"I am teaching evolution as fact, and I know there are Christians here who will hate me for it." This was the announcement Jennifer Muller heard from her prof just after settling in for day one of freshman Biology.

In most state schools, evolutionary Biology would be so assumed professors would hardly think to announce it. But Jennifer attended a school smack in the center of the Bible-belt: Texas A & M. After repeated clashes with Christian students, the professor thought it wise to lob his evolutionary grenade on day one.

When Jennifer chose A&M, worldview played no part in her decision, and she is not alone. Annually, thousands of students choose schools without considering worldview — a college’s or their own. Many, perhaps even you, likely have no idea what a worldview is.

What’s a worldview?
Simply put, worldview is how people see everything around them. It’s the lens they look through as they take in and classify reality. It’s what dictates their decisions and how they see themselves and others.¹

For example, in the Christian worldview, reality is objective or independent of our reason or experience. But in the postmodern worldview, reality is "socially constructed" or created individually. For Jennifer, this meant that "in most classes, all beliefs were equal."

The implications of differing worldviews can be even more significant, as Josh Perry, a Western Washington University senior, experienced in his Logic course. One of the course’s foundations was, "If you can’t prove it, you shouldn’t believe it." After hearing this mantra repeatedly, Josh applied it to his own faith. "I had not heard much from churches on Christian apologetics or principles of faith and struggled with my faith because I felt I couldn’t ‘prove’ it."

Both Jennifer and Josh found the depth of worldview conflict surprising, likely because neither considered worldview while choosing their schools. But according to students and professors at Christian and secular universities, students ought to think seriously about what their schools or potential schools teach.

In search of the worldview
While it’s not as easy as simply asking a college admissions officer, "What’s your school’s worldview," there are indicators that answer the question.

Dr. James Elsberry, Indiana Wesleyan University education professor and department chair, believes students ought to begin by using some big questions to define worldview for themselves and the schools they consider:

The Metaphysical Question: What is real?
* What is the meaning of life? Do events occur randomly or according to a purpose?

The Epistemological Questions: What is true? How do we know?
* Is knowledge subjective or objective? Is truth nothing more than "what works" or is there truth independent of human experience? How do we decide between these views?

* How do we know what we know? What are sources of knowledge — Authority? Divine revelation? Experience? Reason? Intuition?

The Axiological Question: What is of Value?
* What values does the university encourage students to adopt?

Answering these questions can be organized into three general categories: stuff in print, the campus tour and people associated with the campus.

Stuff in Print
Some research can begin on the Web.

* Visit the campus’s website, and give it a critical look. What is featured and prominent on the pages? Who’s on faculty?

* Visit professors’ webpages in your prospective major and generally. Read resumes or bios. What types of works have they written? Scan their syllabi. What do they teach in their courses?

* Visit the student life webpage. Check out the calendar of events. What activities and festivals does the school sponsor? Do they host a speaker’s series? Who do they invite to speak? What kinds of student clubs are listed? For Christian schools the ratio of evangelical vs. ecumenical groups can indicate the schools’ evangelical nature. For secular schools, more extreme secular groups indicate a liberal environment. A good mixture of Christian and secular groups can indicate a more tolerant environment for conservatives or Christians.

Hardcopy media also provides insightful information.

* Catalogs and handbooks usually contain church affiliation (if applicable), university mission statements, core values, statements of faith (for religious schools) and school policies. Do these statements and values align with what you believe? What are the student behavior policies? Some schools prohibit student drinking, smoking, dancing, etc. while others outline few behavioral policies. Some colleges now allow coed dorm rooms while others have strict curfews.²

* What types of classes does the school list in the schedule of courses? Some of America’s top schools offer classes like, "The Bible and Horror" (Georgetown), "Vampires: The Undead" (A Harvard women’s studies course) and "Sorcery and Magic" (Columbia).³

* Check out departmental publications like brochures, annual reports and academic magazines or journals. What do brochures or annual reports feature or value? What types of research do magazines or journals contain?

* Even applications reveal a school’s worldview. Dr. William Jeynes, a California State University professor instructs students to "analyze the essay questions students have to complete." If the questions are dominated by politically correct mush, that gives you an idea of what the college values. Likewise, the types of essay questions Christian schools require indicate their evangelical nature.

* He also recommends scrutinizing other application materials, such as scholarship and financial aid information. To whom do they distribute their funds? Do they award their money based on subjective politically correct standards or on more objective criteria, such as academic performance?

* The application process can also be revealing. Karen Eilers, a political science student at Indiana Wesleyan, was required to give her testimony during an interview. No secular school would require this, but it can reveal what a Christian school values.

* A final print source is magazine surveys, like the U.S. News and World Report. Other surveys rank schools on different criteria, including student life, party life, sexual activity, drug use, etc. Often these surveys merely reflect a school’s reputation, which can be a valid measure. "Schools get a reputation for a reason. If a school has a party reputation, they earned it," says Dr. Jeynes.

People Associated with the Campus
People on or associated with campuses provide great insight directly and indirectly.

* Ask admissions counselors, who spoke at recent commencements? What’s the political background of the student body or faculty? Who are prominent alums or faculty? Are some Christians or conservatives?

* Be certain to visit with faculty. Ask professors what research they’re working on. What do they value? How is the curriculum structured? Why is it structured that way? What is the purpose behind what is taught?

* How do religious schools and professors integrate faith into the courses and curricula? Solid Christian schools integrate faith into every aspect of life on campus, including the classroom.

* Definitely talk to students, current and former. What’s taught in classes? How do students and faculty treat the Christian worldview? Is there room for discussion or debate related to worldview? Are there Christian organizations on campus, like Campus Crusade for Christ or Intervarsity? Student or staff leaders of these groups can also answer these questions.

The Campus Tour
When you book campus tours, make a list of worldview indicators you’ll look for.

* Look at a college’s bulletin boards. What is advertised? What kinds of activities are held on campus?

* Read the student newspaper. What are they writing about? What are the campus’s hot issues?

* What kind of student and faculty art is prevalent? What are people talking about on campus? What kinds of music do you hear while walking through dorms?

Is This Really Necessary?
Even after this long list of ideas, you still may wonder if considering a college’s worldview is important. The answer may differ somewhat for each individual, but Christians need to consider seriously worldview when pondering and prioritizing schools. According to Dr. Elsberry, here’s why:

1. God gives us gifts that must be developed to serve Him effectively. What gifts has God given you for His service? What is your stewardship obligation in the development of your gifts?

2. God calls those individuals to whom He has given gifts (all of us) into His service. Does it make a difference how you should prepare for that call?

3. God prepares us for places of service and places of service for us. You will be a different person depending upon how you prepare for your life’s work. What kind of person must you become to serve those persons and places God has chosen for you?

For some a Christian college or university is the best choice, while for others a secular school may be better preparation to fulfill God’s call. But making that decision without considering worldview means making an uninformed and quite possibly a fateful decision.

"College will change you," Karen confides. Just how and how much depends on what you know about your worldview and that of your chosen college or university.

Endnotes
1. Wolters, A.M., Creation Regained. 1985, Grand Rapids, MI: Eeerdmans.
2. Borrego, A.M., Today's Students Want to Have Sex, but Not With Their Roomates, in Chronicle of Higher Education. 2001: Washington, DC. p. 29-30.
3. Parsons, R.A., et al., Comedy and Tragedy. 2001, Young America's Foundation. Available at: http://www.yaf.org/pubs/co medy/c&t2001.html.