CCCU BestSemester Program

Through ACU's affiliation with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, students are able to apply to participate in a number of outstanding special study programs.

• Australia Studies Centre (ASC)  Beyond the coursework that is provided through the ASC's partnership with the Wesley Institute, students will hear Oomera Edwards, professor for the Indigenous Cultures, History and Identity course share her story as well as her knowledge and understanding of traditional Aboriginal culture and her spiritual connection to the land and creation. ASC
• American Studies Program (ASP) Throughout the unit, students study about energy policy and climate change. They hear from experts on energy consumption and renewable resources, political think tanks, congressional offices and government agencies. ASP
• China Studies Program (CSP) Students study in rural, mountainous Qinghai, where they stay in a small Tibetan village for a week: irrigating, painting, and teaching. From there they go to X'ian to begin their history study tour, commonly known as "the Trek." Upon completion of the Trek, students split into their concentration groups. The business concentration students study Xiamen-based companies. Those in the China studies concentration study Chinese painting and tai chi. CSP
• Contemporary Music Center (CMC) Students in the Artist and Executive tracks work together non-stop to create not only the best music and marketing they can, but a career plan that will guide them as they move from college student to full-time musician or music industry executive. The campus buzzes with photo and video shoots, Web site and press kit creation, and final classes in music, publishing, record contracts and how faith can inform every aspect of the creative and business process. CMC
• Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC) Each student is part of a team putting together an eight-minute, festival ready film using the LAFSC's state-of-the-art Sony, high definition digital cameras, newly built foley state and Final Cut Pro editing equipment. Their final products will be screened at the Silent Movie Theatre where industry insiders whom the students have met through their internships are invited to attend as guests. LAFSC
• Middle East Studies Program (MESP) Students travel throughout the region meeting with political and religious leaders as well as youth peers--Muslim, Christian and Jewish before returning to their base in Cairo. Throughout this process students ask the hard questions about the influence of culture and politics on religious beliefs, reflections that will compel them to examine the degree to which their own faith is a mask or self-interest. While answers seldom come as they expect, most students find greater balance in the search for responsible vocation and spiritual maturity. MESP
• Russian Studies Program (RSP) While spending their winter semester in Nizhni Novgorod students are warmed by the sincere hospitality of their Russian host families and language teachers. Their Russian gets increasingly better, as does their understanding of Russian literature and history. Their semester ends with a train ride to St. Petersburg to enjoy that magnificent city's beauty as spring emerges. RSP
• Uganda Studies Program (USP) While studying at Uganda Christian University students stay with local families as they perform service projects and travel around the country. Beginning with the fall 2007 semester, a new Intercultural Ministry/Missions Emphasis within USP will be available. USP
• Washington Journalism Center (WJC) Students study news writing during their internships with D.C. based journalists during their first month. They then go on to study Washington, News & Public Discourse with an emphasis on the history and evolution of news - especially how news affects politics in Washington, D.C. In addition students attend lectures featuring guest lecturers. WJC

To apply for one of CCCU's BestSemester opportunities: https://www.bestsemester.com/applications/students/