Currently, any Houghton student interested in ministry, theology, world religions, or biblical studies has the option to major in either religion, Bible, or christian formation, but that’s about to change. A new major has been introduced to Houghton’s campus–theology. According to Dr. Michael Walters, associate dean for Biblical Studies, Theology, and Philosophy, in time the current religion major will be phased out and the theology major will take its place. Dr. Walters explained that the current religion major has always had a heavy theological emphasis, but due to restrictions for New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program (NYS TAP) funding, Houghton could not label the major “theology.” However, this has recently changed, allowing Houghton students who choose to major in theology to still be eligible for NYS TAP funding. All current religion majors have the option to finish out their major, or, if they are not very far along in the required coursework, will be given the option to switch to the theology major, which is currently awaiting New York State approval.
The theology major is not only intended for “typical” ministry students. While only a 30-hour major, it has been specifically designed to be completed in combination with other majors. It should be noted that if a student were to combine a second major with theology, the theology major will only be 24 hours. Said Walters, “What the theology major is intended to do is to prepare people at a very foundational level to think biblically and christianly about the world, but also we are very excited about the component that we’re calling ‘theology and…’ which is our way of kind of looking at theology as a viable second major to couple with your art majors, your music major, your psych major, whatever, because people who are going into those fields are going into them as Christians, and they would really like to use those majors in a way that’s effective for the kingdom of God.” In addition to many of the courses current religion majors take, future theology majors can expect to take a new course taught by Dr. Eckley, which will be called “Church, Mission and Culture.” This class will put, said Dr. Walters, “…missional kind of footprint on the program…”
With changes occurring in the church and in ministry, and Dr. Walters long ago recognized the need to grow and change along with the world. During his recent sabbatical, he began to seriously consider how Houghton could adapt to changing times. After consulting current students and recent alumni and surveying pastors, the idea of a theology major was born. “We’re hoping that in very real way, our niche in the future is to listen to the God-given dreams of students. I believe God puts dreams in people’s hearts about how they can serve him, and we want to listen very carefully to those dreams and then help people to equip to realize those dreams.”