The SEU Foundational Core Experience

Divine Design Resource Center

Unlock Your Divine Design

As a component of the SEU Foundational Core Experience, your Divine Design courses give you the space to discover and develop your divine design to serve Christ and the world through Spirit-empowered life, learning and leadership. These credit hours are built into most degree programs so you can explore your areas of interest. These experiences can help you determine your major or help you feel more confident in your choice, plus give you additional knowledge that will help you succeed long after graduation.

Ways to Earn Divine Design Credits

You have a number of options available to earn your Divine Design credit hours. The number of required hours varies by major, so be sure to review the degrees audits available in the university catalog to confirm the requirements for your program of study.

Get college credit for some of the activities you’re already doing! Experiential learning allows you to take the ideas that you’ve encountered in the classroom and put them into practice in a real-life vocational setting, under the guidance of professionals. Examples include:

  • Practicum—A practicum is a semester-long learning experience, with a goal of practicing skills to reinforce student learning. Learn more here.
  • Study Abroad—These programs, offered through the SEU Global Education department, span one or two weeks, or a full semester.study abroad opportunities are divided into major-specific and destination-specific programs. Some offer course credit, and others are for enhancing your learning. Learn more here.
  • Internship—Typically a semester-long learning experience with a goal of demonstrating a mastery of advanced skills. Your academic advisor or the SEU Career Services team can help you get started.

Taken as part of your Divine Design requirements or as an add-on to your educational journey, certificates are a great way to enhance your knowledge with skills and training that are immediately applicable to the workplace. Learn more here.

You minor (or minors) can relate to your major or can broaden your knowledge base by giving you the opportunity to delve into a completely different field. To find a minor, visit the SEU Catalog, choose Undergraduate, and select the applicable catalog year. Then, click Programs of Study on the left-hand side, and the minors available will be listed under their corresponding department.

To declare a minor, log in to MySEU, hover over Academics, select Registrar, and then complete the Major/Minor Program Declaration Form. Follow the instructions on the form and select the minor(s) you wish to add.

In MySEU, hover over Academics, select Registrar, and then complete the Major/Minor Program Declaration Form. Select both your current major and your new major. 

An elective is any college-level course that does not satisfy a specific program requirement in the Foundational or Major Core. You can find electives with one of these options:  

  • Visit the SEU Catalog and click Programs of Study. You can then look for courses required for different majors/minors and their prerequisites. (This is a good way to explore electives in your area of interest.)
  • Contact advising@seu.edu for tips to find additional general elective options.

Featured Courses

Spring 2024

The face-to-face sections of CORE 3113 have special topics of focus referenced above.  In the online version, we move through the following sequence of modules, and you get to choose your own topic! 

Here’s an overview:

  • Module 1: Focus on a Biblical Christian worldview and reflect on your own worldview.
  • Module 2: Discover what makes a problem “complex.” What kinds of issues can we explore in this course?
  • Module 3: Focus on your role as a problem-solver in the world and define a problem you’d like to address.
  • Module 4: Explore your chosen problem using the tools offered through SEU’s Foundational Core (we call these “modes of inquiry”)
  • Module 5: Describe the role of thought leadership in relation to complex problems and define the audience you can impact.
  • Module 6: Incorporate (and give) feedback and revision as part of the problem-solving process.
  • Module 7: Major course project week! You’ll combine your previous week’s work into your final project and present solutions.
  • Module 8: Think forward; reflect on your role as a problem-solver, the tools at your disposal, and your worldview.

Featured Minors

SEU Tech Certificate, Cybersecurity

Offered via the Jannetides College of Business, Communication & Leadership

Entrepreneurship

Offered via the Jannetides College of Business, Communication & Leadership

Missional Leadership

Offered via the Barnett College of Ministry & Theology

Classical Education, Minor - Online Delivery

Offered via the College of Education

Online Minors

See Catalog for details

Practicum Details

So many experiences — from volunteering to the job you have as you work your way through college — teach you skills that you can apply in multiple contexts. That’s why Practicum Credit, which is experience that includes learning and skill-building, is such an exciting option for students.

By leveraging the value you gain from these types of activities, and providing the appropriate documentation/supervisor review, you will earn credit toward your degree and learn how to apply what you learn to your calling.

Practicum Types

All that is needed for practicum experience to take place is a supervisor, a student, and for learning to be happening. General practicum options may include, but are not limited to:

  • Being a student leader
  • Working in a paid position 
  • Volunteering at a local organization
  • Serving at your local church

 

Earning Practicum Credit

The student will be required to log in to the practicum course on MyFire to reflect on what they are learning throughout this experience.

Students must complete a minimum number of documented contact hours (supervised work hours) in a 16-week semester. 

  • 1 credit hour = 40 contact hours
  • 2 credit hours = 80 contact hours
  • 3 credit hours = 120 contact hours
  • 4 credit hours = 160 contact hours

General and Major-Specific Practicum

Required, major-specific internships and practicum courses which are built into degree requirements (e.g. PMIN 2303 for site-based students or internships completed by education majors) are not considered general practicum.

However, students can choose to add a general practicum to their degree journey with other experiences, such as volunteering. If you are unsure if your major has a specific practicum requirement, please connect with your academic advisor.

Examples of Practicum Credit

Youth Group Volunteer
Under the supervision of the youth pastor, a student volunteers at a church’s youth group for 2 hours on Wednesday evenings and 1 hour on Sunday mornings, for a total of 3 hours per week. This experience is documented and reflected on, and signed off on by the youth pastor. The student earns 1 practicum credit hour for the semester.

Student Leader
Under the supervision of their Resident Director, a student leader serves as a Resident Assistant and documents the work hours they complete each week, for at least 7.5 hours a week. The Resident Director confirms the work hours and signs off on the learning that has taken place. The student earns 3 practicum credit hours for the semester.

Registering for a Practicum Course

Log in to JICSand then find your course based on your student type.

Traditional
Undergraduate

Look for PRAC with MAIN CAMPUS listed as the location.

Example course code: PRAC 1001 01 ON

Online & Site-Based Undergraduate

Look for PRAC with ONLINE listed as the location.

Example course code: PRAC 1001 90 ON

Offer Practicum Credit

For External Companies and SEU Departments

If you have opportunities for students to receive practicum credit, please complete this form and our Experiential Learning team will be in touch with you.

Getting Started

To discuss whether your chosen activity qualifies for practicum credit, or to find practicum opportunities, contact Sarah Fowler, Director of Experiential Learning, at experientiallearning@seu.edu.