Exploring Faith Integration in Academic Rigor: A Case Study of a Christian Graduate Program
Saved in:
| Title: | Exploring Faith Integration in Academic Rigor: A Case Study of a Christian Graduate Program |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Natalie Mercer |
| Source: | Online Submission. 2025Ed.D. Scholarly Research Project, Bradley University. |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 123 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research Tests/Questionnaires |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Graduate Study, Religious Colleges, Christianity, Institutional Characteristics, College Faculty, Graduate Students, Teacher Attitudes, Student Attitudes, College Environment, Difficulty Level, Spiritual Development |
| Geographic Terms: | Michigan |
| Abstract: | This qualitative case study explores the relationship between faith integration and academic rigor within the graduate program at Mephi Zion University, a Christian higher education institution. The study investigates how the institution's religious identity and Christian worldview influence its academic environment, focusing on both faculty and student perceptions and experiences related to academic rigor. Data was collected through an online survey and focus groups with 25 participants, including current students, alumni, faculty, and administrators. A benchmark analysis of peer institutions accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) was conducted to contextualize academic rigor within faith-based higher education. Internal document analysis of institutional resources, such as curriculum guides and academic catalogs, provided insights into how faith integration and academic expectations are communicated. Thematic analysis revealed that participants associated academic rigor with higher-order thinking skills, quantifiable measures of student engagement, and the integration of faith and learning. Faith integration was perceived as foundational to the academic culture, shaping curriculum design, teaching practices, and student learning experiences. The institution's religious identity was found to influence academic rigor through its emphasis on biblical integration, spiritual formation, and the cultivation of a Christian worldview. The findings suggest that faith integration and academic rigor can be effectively harmonized within a Christian higher education context when intentionally embedded within the institutional mission, values, and educational philosophy. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | ED677159 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED677159 Name: ERIC Full Text Category: fullText Text: Full Text from ERIC |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: ED677159 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Report PubTypeId: report PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Exploring Faith Integration in Academic Rigor: A Case Study of a Christian Graduate Program – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Natalie+Mercer%22">Natalie Mercer</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Online+Submission%22"><i>Online Submission</i></searchLink>. 2025Ed.D. Scholarly Research Project, Bradley University. – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: N – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 123 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Study%22">Graduate Study</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religious+Colleges%22">Religious Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Christianity%22">Christianity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutional+Characteristics%22">Institutional Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Environment%22">College Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Difficulty+Level%22">Difficulty Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spiritual+Development%22">Spiritual Development</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Michigan%22">Michigan</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This qualitative case study explores the relationship between faith integration and academic rigor within the graduate program at Mephi Zion University, a Christian higher education institution. The study investigates how the institution's religious identity and Christian worldview influence its academic environment, focusing on both faculty and student perceptions and experiences related to academic rigor. Data was collected through an online survey and focus groups with 25 participants, including current students, alumni, faculty, and administrators. A benchmark analysis of peer institutions accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) was conducted to contextualize academic rigor within faith-based higher education. Internal document analysis of institutional resources, such as curriculum guides and academic catalogs, provided insights into how faith integration and academic expectations are communicated. Thematic analysis revealed that participants associated academic rigor with higher-order thinking skills, quantifiable measures of student engagement, and the integration of faith and learning. Faith integration was perceived as foundational to the academic culture, shaping curriculum design, teaching practices, and student learning experiences. The institution's religious identity was found to influence academic rigor through its emphasis on biblical integration, spiritual formation, and the cultivation of a Christian worldview. The findings suggest that faith integration and academic rigor can be effectively harmonized within a Christian higher education context when intentionally embedded within the institutional mission, values, and educational philosophy. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: ED677159 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED677159 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 123 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Graduate Study Type: general – SubjectFull: Religious Colleges Type: general – SubjectFull: Christianity Type: general – SubjectFull: Institutional Characteristics Type: general – SubjectFull: College Faculty Type: general – SubjectFull: Graduate Students Type: general – SubjectFull: Teacher Attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: College Environment Type: general – SubjectFull: Difficulty Level Type: general – SubjectFull: Spiritual Development Type: general – SubjectFull: Michigan Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Exploring Faith Integration in Academic Rigor: A Case Study of a Christian Graduate Program Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Natalie Mercer IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 12 Type: published Y: 2025 Titles: – TitleFull: Online Submission Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
