The Biology department was one of my favorite parts about Master’s. When I was choosing a college, it was one of the main reasons why I decided to attend the school. I wanted to study Science from a Biblical perspective, and Master’s was one of the best places to do that. In class, the professors constantly pointed out God’s design in Creation. The more I learned in my Science classes, the more I stood in awe of what God has made. Not only did the professors continually point out God’s handiwork, but they truly loved the Lord and cared about us as individuals. They were always available to talk to us – whether we had questions about Biology, Chemistry, the Bible, or life in general! The Biology department taught me much about life and grew me in my walk with the Lord. Because of that, I feel better prepared for life, no matter what I do. In fact, I have already been able to use my degree. The Lord gave me a job in the Environmental Science field – a field where Christians are scarce and people do not know the Savior who created the world that they study every day. The Master’s Biology department helped prepare me for this field. Now that is exciting.- Brittany Burkhead, Class of 2008
When I came to Master’s, I had no idea what to expect. I grew up in public schools, and I had never even been anywhere near a private school. I didn’t know if I would be able to make friends with the other students, or even if I would like the college. In fact, I was rather certain that I would not like the school at all. My attitude changed the very first day at Master’s. I met a fellow Biology Major in the book store, and began to see what The Master’s College was all about. That fellow student would soon become the greatest and most dependable friend that I have ever had. I never knew what true friendship was until I walked onto campus for the very first time. I had no idea that the classes would be so challenging and enriching, but they brought me to a much greater understanding of God’s creation, and how it works. The classes at Master’s seemed to be designed towards getting students to bond together and work together to solve problems. The science department is full of professors and students, who are constantly pursuing Truth, and trying to understand the world that God created. I was challenged more than I ever thought possible, but I had fellow students to push me forward and to walk alongside me. The college prepared me immensely for the exams for further education, and I was accepted to a Ph.D. program at Loma Linda University. The education that I received from The Master’s College was incredible, and I owe a great deal to the faithful professors and other leaders at the college. - Matthew Ingle, Class of 2008
God used my four years at the Master’s College to play an important formative role in my life. The training I received more than adequately prepared me for studies at Johns Hopkins Medical School, developing my scientific understanding which that serves as a base for classes here. I was taught not to learn scientific facts in isolation, but to relate and integrate them with my growing body of knowledge. As a result of this training, I have been equipped to excel in studies. More importantly, the science faculty encouraged me not to dichotomize academic knowledge and Scripture. Because I keep in mind that God created all the amazing facets of the human body, I see His creation as a testimony of the Divine imagination and ingenuity for which He can be praised.
This focus that The Master’s College places upon God and His Word is what I appreciate most about my education. It made my training there unique from that of my medical school classmates. They too were equipped to succeed academically and professionally, yet their colleges did not teach that there is a greater purpose to this life we live - that we exist to honor, enjoy, and obey Jesus Christ. I am thankful that the Bible was emphasized to me as the ultimate authority upon which all other knowledge and opinions should be evaluated: whether examining the issues of abortion, sexuality, or caring for the uninsured of our healthcare system. I am thankful I was trained to take what I am taught and obediently, humbly, and intelligently evaluate it in light of God’s truth so I can discern between truth and falsehood in my education. It is sad to watch most of my classmates go about without an ultimate foundation upon which to base their judgments, instead trusting their own view of reality over God’s truth.
I value my education at the college because I was taught more than scientific knowledge; I was taught the primacy of Jesus Christ in every aspect of life. Pursuing medical studies, I seek to keep that goal in focus, for I know that by striving in His strength to honor my Lord, my efforts are not in vain.
- Stephen Wreesman, Class of 2006
*Stephen Wreesman scored an unheard 40 out of 45 on the MCAT.
Because the department is smaller, I’ve had a great opportunity to interact with my professors one-on-one, both inside and outside of the classroom. I have the utmost respect for all of them: they are not only all brilliant scientists, but they are also incredible men of God who love the Lord and integrate their study of the Scripture into their field and classes. An obvious impact of this is with regards to creation: since joining the major, I’ve been consistently amazed at the intricacy and complexity of life and the beauty that can be found in it. I thank the Lord for blessing us with his creation to enjoy, for giving us the platform from which to observe the things around us, and also giving us intelligence that seeks to explore and understand.
- Shelley Stewart, class of 2005
As I near the completion of a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Southern California, the benefit of hindsight permits me to say with confidence that the four years I spent as a student in The Master’s College biology department prepared me well for graduate study. Particularly, classroom instruction there was sufficiently challenging that I experienced little difficulty coping with the rigors of graduate-level coursework. Moreover, the depth of classroom instruction was such that it positioned me near the edge of our current knowledge, especially with regard to my area of emphasis, molecular biology. This gave me a great vantage point from which to acquire new knowledge through the laboratory research in which I am now engaged. Finally, classroom instruction was broad enough in scope so as to include genetics, immunology, pathology, endocrinology, and physiology, in addition to the cellular, developmental, and molecular aspects of biology. My resulting familiarity with each of these areas has helped me to put my research in a greater overall context, as well as to understand more clearly the research of colleagues from other departments.
The training that has enabled me to hold my ground academically in a competitive university environment was made possible by an exceptional group of faculty members. In addition to being proficient classroom teachers and one-on-one mentors, these individuals are model Christians, who taught me by their examples that pursuing excellence in science and holding a biblical worldview are not mutually exclusive. As a result, I have been able to hold my ground spiritually in a place where the prevailing attitude towards faith in general and Christianity in particular is skeptical at best. This is a benefit I would not have received at most other schools, and it is what makes The Master’s College biology department a unique and desirable place for a Christian to prepare for a career in the life sciences.
- Steven Karl Pregizer, Class of 2002
One of the reasons I chose Master's is because of their high acceptance rate into medical school from their science program. The classes are small, so there are lots of opportunities to interact with professors on an individual level. And the professors' credentials are outstanding. ( Dr. Jones used to teach at the Naval Academy, and Dr. Anderson used to teach at Baylor College of Medicine. )
After I graduated from Master's, I was accepted into Yale School of Medicine's physician assistant program. The program was intense, but I think my strong science background enabled me to excel. I scored off the charts when I took the national certification exam.
When I finished at Yale, I was accepted into the School of Journalism at Columbia University. I am currently pursuing a master's in Magazine Journalism so I can begin a career as a health reporter.
I think my academic training at Master's enabled me to participate in and excel in these graduate programs at both Ivy League universities. Master's gave me the opportunity to learn what it means to love God with my mind, as well as my heart and soul.
- Sarah Elizabeth Thebarge, Class of 2001