Andrews University strives to provide a strong academic environment with professors who are dedicated to student success and opportunities for growing experiences such as undergraduate research. However, reaching the point of offering current academic opportunities has been a continual process of development and is still changing today. In honor of our 150-year anniversary, I looked into how Andrews University’s programming got its start and came to be what it is today.
The first classes offered by what would eventually grow into Battle Creek College were grammar lessons, taught by Goodloe Harper Bell to a group of young men in the Battle Creek area. It started as an informal request by Edson White for Bell to teach him and a few other young men. Following this, the Battle Creek church hired Bell to teach, this organized class eventually grew into Battle Creek College (Jones-Gray 1). When the college opened, the Review and Herald announced “there will be the opportunity for the study of the languages, and other higher branches” (qtd. in Jones-Gray 2).
However, in the early 1900s, administrative leaders opposed granting degrees to students. Thus, although students enrolled in classes, the school would not grant them a formal degree (Jones-Gray 174). Instead, the administration promised to give students certificates indicating what coursework they completed. Also, recordkeeping that tracked student information was poor and informal at best. That changed, however, when O. J. Graf became president. Graf increased the structure and record keeping, and led the school in a new direction until, in 1910, the school could officially bestow students with a Bachelor of Arts degree (Jones-Gray 175). The strengthened academics attracted many new students to the school (Jones-Gray 177). “As We Set Forth,” lists a sampling of courses offered including, “trigonometry, analytical geometry and calculus, psychology, logic, and ethics…two years of Greek, two years Hebrew, three years Latin, three years German, and two years Spanish” (Jones-Gray 177). The book also mentions that the school advertised a pre-medical program in 1915-1916. Additionally, the school offered manual arts classes such as domestic science, printing, and woodworking (Jones-Gray 180).
Another change that added to course offerings was the merging of the Adventist Theological Seminary and School of Graduate Studies, under Potomac University, with Emmanuel Missionary College. The seminary was originally supposed to be affiliated with Washington Missionary College, but a lack of space and convenient locations resulted in the seminary's relocation to Andrews University (Jones-Gray 338). This brought a score of new class offerings and some graduate degrees to campus.
Even today the programs offered are constantly changing, with many degrees remaining standard through the years while others are removed and added. For example, the 1999-2000 bulletin lists pre-chiropractic, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, and pre-law as pre-professional programs. These are all still listed under the current bulletin and are made up of fairly standard science courses. Meanwhile, journalism is no longer offered on campus, though the bulletin as recent as 2017-2018 listed it as an option for students. In talking with alumni who graduated many years ago, I have also heard individuals mention training for secretarial work. Finally, many programs have simply seen an evolution in how they are named and structured. For example, the aviation department used to be listed as aeronautical technology, even though the titles of many degrees offered are similar. Regarding future program additions, the 2024-2025 working bulletin includes a Doctor of Science in Occupational Therapy, which is not currently offered on campus.
Andrews University offers a wide range of courses that attract many students each year. However, course offerings shouldn’t be taken for granted. The process of developing various programs for students has taken time and still changes over time. Andrews University Academics have come a long way and continue to serve many students, preparing them for the future ahead.
Jones-Gray, Meredith. “As We Set Forth.” Andrews University, 2002, pp 1-2, 170-190, 336-338.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.