activities · 19
what they do
direct service · 4
- Deliver 100% online distance education programs Online & Hybrid Degree ProgramsProvides all academic programs through fully online distance education with no residency requirement, allowing global access for students who can enroll as degree candidates or take up to three courses as visiting students.
- Deliver fully online distance education programs Online & Hybrid Degree ProgramsProvides 100% online academic programs with no residency requirement, enabling global access for students to enroll in degree programs or take up to three courses as visiting students.
- Offer graduate degree programs in development and leadership fields Online Graduate Programs in Development and Urban LeadershipOffers Master of Arts and Ph.D. programs in Development Studies, Transformational Urban Leadership, Global Studies, and Global Development, designed for reflective scholar-practitioners working on global human challenges.
- Offer graduate degree programs in development and leadership fields Online Graduate Programs in Development and Urban LeadershipOffers Master of Arts and Ph.D. programs in Development Studies, Transformational Urban Leadership, Global Studies, and Global Development, designed for reflective scholar-practitioners working in international development and urban contexts.
research · 3
- Conduct and publish research in international development Peer-Reviewed Research PublicationOperates an online research journal and supports advanced research through academic programs and institutes, contributing to scholarly discourse on global human challenges.
- Conduct and publish research on international development Peer-Reviewed Research PublicationOperates an online research journal and supports advanced research through the Ralph D. Winter Research Center and other specialized institutes, focusing on transformational solutions to global development challenges.
- Online Research Journal Peer-Reviewed Research PublicationOperates an online research journal that focuses on challenges in international development.
capacity building · 12
- Accredit and maintain institutional standards for distance education Professional Training Program AccreditationMaintains accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), achieved in 2021, to ensure quality and credibility in online program delivery.
- Equip global leaders and practitioners for community transformation Curriculum & Research DevelopmentTrains development workers, missionaries, and community leaders worldwide—especially those serving marginalized populations—to become agents of transformation through practical, hands-on graduate education and leadership training programs.
- Graduate Certificate Programs Online Graduate Programs in Development and Urban LeadershipOffers graduate certificate programs in Social Entrepreneurship, Leadership of Urban Movements, Urban Community Development, and Citywide Research.
- Graduate students from global development and leadership programs Alumni Directory & Network DevelopmentHas graduated approximately 450 students from Master's and Ph.D. programs since 1978, contributing to a global network of trained development and leadership professionals.
- Maintain institutional accreditation and academic milestonesAchieved and maintains accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), graduated approximately 450 students since 1978, and continues to expand program offerings including recent launches like the Eden Vigil Institute in 2022 and the Ph.D. in Global Development in 2024.
- Offer graduate certificate programs in urban and social development Online Graduate Programs in Development and Urban LeadershipProvides graduate certificate programs in Social Entrepreneurship, Leadership of Urban Movements, Urban Community Development, and Citywide Research to build specialized skills for community transformation.
- Online Master's Degree Programs Online Graduate Programs in Development and Urban LeadershipOffers fully online Master of Arts degrees in Development Studies, Transformational Urban Leadership, and Global Studies, without a residency requirement, to equip leaders for work with marginalized communities.
- Online PhD Programs Online Graduate Programs in Development and Urban LeadershipProvides fully online Ph.D. programs in fields related to international development and leadership, including a Ph.D. in Global Development introduced in 2024, to prepare professionals for advanced roles in humanitarian service.
- Operate specialized research and training institutes Interdisciplinary Research InstitutesRuns research and training institutes including the Institute of China Studies, Urban Leadership Institute, Women’s Institute, Eden Vigil Institute for Environmental Leadership, Global Health Institute, and Ralph D. Winter Research Center to advance knowledge and leadership in key development areas.
- Provide graduate certificate and specialized training programs Online Graduate Programs in Development and Urban LeadershipOffers graduate certificates in Social Entrepreneurship, Leadership of Urban Movements, Urban Community Development, and Citywide Research, along with specialized training through research institutes focused on urban, environmental, gender, health, and China-related development issues.
- Specialized Research and Training Institutes Interdisciplinary Research InstitutesOperates specialized research and training institutes, including the Institute of China Studies, Urban Leadership Institute, Women’s Institute, Eden Vigil Institute for Environmental Leadership, Global Health Institute, and Ralph D. Winter Research Center, to provide focused training and research.
- Train leaders for transformation in marginalized communities Curriculum & Research DevelopmentEquips development workers, missionaries, and community leaders worldwide to serve as agents of transformation in marginalized and needy communities through practical, hands-on graduate education.
strategies · 22
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Academia-to-Practice Bridge academia-to-practiceConnects academic knowledge with practical, community-driven action and hands-on application, providing relevant and immediately applicable training to address real-world challenges in global mission and development.
- Academia-to-Practice Integration academia-to-practiceConnects rigorous academic study with practical, on-the-ground action in global development, ensuring that learning is directly applicable to real-world mission and community transformation.
- Cultural Discernment and Engagement cultural discernmentApplies a critical yet respectful approach to culture, affirming cultural goodness while evaluating all cultural expressions by biblical truth, promoting humble cultural engagement and rejecting cultural superiority.
- Cultural Discernment and Engagement cultural_discernmentTeaches a critical yet respectful engagement with culture, affirming cultural expressions as reflections of God’s image while evaluating them through biblical truth, rejecting cultural superiority, and promoting humble, transformative presence.
- Culturally discerning transformational development transformational developmentAdvances holistic, transformational development that integrates personal and social responsibility, applying critical cultural discernment to affirm cultural goodness while evaluating all practices through biblical truth and moral absolutes.
- Faith-Integrated and Incarnational Formation faith-integrated educationTrains students to live as Christ’s incarnational presence in diverse cultural contexts, integrating biblical discipleship with cultural engagement, reasoned dialogue, and gentle witness to foster transformative public involvement.
- Global Training Partnerships global_training_partnershipsLeverages global training partnerships and institutional programs to catalyze awareness and change, particularly in underserved communities, through a mentored educational approach with a dispersed faculty.
- Global partnerships for catalytic change global_training_partnershipsLeverages global training partnerships and institutional collaborations to amplify awareness and drive sustainable change in underserved communities.
- Incarnational Presence Training faith-based-incarnationalTrains individuals to embody Christ's presence within their specific cultural and social contexts, integrating faith with practical engagement to foster transformative public involvement and address social challenges.
- Integration of faith and practice through incarnational presence faith-based-incarnationalTrains students to embody Christ’s presence within diverse cultural and social contexts, combining biblical discipleship with cultural engagement rooted in humility, reason, and gentleness.
- Integrative and Research-Based Education integrative-researchIntegrates biblical, cultural, historical, and applied research with a systems approach to understand and address complex social challenges, providing research-based educational programs to improve international development practices.
- Integrative and Systems-Based Research integrative-researchEmploys a holistic, systems approach to research and education, weaving together biblical, cultural, historical, and applied perspectives to understand and address complex social and developmental challenges in context.
- Mentored, extension-based education for global leadership education by extensionUses a mentored, education-by-extension model with dispersed faculty to deliver dynamic training that develops transformational leaders for urban movements and global engagement.
- Online and Distance Education online_distance_educationDelivers fully online, non-residential degree programs and training, utilizing an education-by-extension model to provide remote and globally accessible learning opportunities without residency requirements.
- Online and Distance Education Model online_distance_educationDelivers degree programs through a fully online, non-residential format to enable global access, particularly for students in remote or underserved contexts, ensuring education is accessible regardless of location.
- Online and distance education model online_distance_educationDelivers fully online, non-residential degree programs to enable global access to education, particularly for students in remote or underserved contexts, using accessible and flexible learning platforms.
- Research-integrated, systems-based approach to development systems approachEmploys a systems approach that integrates biblical, cultural, historical, and applied research to understand and transform complex urban and social systems in underserved communities.
- Scholar-Activist Development Model scholar-activist modelEquips scholar-activists through mentored, extension-based education that combines academic rigor with practical leadership development for engagement in global mission, urban movements, and transformational development.
- Scholar-Activist Model scholar-activist modelEquips individuals globally to be scholar-activists, integrating academic rigor with active engagement in international development.
- Scholar-activist model with academia-to-practice integration academia-to-practiceEquips scholar-activists by bridging academic rigor with practical, community-driven action, ensuring that education leads to tangible engagement in global development and mission.
- Transformational Development and Justice transformational developmentAdvocates for holistic transformational development that integrates personal faith with social responsibility, emphasizing justice, reconciliation, and tangible works as expressions of authentic Christian mission.
- Transformational Urban Leadership Development transformational_urban_leadershipFocuses on developing transformational urban leaders through academic programming and targeted training, utilizing citywide research to understand urban systems and facilitate change in urban movements.
named programs · 14
what they call their work
Certificate in Citywide Research
Program developing capacity for comprehensive research across urban systems to inform development strategies.
Certificate in Leadership of Urban Movements
Program training leaders to initiate and guide transformative movements in city environments.
Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship
Graduate-level certificate program focused on innovation and enterprise solutions for social challenges.
Certificate in Urban Community Development
Postgraduate certificate equipping leaders to foster sustainable development in urban contexts.
Eden Vigil Institute
Leadership training program focused on environmental stewardship and creation care from a Christ-centered perspective.
M.A. in Development Studies
Graduate program equipping students to address root causes of global development challenges through a systems approach integrating theology and social sciences.
M.A. in Global Studies
Program equipping students to engage the gospel’s global impact across cultures and history, with tools for intercultural dialogue and contextual mission.
M.A. in Transformational Urban Leadership (MATUL)
Field-based program training leaders to drive spiritual, socioeconomic, political, and environmental change in urban settings globally.
Ph.D. in Global Development
Interdisciplinary doctoral program preparing professionals for humanitarian service, research, program development, and training in global development.
The Global Health Institute
Initiative integrating faith and public health for holistic community transformation.
The Institute of China Studies
Research and engagement initiative focused on China’s role in global development and mission.
The Ralph D. Winter Research Center
Center preserving and advancing the legacy of Dr. Winter through research on mission and development.
The Women's Institute
Program advancing women’s leadership and gender-inclusive approaches in global development and mission.
World Christian Foundations (WCF) curriculum
An integrated framework that looks at God’s global purposes throughout history, intended to re-engineer liberal arts and seminary curricula.
relationships · 9
who they work with
- California State Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education Government — State agency that approves WCIU to operate and offer postsecondary programs in California.
- Distance Education Accrediting Commission Government — Accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA, providing institutional accreditation.
- Distance Education Accrediting Commission Government — Accrediting body for WCIU's distance education programs
- Distance Education Accrediting Commission Government — Accrediting body for William Carey International University
- Dr. Ralph D. Winter Partner — Founder whose vision continues to shape the institution's mission and approach.
- EF Education First Partner — Organization that purchased WCIU's campus in 2018
- National Association of Credential Evaluation Services Government — Requires applicants to use NACES member agencies for foreign transcript evaluation.
- Ralph D. Winter Research Center Network — Hosts the Ralph D. Winter Research Center as part of its academic institutes.
- Ralph D. Winter Research Center Partner — Collaborates with the Ralph D. Winter Research Center as part of its research and academic initiatives.