Goshen College

Goshen College is an affordable, nationally-recognized, private Christian liberal arts college in Northern Indiana known for leadership in intercultural and international education, sustainability and social justice.

But it’s more than a college. It’s a Spirit-filled global community, a research lab, a catalyst for positive change and a home for people who seek peace—both in their own lives and in the international community.

Goshen College is a liberal arts college dedicated to the development of informed, articulate, sensitive, responsible Christians.

As a ministry of the Mennonite Church, we seek to integrate Christian values with educational, social and professional life. As a community of faith and learning, we strive to foster personal, intellectual, spiritual and social growth in every person. We view education as a moral activity that produces servant-leaders for the church and the world.

A Goshen College education is oriented toward joy, growth and purpose, preparing students to thrive in life, leadership and service.Rooted in the way of Jesus, we seek inclusive community and transformative justice in all that we do.

The Center for Intercultural and International Education (CIIE) meets the educational needs of a wide range of students with specialized resources focusing on intercultural and international education and service to our community, nation and world.

Goshen is home to one of the oldest semester-long study abroad programs in the country (Study-Service Term), emphasizing total cultural immersion and service in a developing country. In addition, students can take global courses on campus or three-week intensive courses around the country and the world.

Today there are some 2.1 million Anabaptist-Mennonites in the world, representing 305 groups in 87 countries.From the perspective of five centuries of Anabaptist history, this is a phenomenal development that is transforming the character and future of the tradition.

Founded in 2011, the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism (ISGA) acts as a bridge between the received tradition and this larger global transformation by promoting connections among the various members of the global Anabaptist-Mennonite church.

The ISGA’s main initiatives include the Bearing Witness Stories Project, a collaborative and web-based endeavor to collect and share stories of costly discipleship from within the Anabaptist tradition; an archival platform called the Global Anabaptist Wiki, and GAMEO, the Global Anabaptist-Mennonite Encyclopedia On-line.

For students pursuing undergraduate degrees, choosing a major or minor helps guide the curriculum for earning that degree.The major is a specified concentration of courses in a department, in addition to designated electives in related departments, which develop expertise in the concepts and skills of a discipline.

Minors supplement the major, often emphasizing a special interest, an interdisciplinary approach or vocational skill.An interdisciplinary major is also offered, usually combining work in three departments. Don’t worry if you haven’t decided on a major yet, we have a page just for undecided students. You’re not alone, and you have an exciting journey ahead.

The residence halls are often the place where students first meet friends, come together as a group with other students and begin to feel a sense of belonging. All full-time single students younger than 25 are welcome to live in one of four traditional residence halls. Each hall houses men and women on separate floors.

Apartments offer increased independence and flexibility within the campus context. Each student apartment on Goshen’s campus has its own kitchen, living area, bathroom and separate bedrooms, while some feature unique lofts and spiral staircases. This option is available for older students.

Intentional Living Communities offers an opportunity to deepen friendships in a largely self-governing environment.Students apply for housing together as a group, and groups are chosen based on several criteria. This option is available for third and fourth year students.

The standards held by Goshen College are based on Christian ideals, educational goals, necessary expectations set and upheld for good group living, and guidelines needed to ensure proper care of the housing facilities. Some college housing and living regulations are necessary to protect the rights of each individual student while others are designed to protect the entire student community.

Attendance at Goshen College is a privilege and carries with it the obligation to observe college regulations. While attending Goshen College, a student is subject to the laws of Indiana as well as those of the local community outside the campus.Campus housing is an integral part of college campus life and contributes in many ways to the education students receive. Students live and work in groups and get to know people of various backgrounds.

Goshen College was founded in 1894 as the Elkhart Institute of Science, Industry and the Arts, a private preparatory school to provide the opportunity for Mennonite and other young people to further their education. Soon afterwards, the Mennonite Church took over its operation, and by 1903 the school so flourished that new facilities were needed. Business and civic leaders from the city of Goshen convinced school leaders of the benefits of relocating to the southern edge of their growing town, and ground was broken on a wheat field near train tracks that could conveniently transport students to the new campus.

Much has changed since the college’s beginnings, but the familiar sound of train whistles brings a reminder that many things remain the same. Goshen College – rooted in the Anabaptist tradition of answering Christ’s call to reconciliation, community and service in the world – is thriving as a liberal arts college pursuing exceptional academic inquiry.