This course, the opening to the M.Ed. program, will begin by exploring different perspectives concerning the nature and purpose of education, including a direct focus on Christian educational philosophies. This course will also explore the relationship between an individual’s foundational belief system and their beliefs about teaching and learning, examining identified views of learning and philosophies of education. Participants will have the opportunity to identify their own foundational belief system and to articulate their own Christian educational philosophy. Then the focus of the course will shift to exploring the relationship between a Christian educational philosophy and a variety of central elements of education (e.g. curriculum, instruction, assessment and evaluation, teacher-student relationships, classroom management, etc.), identifying possible implications and applications.