of the Applied Leadership program is the way it integrates biblical training, character formation, leadership practices and business skills in a manner designed to enable graduates to excel as servant leaders in the not-for-profit sector, marketplace or the church.”
Applications for the Diploma in Applied Leadership and BA in Practical Theology (Applied Leadership) are now open. For more info, visit www.columbiabc.edu/AL.