CORE program

The CORE program is a requirement for all SAU graduates and students take CORE classes every year. This is where you will put what you are learning in other classes into a real-world context and start to understand what God might be calling you to do after college. Take some time to acquaint yourself with our CORE program.

CORE 100

CORE 100 welcomes you into the SAU community, helps you gain a good academic start, and leads you to learn more about yourself in relationship with others and God. The famous (or rather infamous) part about CORE 100 is a trip to Cedar Bend, a farm in northern Michigan. The weekend is spent learning about life in the 1800s, including participating in some activities that will virtually transport you back in time.

By the end of CORE 100, you will be armed with time management skills, a four-year graduation plan and a handful of friends.

Here's what some freshman students have said about CORE 100:

"CORE 100 helped initiate friendships that I plan to keep throughout my college experience here and hopefully beyond. Cedar Bend brought our group closer together, like a tight-knit kind of family. My CORE group is like my family at SAU." -Emily Parker

"What impacted me in CORE 100 are the wonderful friendships that I made over the course of just a few weeks! I really enjoyed my experience at Cedar Bend, getting to know everyone a lot better." - Nicole Praniewicz 

CORE 200

You'll tackle CORE 200 in your sophomore year, a course that facilitates heavy conversation about the moral, philosophical and social issues that have affected the world in recent years. Diversity, whether racial, economic or cultural, is a topic you'll explore first-hand on a trip to Chicago. In this course, you'll reflect on what it means to be a critical participant in today's world.

Here's what a student said about CORE 200:

"In CORE 200, I was challenged to address injustices and poverty in America and around the world." — Erica Albert 

CORE 275

Sometime during your sophomore year, you'll probably decide where you want to travel for CORE 275 — also known as the "cross cultural experience." This is a three-week experience where you’ll live in another culture, converse with natives of that culture, study the social, governmental and religious structures and watch as the world becomes considerably smaller. From this you’ll find that living in another culture is vital to understanding the world and the role we play in it. Programs are offered across the globe in places like China, Egypt, the Czech Republic and Mexico.

Here's what some alums have said about their cross cultural experiences:

"Egypt has changed my worldview in so many ways. I saw what it means to incorporate religion into every aspect of life, how to live in true community and really care about your neighbor. I long to discover what it truly means to love my neighbor, as Christ would have me do." — Seth Colling

"More than anything, the three weeks that I spent in Egypt taught me that this world is complex and no matter how much easier it is to think of the world in simple terms, I can no longer do so. I was reminded and astounded by the mysterious ways that God works." — Ben Keaster

CORE 300 

During your junior year, CORE 300 will teach you Christ-centered discipleship while discussing broad themes from creation to redemption to restoration. You'll start developing your belief system while exploring all the angles of an issue. This course is about making you aware of history, literature and the Bible's impact on Western culture—and about finding a deeper faith through personal growth.

Here's a student perspective on CORE 300:

"Professor Moore-Jumonville is a phenomenal professor. In CORE 300, he shared personal stories about frustrations he has experienced in his walk with Christ. Not only did I feel as if I could relate, but I felt able to open up enough to ask questions about my personal life." — Becca Cruce

CORE 400

All the CORE classes culminate in CORE 400, where you establish your personal worldview as it pertains to your future job and calling. You’ll put your faith into words as you prepare to defend it on a variety of topics. CORE 400 is the pre-game pump-up before you get out there and start spreading your light.

Here's a student perspective on CORE 400:

"CORE 400 challenges you to ask the hard questions of how you view the world. There is an old saying that says if you stand for nothing, you fall for everything. CORE 400 helps you discover just what you stand for." — Lisa Byers