Organizations Students Can Join at a Christian College
- Faith-Based Groups
- Community Service
- Sports
- Politics
- Career
There are several benefits for students going to a Christian college who are interested in a faith-based education, including being around like-minded students and centering their career around a service perspective. However, some students are unaware of what types of organizations that are available at Christian institutions. This may come from the idea that these schools are generally more restrictive when it comes to student life. The following list of organizations that are found at Christian colleges and universities shows that there is a variety of clubs and groups available for students who are looking for a full Christian life.
1. Faith-Based Groups
It should not be a surprise that religious groups are available at Christian colleges, but what might be interesting is the vast diversity of organizations devoted to other religions or to interfaith programs. This has become more common at these institutions because there are students from different faiths who study at Christian colleges. From Muslims to Buddhists and every faith in between, most Christian universities have at least one organization dedicated to interfaith friendship and understanding.
2. Community Service
Community service is a large part of any student’s life on Christian campuses; in many cases, it is a requirement for graduation to log a certain number of hours every term in community service. But apart from the requirement, these schools are great examples of what can be done with community service organizations. Most of these groups focus on doing medium to large-sized projects for the community the school is located in and can consist of everything from cleaning up highways and feeding the homeless to cleaning up parks and building homes. There are a variety of these organizations available and some may even consist of missionary trips around the world, making it a great choice for students who are interested in missionary work after graduation or want to have an international field experience.
3. Sports
In the spirit of friendly competition, most Christian colleges have intramural teams that play against each other. While the different sports teams available varies from college to college, most students will find clubs for baseball, basketball, football, and soccer. Other popular choices are volleyball, cricket, and tennis. Depending on where a student attends college, it may also possible to find teams for rock climbing and rowing. The choices are endless and while the schools may have varsity teams, all students can participate by taking part in an intramural sports club.
4. Politics
Political organizations are popular on campus; this should come as no surprise since many Christian students tend to be politically active prior to entering college. Organizations in this realm include Democratic and Republican organizations, independent party clubs, and clubs that are searching for bipartisanship. Advocacy groups, or groups that focus on one main issue, are also included in this category; issues may include political movements, the environment, or focus on a single issue like healthcare or voting rights.
Related Resource: 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities
5. Career
Career organizations are generally linked to the college’s most popular majors; these can include but are not limited to, social work, business, psychology, and law. Christian colleges make a concerted effort to ensure that these prestigious organizations have the chance to flourish on campus and often provide students with the ability to introduce new organizations on campus if they are not already present. These organizations often help students gain internship or practicum opportunities and may help facilitate them finding work after graduation.
It is true that Christian colleges across the country are struggling with progressive movements as the New York Times illustrates. Even in the midst of the changing climate, it is possible to find diverse clubs and organizations in these institutions. A student will learn more about the specific organizations available at their college of choice by contacting the school directly.