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 is more than a college. It is 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 developing informed, articulate, sensitive, responsible Christians.
As a ministry of the Mennonite Church, we seek to integrate Christian values with academic, 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. Students can also 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 transforms 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 more massive 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 costly discipleship stories from within the Anabaptist tradition, an archival platform called the Global Anabaptist Wiki, and GAMEO, the Global Anabaptist-Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
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 and designated electives in related departments, which develop expertise in the concepts and skills of a discipline.
Minors supplement the principal, often emphasizing a particular interest, an interdisciplinary approach, or vocational skill. An interdisciplinary major is also offered, usually combining work in three departments. Do not worry if you have not decided on a major yet; we have a page just for undecided students. You are not alone, and you have an exciting journey ahead.
The residence halls are often where students first meet friends, come together as a group with other students, and begin to feel a sense of belonging. All single full-time 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 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 mostly 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 each student's rights, 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 and 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 from various backgrounds.
Goshen College was founded in 1894 as the Elkhart Institute of Science, Industry, and the Arts, a private preparatory school to allow Mennonite and other young people to further their education. Soon afterward, the Mennonite Church took over its operation, and by 1903 the school so flourished that new facilities were needed. Business and civic leaders from Goshen's city convinced school leaders of the benefits of relocating to the southern edge of their growing town. The 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.
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