Course Development Grants

The Center offers Course Development Grants for the purpose of stimulating the development and implementation of courses (or course segments) on the Center's theme in university curriculum. These grants are awarded accordingly:

• Course Development Faculty Awards ($5,000): The Center offers two awards each year to university faculty members who hope to develop and teach an undergraduate- or graduate-level course on that year's selected theme. Applicants are asked to provide evidence that the course can be taught at least twice during the four year span after the course award is made, and to submit a detailed syllabus for the course under consideration.
• Course Development Host Institution Award ($10,000): Institutions of the course deveopment faculty awards will also be awarded, with the understanding that at least half of the institutional award will be set aside for professional development or course enhancement opportunities for the award-winning faculty member.

RFP: Intellectual Virtue and Civil Discourse (2014-2015)

Biola University’s Center for Christian Thought, through the help of a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation, invites applications for a course-development grant on its focal theme for the 2014-2015 year on Intellectual Virtue and Civil Discourse.

This course development grant is intended to stimulate the development and implementation of courses (or course segments) related to the theme Intellectual Virtue and Civil Discourse. The program will provide two awards per year to faculty members who hope to develop and teach an undergraduate- or graduate-level course on that theme. Applicants will provide evidence that the course can be taught at least twice during the four year span after the course award is made and will submit a detailed syllabus for the course being considered for the award. Winners will be notified by July 1, 2014. Evaluators will offer feedback on each winning syllabus, with advice on readings, course topics, etc.

Awards will be for $5,000, for the individual faculty member, and $10,000 for the host institution, with the understanding that host institutions will set aside at least half of the institutional award for professional development or course enhancement opportunities for the award winning faculty member.

Intended applicants are university and college faculty in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, theology, and other relevant disciplines. To be eligible, applicants must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree and identify themselves as members of the Christian tradition, broadly construed. Selection criteria include: fit of research proposal with focal theme and questions, and coherence of intended course plan.

Application Instructions

Completed applications should be submitted electronically to the Center’s Director, Gregg TenElshof, at cct@biola.edu. Deadline: November 15, 2013.

• Curriculum vitae
• A detailed syllabus for the course or course-segment proposed
• A 150-word summary description of the course

Before the financial award will be granted, award-winning faculty will be asked to provide a revised syllabus based on feedback and evidence the course will be taught at least twice during the four year span after the course award is made. 

Timetable

• November 15, 2013 – Deadline for completed applications
• July 1, 2014 – Awards announced