Columbia’s First Graduate from Dual Degree Partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University

By Katie Rempel, Columbia Bible College and Indiana Wesleyan University Grad of 2023

(Above Katie Rempel is pictured selling her homemade Kombucha on campus at one of our Maker Markets)

My name is Katie Rempel and I am currently the first graduate from a pilot program from Columbia Bible College and Indiana Wesleyan University! This program is incredibly fascinating and dual in nature as half of my time has been spent deep in biblical theology and the other biblical courses that CBC has to offer while the other half of my time has been spent completing business management courses at IWU from Accounting to Human Resource Management to Communications. Indiana Wesleyan University is a widely recognized and accredited leader in online education, offering a plethora of options for those interested in professional degrees including Management, Communication, and Marketing.

In light of this, another incredible element of this program is that I will have come away with two degrees in four years – one of them being a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and the other a Bachelor of Arts in Practical Theology. All of this has been achieved without ever having to leave CBC, and the program is very rewarding! I’ve come away with a diverse selection of knowledge in practical, biblical, and managerial subjects, all of which can ultimately help me succeed in my career, ministry, and life-style pursuits.

This program also allows students to stay on campus and continue in student life at CBC. This was of significant importance to me in my second year as I was able to continue in student leadership – in recreation and Vespers leadership (Tuesday night worship) – as well as continue to grow and develop the friendships I had made. CBC is such a unique experience – as many Bible colleges offer – in that the Christian community can act much like a greenhouse for one’s spiritual growth. And because of this opportunity to further my education, I’ve been able to continue to grow under the mentorship of professors, the guidance of supervisors, and the support of deeply loving friends. In this, I feel prepared to enter the workforce knowing that God’s work at CBC has allowed for a solid foundation of faith and has provided a strong group of individuals that can support each other as we act on the vocations that God has called us into.