Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) is a private residential liberal arts

Liberal arts

The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...

 college founded in 1927. BLC is a Christian

Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

 coeducational college operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Synod

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod or ELS is a US-based Protestant Christian denomination based in Mankato, Minnesota, USA. It describes itself as a conservative, Confessional Lutheran body.-Membership:...

. The campus of BLC overlooks the Minnesota River

Minnesota River

The Minnesota River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of nearly , in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa....

 valley in Mankato, Minnesota

Mankato, Minnesota

Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, a community of about 50,000.

History

Bethany Ladies College opened in 1911 with 44 students and a faculty of four. In 1927, the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (now known as the Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Synod

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod or ELS is a US-based Protestant Christian denomination based in Mankato, Minnesota, USA. It describes itself as a conservative, Confessional Lutheran body.-Membership:...

) purchased the campus for dual use as both a high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 (Bethany Lutheran High School; closed in 1969) and junior college

Junior college

The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...

 (Bethany Lutheran College). In 1946 Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary

Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary

Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary , is the training school for pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Founded in 1946, BLTS was a department of Bethany Lutheran College , before the two institutions were officially separated in 1974...

 (BLTS) began as a department of the college; in 1975 it became a separate institution.

In 2001 Bethany awarded its first baccalaureate

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 degrees, completing a five year transition from its 74-year history as a junior college.

Timeline

• 1911: Bethany Ladies College opens
• 1927: Norwegian Synod purchases college
• 1946: Seminary opens
• 1969: High school closes
• 1999: Baccalaureate programs begin
• 2001: First BA degrees granted

Majors

• Biology
  • Pre-Chriopractic,
  • Pre-Dentistry,
  • Pre-Medicine,
  • Pre-Physical Therapy,
  • Pre-Veterinary
• Broad Field Social Studies
• Business Administration
• Chemistry
• Communication
• Elementary Education (K-6)
  • Specialty 5-8
  • Communication Arts and Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Evangelical Lutheran Synod
• Engineering (dual degree)
• English
• Exercise Science
• History
• Liberal Arts
• Mathematics
• Media Arts
• Music & Church Music
• Psychology
• Religion
• Sociology
• Studio Art
• Theatre

Licensures and certifications

• Secondary Education
  • Communication Arts and Literature (5-12)
  • Social Studies (5-12)
  • Visual Arts (K-12)
• Coaching Certificate

Extracurriculars

Students have the opportunity to participate in various activities on campus.

• Choir
• Drama
• Intramural Athletics
• Music
• Scholastic Leadership Society
• Speech/Forensics
• Student Activities Committee
• Student Leadership Institute
• Student Publications and Communications
  • BLC Studios
  • Fidelis
  • Inkwell
  • The Scroll
  • Yearbook
• Student Senate

Athletics

The Vikings are members of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference is a college-level athletic conference. The UMAC is a member-conference of the NCAA Division III. The UMAC was formerly affiliated with the NAIA. Corey Borchardt is the current commissioner of the UMAC, and was appointed to the position in 2008...

 in the NCAA Division III. The school offers the following sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men and women's cross country, golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis and volleyball.

Presidents

1. Rev. Holden Olsen 1927-1929
2. Rev. Walter E. Buszin 1929-1930 (interim)
3. Rev. Dr. Sigurd Christian Ylvisaker 1930-1950
4. Rev. Dr. Bjarne Wollan Teigen 1950-1970
5. Rev. Raymond Branstad 1970-1977
6. Rev. Theodore A. Aaberg 1977-1978 (interim)
7. Prof. Norman Holte 1978-1982
8. Dr. Marvin G. Meyer 1982-2002
9. Dan R. Bruss, Ph.D. 2003–present

External links

• Bethany Lutheran College
• Athletics Site