Undergraduate

Educational Objectives

Tokyo Christian University (TCU) aims to train and educate people to serve God and others in the church beyond denominational boundaries and in society, while possessing a passion for world missions and a Christian worldview and calling based on Protestant evangelical principles. Towards accomplishing this goal, TCU works at cultivating character, broad cultural literacy, specialized knowledge in theology, and the ability to think and act responsibly.

Admissions Policy

Tokyo Christian University (TCU) aims to train and educate people to serve God and others in the church beyond denominational boundaries and in society, while possessing a passion for world missions and a Christian worldview and calling based on Protestant evangelical principles. Through its liberal arts education, holistic character development through dormitory education and chapel services, and specialized studies in each major, TCU works to foster a gospel-driven understanding of the Bible and broad theological knowledge, a disposition to serve people and society, cultural literacy, zeal with knowledge for serving God and the church, and the ability to think and act responsibly.

TCU seeks applicants who meet the following criteria:

  1. Those who have been baptized or, for those baptized as infants, have made a public profession of faith.
  2. Those who have expressed commitment to Christ and wish to serve in the church and society in the future. 1
  3. Those who assent to TCU’s founding principles and statement of faith.
  4. Those who have a basic knowledge of the Bible, and who have basic competencies for independent thought and self-expression.
  5. Those who can communicate effectively with others.

During TCU’s admissions process, TCU will evaluate applicants’ basic knowledge of the Bible, their possession of basic competencies for independent thought and self-expression, and their ability to communicate effectively with others. The methods and standards of evaluation for admission to TCU are given separately in the Guidelines for Admissions.
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1 This includes not only those who hope to become pastors and missionaries, but anyone who wishes to serve Christ in this world.

Curriculum Policy

Tokyo Christian University has established its Curriculum Policy as follows in order to determine what kind of curriculum to develop, what kind of educational content and methodologies to offer, and how to evaluate educational outcomes. The aim of the Curriculum Policy is to fulfill the Diploma Policy based on the University’s “Founding Principles” and “Philosophy and Mission.” Through this Curriculum Policy, TCU aims to train students to become Christians who possess a gospel-driven understanding of the Bible and broad theological knowledge, with practical abilities to passionately serve God and people. (The codes inside parentheses correspond to objectives in TCU’s Diploma Policy [DP].)

[1] Course Offerings
a. TCU offers the opportunity for theological studies broadly covering the traditional fields of Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, Historical Theology, and Practical Theology, based on the principles of Protestant Evangelicalism and interdenominationalism. (DP-1, 2)
b. TCU offers liberal arts courses necessary for understanding people and society. (DP-2, 4)
c. TCU offers a curriculum with opportunities to study in both Japanese and English in order to train Christians capable of working broadly in society. (DP-4)
d. TCU offers courses in fields such as Practical Theology, Global Studies, Youth Studies, and Christian Social Work to train Christians who possess practical skills for serving God and people with an understanding of different cultures and other people. (DP-1, 3, 4)

[2] Course Organization
a. To encourage a personal approach to studies, TCU arranges courses with learning opportunities ranging from foundational academic skills to specialized knowledge in an easy-to-understand way using course numbers. (DP-1, 2, 3)
b. From among a broad selection of theological courses, TCU offers multiple majors (curricular models) and minors connected to clear visions of the future and encourages students to choose a path that will enable them to pursue their personal interests and future goals. TCU offers these majors: Church Ministry, Global Studies, Youth Studies, Christian Social Work, and Theological Studies. (DP-4, 5)
c. TCU creates and provides students with course syllabi that clearly set forth course objectives, contents, teaching and learning methods, evaluation methods, etc. Additionally, TCU provides students and faculty with a “curriculum map” giving a detailed visual representation of the Curriculum Policy in order to ensure a shared understanding of the curriculum throughout the university. (DP-3)
d. TCU works to offer courses more effectively and to improve course content through the implementation of course evaluations by students at the end of each term. (DP-3)

[3] Methods and Evaluation of Learning
a. In order to minimize the distance between students and faculty and to encourage more active learning, TCU provides a diverse range of learning opportunities through lecture-based and discussion-based classes – mostly comprising small numbers of students – as well as internships, practicums, and graduation research projects. (DP-3, 4, 5)
b. In order to promote meaningful participation and collaboration among students, TCU provides learning opportunities that adopt various “active learning” methods, such as small group discussions and student presentations in class. (DP-3, 4, 5)
c. In order to train Christians who possess practical skills and collaborative abilities for serving society and the church, TCU requires attendance at chapel1 and local church services, and it provides opportunities for education through dorm life. (DP-4, 5)
d. In addition to regular course grades, multiple forms of evaluation by other parties, including student self-evaluations and interviews with faculty, are used to achieve a comprehensive evaluation of learning outcomes for assessing the competencies needed in order to graduate. (DP-1, 2, 4, 5)

[4] Learning Support
a. TCU assigns each student a faculty advisor to provide personal support, including academic guidance and career counseling. (DP-3)
b. TCU creates opportunities for meaningful exchange among upperclassmen and lowerclassmen2 to foster the development of a learning community in which students can support one another. (DP-4, 5)
c. TCU provides a support system for students who experience learning difficulties. (DP-3)
d. TCU provides a student counseling room to respond to students’ diverse needs, including both mental and physical issues. (DP-4, 5)

[5] First-Year Education
a. For first-year students – in addition to courses that focus on equipping students with foundational skills for academic study at the university level, and courses that give overviews of theological studies – TCU offers practical learning opportunities necessary for building a sense of belonging to the university learning community, and for developing a Christian worldview. (DP-1, 2, 3, 5)
b. TCU introduces to first-year students a diverse range of curricular models and provides them with opportunities to interact with faculty and upperclassmen.3 The purpose is to enable them to plan their studies individually and enthusiastically according to their personal interests and callings. (DP-3, 5)
c. TCU uses pre-university education results in order to learn about students in need of support and then begin supporting them immediately upon matriculation. (DP-3)
d. TCU begins its career education from the first year and supports students in forming specific visions for the future. (DP-4)

Implementation of the Curriculum Policy (CP)
・TCU aims to implement the curriculum policy methodically by including codes for underlying curriculum policies (e.g., CP-1a, CP-3c) in documentation related to undergraduate courses and their content, and related to other educational programs and activities designed for students.
・TCU’s faculty and staff will bear in mind the university’s “Education PDCA Cycle” and continue to implement revisions and improvements as needed by regularly confirming that their work is in accordance with the Curriculum Policy and the Diploma Policy.
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1 “Chapel services” refers to worship services that all students attend from Tuesday to Friday each week.
2,3 This includes orientation for new students, spring retreats, small group chapels, and other student activities.

Diploma Policy

Tokyo Christian University grants the Bachelor of Arts degree to those who are enrolled for the prescribed period, who obtain the required credits by completing the courses designed to meet the University’s “Educational Objectives,” and who pass the final graduation evaluation by the faculty. In addition to lecture classes, the education offered to students includes seminars, internships, field experience, and graduation projects, as well as dormitory education and speaking at a graduation chapel.
The Bachelor of Arts degree will be granted to those who fulfill the following criteria:

1. A personal understanding of the core concepts of Protestant Evangelicalism.
2. A positive grasp of TCU’s interdenominational principles.
3. Acquisition of theological knowledge in fitting with the curriculum, and the ability to apply it.
4. Attainment of a disposition to serve people and society as a Christian, as well as broad cultural literacy and the ability to apply it.
5. Development of a passion to serve God and the church, and the knowledge necessary to do so.

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