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New Mexico

Semester Programs: Rehoboth Bridge Semester

Imagine a place where it doesn't matter what kind of camera you own—every picture you take is filled with color and light. This is Gallup, New Mexico, home of Calvin’s Rehoboth Bridge Semester.  Our program is uniquely situated in the Four Corners region on the Campus of Rehoboth Christian School, offering students a great space to live and learn in a place that is vigorously academic, beautifully diverse and thoroughly Christian. 

This semester program is distinctive in many ways. Take the concept of a traditional semester at college and blend it with the idea of a gap year, the result just might look a lot like Calvin’s Rehoboth Bridge Semester.  Taking a gap year is common practice in Europe.  Rather than going straight to college, students take a year off to immerse themselves in other places, explore specific interests, or volunteer to help others.  This trend is growing in the United States as well; yet the pressure to begin one’s college studies is ever present. 

Calvin’s Rehoboth Bridge Semester is meant to address this dilemma by creating an alternative path to start or stay in college; offering first and second year students an opportunity to explore new places and cultures, meet new friends, while delving into the concepts of vocation, leadership and service.  This experientially based semester offers all this and more while also helping students earn up 14 hours of college credit.

 

Eligibility

You must be a first or second year student at Calvin.  Students must have a 2.5 GPA or higher (in either their final year of high school or first year of college). 

All students must be accepted into the program after completing an application and an interview with the program director. 

Cost

The Rehoboth Bridge Semester is usually close to the cost of Calvin’s tuition and room and board (21 meal plan).  The program cost will include: 

  • Administration fee
  • Tuition
  • Room and board
  • Calvin orientation just prior to the start of the fall semester (to be held at Calvin).
  • Transportation to and from Calvin at the beginning and end of the semester. 
  • Program excursions throughout the region to such places as Santa Fe, Arches National Park, Mesa Verde, and a major backpacking trip into the Grand Canyon.

All financial aid offered by Calvin can be used to pay for the cost of the program.

Additional expenses not included in the program fee: books, medical insurance, some weekend meals, independent travel and spending money.

Accommodations

Rehoboth dormYou will live in a dormitory on the campus of Rehoboth Christian School with at least one Calvin roommate.

Courses

The following courses are required of all students in the Rehoboth Bridge Semester program, with the exception of the PER course, giving students the option of 13 to 14 credit hours.  These courses are taught by either the Calvin director or qualified instructors from the Gallup area.  In addition, second year students could substitute one course from the University of New Mexico, Gallup for the DCM course if they have already fulfilled this requirement.

STNM 1xx: Prime Kingdom Citizenship
Designed to incorporate and expand on the following themes:  worldview, cultural discernment, responsible freedom, justice and vocation and include topics related to civic engagement, service learning and diversity.  This course will help develop students' sense of community while they explore Native American culture and the Rehoboth campus while also interacting with the surrounding communities of Red Mesa, Gallup and with reservation churches and communities.  The class will make use of field trips, guest speakers and service learning hours. 

3 semester hours

Fulfills cross-cultural engagement credit and Prelude

STNM 218: Peoples and Cultures of the Southwest
The study of anthropology is used as an introduction to the greater Southwest as a major world culture area. Includes field trips to Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Canyon de Chelly. 3 semester hours, societal structures core
STNM 151: Introductory Geology
This introductory study of the geological structures of the earth makes extensive use of the unique geological features of the Southwest.Includes field trips to the Grand Canyon and the Bisti Badlands. 4 semester hours, physical world core
STNM 150 XX: Developing a Christian Mind
An Crossing Cultures. Would you be shocked if another student called your high school teacher by his or her first name? Or amazed if a friend told you that their future spouse was already chosen for them by their parents? And floored if your friend seemed perfectly OK with this? Cultures hold dear different values like individual freedom and respect for elders. They also celebrate different heroes and tell different stories to help children understand what is expected of them.
In this DCM section, students learn to better relate to persons who are formed by different cultures; to deepen their understanding of how culture influences peoples' faith and worldview, including their own; and encounter the Christian faith in a culturally contextual way, with a particular emphasis on Native American cultures.
The learning objectives for this sectional include a heightened awareness of how cultural contexts impact human relationships; a deeper understanding of the Reformed worldview; and increased listening and conflict resolution skills. Student grades for the sectional material are based on their level of engagement with the readings and cultural activities through written reflections, presentations and in-class discussion.
3 semester hours, DCM core
STNM 1XX: PER Course

Core physical activity classes, possibilities include:  Outdoor Pursuits, Rock Climbing, Biking, or Walking.

1 semester hour, PER core

 

Apply

The Rehoboth Bridge Semester program will be offered in the Fall of 2013. To apply for the Rehoboth Bridge Semester, you must first apply to Calvin College. Once the Calvin application has been submitted, you can complete the online application for the Rehoboth Bridge Semester and and send the link for the online recommendation form to two persons you are using for references (one academic & one personal). Applications and recommendations are due by April 1, 2013.  If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Off Campus Programs, Don DeGraaf (ddegraaf@calvin.edu).

FAQs

Read our FAQ's to learn even more about the Rehoboth Bridge semester.

More about Rehoboth

Location: Rehoboth is situated in the northwest corner of New Mexico. It is in the Navajo Nation territory, a reservation that spans parts of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. It is just one mile from Gallup, New Mexico (pop. 19,937) and close to the historic Route 66.

History: Rehoboth is a village that grew around Rehoboth Christian School, founded as Rehoboth Mission School in 1903.

Rehoboth Christian School

This program site for the Rehoboth Bridge Semester began as a boarding school for six Native American students in 1903. Originally called Rehoboth Mission School, it was started by missionaries from the Christian Reformed Church. It has since grown to 400 students K-12 and no longer houses its student. The student body consists of predominantly Native Americans (68%), with a sizeable population of other minorities (11%).

More about RCS history >>

Excursions

The program includes excursions to Mesa Verde National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Navajo Nation Fair, Canyon de Chelly National Monument and a visit to a sheep ranch.

FAQ's