Two-year tracks of study

Faith Builders Training Institute offers three tracks of study: Teacher Apprenticing Program (TAP), Christian Ministries, and General Studies. These tracks integrate the head, heart, and hands components of education, which are central to the mission and philosophy of Faith Builders. Apply Here!

Teacher Apprenticing

For those developing as teachers, Faith Builders offers a two-year Teacher Apprenticing Program (TAP). This track is designed to accommodate the introductory level needs of students planning to teach in Mennonite, mission, or other church schools. Students in the Teacher Apprenticing track can select from three concentrations: 1) Elementary, 2) Secondary, or 3) Administration. A concentration in TAP indicates the area of apprenticing and the focus of the senior project rather than a concentration in course work. The courses required for this track are shown in the following table.

Course Schedule for Teacher Apprenticing Program

  Year 1 Year 2
Apprenticing Focus

Introduction to Teaching with Practicum (5)

 Development of Teaching with Practicum (5)
Fall Semester**

English Composition I (3)
World History I (3)
Old Testament Survey (3)
Mentoring I (2)
Choir (1)*
Bible or Writer Seminar (1)

 

World Literature (3)
Introduction to Worldviews (3)
Mentoring III (2)
Choir (1)
Math Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Winter Term   Internship (6)
Spring Semester

English Composition II (3)
Introduction to Human Understanding (3)
Principles of Science (3)
Principles of Science Lab (1)
World History II (3)
Mentoring II (2)
Choir (1)

Public Speaking (3)
Anabaptist Life & Thought (3)
Mentoring IV (2)
Choir (1)
Ethics or Senior Project (3)
Current Issues in Education (1)
Summer Term

Foundations of Education (3)

Electives (3)

  
Notes

*The core curriculum includes a four-hour Fine Arts requirement; at least two hours of choir must be taken.

**Apprenticing activities culminate in a three week apprenticing term during the middle of the Fall Semester. 

A total of 80 hours is required for this track.

Christian Ministries

The Christian Ministries track is designed to prepare students to return to their home communities prepared to serve with both zeal and vision or to move on to specialized areas of service in other parts of the world. We want students to emerge with skills, knowledge, and experience for effective service, whether ministering to the spiritual or material needs of people, living at home or in a foreign land, or working as a mechanic or as a career missionary. In addition to our core curriculum and specialized apprenticing courses, students do an internship at an existing ministry to gain practical experience in the area of their concentration. The courses required for this track are shown in the following table.

Course Schedule for Christian Ministries

  Year 1 Year 2
Apprenticing Foci

Introduction to Servanthood (1)
Reading and Teaching the Bible

Intentional Servanthood (3)
Cross-Cultural Communication (4)
Fall Semester**

Reading and Teaching the Bible (4)
Old Testament Survey (3)
English Composition I (3)
World History I (3)
Mentoring I (2)
Choir (1)*

Congregational Church Life (2)
Introduction to Worldviews (3)
World Literature or Senior Project (3)
Mentoring III (2)
Choir (1)
Electives (3)
Winter Term

Electives (6)

 Internship (6) (Summer or Winter Term)
Spring Semester

Introduction to Human Understanding (3)
Principles of Science (3)
English Composition II (3)
World History II (3)
Mentoring II (2)
Choir (1)

Ministry Practicum
Reading and Teaching the Bible Practicum

Anabaptist Life & Thought (3)
Ethics (3)
Public Speaking (3)
Mentoring IV (2)
Choir (1)
Notes

*The core curriculum includes a four-hour Fine Arts requirement; at least two hours of choir must be taken.

**Apprenticing activities culminate in a three week apprenticing term during the middle of the Fall Semester.

A total of 80 hours is required for this track. 

General Studies

The General Studies track is designed for those students who want to spend two years at FB in preparation for further education. It is designed to equip students to navigate college with proficiency and in Christian faith. Apprenticing in the General Studies track is similar to that in Christian Ministries. In addition, this track requires a number of specialized educational experiences which prepare students for college or university training. The courses required for this track are shown in the following table.

Course Schedule for General Studies

  Year 1 Year 2
Apprenticing Foci

Introduction to Servanthood (4)
Reading and Teaching the Bible*

Intentional Servanthood (3)
Cross-Cultural Communication (4)
Fall Semester**

Reading and Teaching the Bible (4)
Old Testament Survey (3)
English Composition I (3)
World History I (3)
Seminar (1)
Mentoring I (2)
Choir (1)

Introduction to Worldviews (3)
World Literature (3)
Mentoring III (2)
Choir (1)
Math Elective (3)
Winter Term

Electives (6)

Electives (6)
(may do Summer Term instead)
Spring Semester

Introduction to Human Understanding (3)
Principles of Science (3)
English Composition II (3)
World History II (3)
Mentoring II (2)
Choir (1)
The Christian & College (1)

Anabaptist Life & Thought (3)
Ethics (3)
Public Speaking (3)
Mentoring IV (2)
Choir (1)
CLEP exam or online course (3)***
Notes

*The core curriculum includes a four-hour Fine Arts requirement; at least two hours of choir must be taken.

**Apprenticing activities culminate in a three week apprenticing term during the middle of the Fall Semester.

***Computer proficiency must be demonstrated.

A total of 83 hours is required for this track.