An institutional affiliation by Bethany College with the Chicago Center (formally Urban Life Center) has been established; Bethany students may enroll for Chicago Center credit during regular semesters, Interterm and summer sessions.  By special arrangement Bethany students can do student teaching and social work practice in Chicago.  An Interterm course involves students in three weeks of living and learning at the Center.

Education majors can complete their student teaching in a supportive community that develops them professionally in an urban environment, while meeting certification requirements.  The Chicago Center is a non-traditional academic program.  The TeachChicago! Student teaching Program involves a school placement by Chicago Center staff (based on your interests and requirements) and a weekly Education Seminar.

The city becomes the classroom in personal learning about urban life and culture.  Students meet people from a diversity of racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and visit their neighborhoods.  Three days each week are spent in an individualized internship placement within an organization related to the student's major and interests.  Students also enjoy the rich cultural diversity of Chicago's art, music and theater communities.  Students live in furnished Chicago Center residences with other program participants sharing the cleaning, food buying, cooking and decision making responsibilities.  Each household is given a charge account at the local grocery store. Personal values are challenged while examining the pressing issues of poverty, violence, racism, and hopelessness.

Interterm students choose one of two emphasis tracks offered.  Both tracks focus on a general theme and involve scheduled experiences, journal writing and some reading.  Each emphasis is coordinated by a Chicago Center instructor.  The tracks are:
  Track 1:  URBAN DIVERSITY, takes students into Chicago neighborhoods and organization; racism, inequalities in economic class, hopelessness, and other issues facing the city will be studied; students are introduced to the major political and economic structures of Chicago.
  Track 2:  ARTS AND URBAN CULTURE, focuses on the broad range of art forms thriving in Chicago including blues and jazz, art galleries and museums, murals, poetry, dance, film, and theatre; the relationship of artistic expression to the cultural and social dynamics of the city is studied.

Students receive pass/fail Bethany College credit for the number of hours they take.  There are no prerequisites for the course and final acceptance is determined by the Chicago Center.  some Financial Aid is available.  Completed applications along with the application fee need to be returned to the Career Services Office no later than the last week in November for Interterm.  For an application form, details, and other options, contact the Bethany Career Services Office, located in the lower level of Warner Hall.