Bethel University (Minnesota)

Bethel University is a comprehensive university of the arts, sciences and professional studies located in Arden Hills, Minnesota, a suburb of Saint Paul. The school's sports teams are called the Royals. They participate in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).

The university is also renowned for its performing arts program, including Benson Great Hall recognized as one of the nation's outstanding concert halls, and The Bethel Choir, the university's 75-voice concert choir which has performed throughout Europe and Scandinavia to widespread critical acclaim.

Fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission--North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the university is also a member of the Christian College Consortium.

Bethel University is affiliated with and supported by the congregations of the Baptist General Conference. All full-time students and professors are expected to abide by a Covenant for Life Together. This lifestyle agreement focuses on living a relatively conservative Christian life of personal morality, which includes a respect for all persons and ethnic traditions, prohibition of extra-maritial sex, gambling, and the use of alcohol, illegal drugs and tobacco in any form. The goal of the Covenant is to build a community of faith and learning centered around common values.

History

Bethel University began as a seminary for Baptist immigrants from Sweden in 1871 and in 1914 combined with a secondary academy, which later became a junior college. In 1947, the addition of a four-year liberal arts college program created Bethel College and Seminary. In 2004, the institution amended its name to Bethel University to better reflect its broad scope of its academic programs.

Schools of Bethel University

Bethel University is divided into five different schools, each focusing on a different area:

College of Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences

The College of Arts & Sciences offers 66 majors (78 including emphases within majors) and 41 minors (42 including emphases within minors).

Facilities - Main Arden Hills, MN Campus

Main Education Buildings

There are five main education buildings located on Bethel University's main campus in Arden Hills, MN. They run Southwest/Northeast and are located in what would basically be considered the center of campus. They are all connected through weather-protected skyways and tunnels.

Starting from the Southwest and running to the Northeast the buildings are as follows (with abbreviations in parentheses): Benson Great Hall and Community Life Center (CLC), Academic Center (AC), Clauson Center (CC), Hagstrom Student Services Center (HC), and Robertson Physical Education Center (RC).

Map of Campus

Campus Housing

There are four freshmen residence halls located on-campus. Three of them are on a hill known as Freshmen Hill; they are Bodien Hall, Getsch Hall, and Edgren Hall. The other freshmen dorm is Nelson Hall, and it is located a short distance away from freshmen hill. Nelson Hall is the oldest building on Bethel University's current campus in Arden Hills.

There are three residence halls that house mainly sophomores located on-campus: Arden Village West, Arden Village East, and Lissner Hall. Lissner Hall is the newest building on campus; it was completed in the Summer of 2005.

Two residence halls, North Village and Fountain Terrace, house mostly Juniors. Fountain Terrace is a former apartment complex located about two miles off-campus. A shuttle service runs regularly to and from this residence hall. North Village is located on campus within walking distance of the education buildings, but a shuttle services this residence as well.

Heritage Hall is the main Senior housing on campus, but also houses several Juniors.