Values of Seventh-day Adventist Philosophy of Education and Graduate Social Science Programs in Seventh-day Adventist Universities

This paper analyzes the relationship between the values found in religion and social science programs using the Seventh-day Adventist graduate programs as a case study. By using qualitative research, the study identifies the values of Seventh-day Adventist education philosophy, and analyzes the characteristics found from various graduate social science programs in the Seventh-day Adventist higher education system. We argue that the Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education puts greater emphasis on relationship values, which have three interconnected dimensions (God, self, and others), and are unified by three virtues (love, hope, and service). Applying the dimensions of Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education to the social science programs currently offered in the Seventh-day Adventist graduate institutions, we found that the values in Seventh-day Adventist beliefs are well-integrated in the social science programs in Adventist universities. The conclusion of this paper discusses the relationship between these values of Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education and social science programs, and its implication to Adventist education and community development