Bethel University is a
private Christian university in
Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River, in Penn Township, St. Joseph County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 51,063 as of the 2020 census. Its nickname is "the Princess City". Mishawaka is a principal city of the South ...
. It was established in 1947 and is affiliated with the evangelical Christian
Missionary Church
The Missionary Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of Anabaptist origins with Wesleyan and Pietist influences.
Faith and practice
The Missionary Church is a Trinitarian body which believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God and ...
.
Organization and administration
Bethel is a part of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the Council of Independent Colleges. It is regionally accredited by
The Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...
. The institution also has specialized accreditation by The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
Currently, Bethel is organized into three academic areas: Division of Arts & Sciences; Division of Humanities & Social Sciences; School of Nursing. Additionally, there are four graduate programs administered in conjunction with the schools through the Office of Adult and Graduate Studies.
There are approximately 2000 students distributed across these programs. About 1300 are traditional students pursuing bachelor's degrees right after high school. 650 are adult students who take classes on evenings and weekends which lead to bachelors or associate degrees. 250 are enrolled in graduate programs. The Bethel University faculty is composed of about 115 full-time members.
Bethel College changed its name to Bethel University upon the end of commencement exercises on May 5, 2019.
Academics
Bethel University offers undergraduate, graduate and adult degree programs across the spectrum of disciplines that characterizes American higher education at small colleges. The traditional academic majors include a substantial general education component which is typical of most liberal arts institutions. With some variation by major program, these students take courses in history, literature, philosophy, fine arts, communication (oral and written), psychology, sociology, science, mathematics, physical education, and foreign language. Furthermore, because of the university's identification with Christianity, all students take courses in Bible (Old and New Testament) and an introductory theology course. These general education courses provide a broad background across the disciplines upon which more depth is pursued in a major (or majors).
Athletics
The Bethel athletic teams are called the Pilots. The university is a member of the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic scholarships to its st ...
(NAIA), primarily competing in the
Crossroads League (formerly known as the Mid-Central College Conference (MCCC) until after the 2011–12 school year) for most of its sports since the 1981–82 academic year; while its men's & women's swimming & diving teams compete in the
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The KCAC is the oldest conference in the NAIA and the second oldest in the United Stat ...
(KCAC); and its women's lacrosse and men's volleyball teams compete in the
Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and it's heaquartered in Livonia, Michigan. The conference consists of twelve college ...
(WHAC). They are also a member of the
National Christian College Athletic Association
The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) is an association of Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada whose mission is "the promotion and enhancement of intercollegiate athletic ...
(NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the North Central Region of the Division I level.
Bethel competes in 25 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and eSports.
The most recent sports added were men's and women's eSports and men's volleyball. Basketball, baseball, and softball games are broadcast by the
Regional Radio Sports Network.
Athletic accomplishments
* 3 NAIA National Championships (Men's D-II Basketball)
* 29 NCCAA National Championships
* 3 NAIA Individual National Champions (1 Women's Golf, 2 Men's Track)
* 211 NCCAA Individual National Champions (Tennis and Track & Field)
* 229 NAIA All-Americans
* 435 NAIA Scholar-Athletes
* 15 NAIA National Players of the Week
* 33 National Coach of the Year awards (NAIA & NCCAA Combined)
* 60 Conference Regular Season Championship
''(List is current through the 2021–22 school year).''
In addition to athletic competition, Bethel University encourages athletes to undertake short-term
missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Mi ...
work. Over 45 short-term missions trips/task force teams have been taken by teams within the athletic department.
Notable people
*
Andrew Clyde, member
U.S. House of Representatives
*
Mike Lightfoot, college basketball coach
*
Justin Masterson
Justin Daniel Masterson (born March 22, 1985) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. Drafted by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2006 MLB draft from San Diego State University, he made his MLB debut two years later. ...
, professional baseball player
*
Marci Miller, film and television actor
*
Joel Runyon, internet entrepreneur, author, publisher, podcaster, and philanthropist
’09 founded
Impossible X
*
Eric Stults
Eric William Stults (born December 9, 1979) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball, and for ...
, professional baseball player
References
Further reading
*
External links
Official website
Official athletics website
{{authority control
Educational institutions established in 1947
Education in St. Joseph County, Indiana
Buildings and structures in St. Joseph County, Indiana
*
Evangelicalism in Indiana
1947 establishments in Indiana
Mishawaka, Indiana
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
Private universities and colleges in Indiana