About Insight

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is INSIGHT different from other programs?

2. How do I choose which college to get credit from?

4. Which colleges have already accepted Insight credit?

5. What degrees have INSIGHT students pursued post-INSIGHT?

6. What if I’ve already started college, or have already committed to beginning another college next year?

7. Will taking INSIGHT limit the type of undergraduate degrees I can pursue afterwards?

8. Will I be stuck in an insulated Christian environment with little interaction with people from other cultures and worldviews?

9. Will taking INSIGHT get me out of required courses at college?

10. What financial aid is available for INSIGHT?

1. How is INSIGHT different from other programs?
See the Top 10 Things that are Unique about Insight. INSIGHT believes that students with an intellectual capacity and a heart for missions should not be afraid to be thinking people of faith. The world we as Christians are called to impact needs today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders, capable of thinking strategically and meeting challenges. In INSIGHT, students are not taught rote answers; they wrestle with ideas and perspectives so that they emerge ready to engage a seeking and hurting world.

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2. How do I choose which college to get credit from?
The two main factors affecting your decision about which college to receive credit from are: (1) the type of or specific college you plan to transfer to post-INSIGHT, and therefore the college accreditation and course titles, and (2) cost. The chart below highlights the differences. Please contact INSIGHT for further help with the credit decision at insight@uscwm.org or 626-398-2297.

College	William Carey International University (WCIU)	Northwestern College (NWC)
Cost of credits (32)	$50/credit	$250/credit
Financial aid	Federal aid unavailable, limited scholarships	Federal aid available (grants & loans), limited scholarships
How courses appear on transcript	Secular course titles	Christian course titles
Accreditation	Full institutional approval to grant undergraduate degrees by the state of CA	Regionally-accredited
Transferability of credits	Transfers on a case-by-case basis, but more credits may transfer as general elective (required) courses due to course titles	Generally transfers to Christian and secular colleges due to regional accreditation, but may transfer as elective credit due to course titles

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3. Who designed INSIGHT?
The original designers of the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course (Dr. Ralph D. Winter) and of the Sonlight Curriculum (Becky Lewis) have teamed up to develop INSIGHT, recognizing the need for future leaders in world mission.

Dr. Winter is internationally recognized as one of today’s foremost experts in the field of the history of God’s work in the world. He graduated from Caltech (the California Institute of Technology) in Civil Engineering, has an MA from Columbia University in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), a Ph.D. from Cornell University in Cultural Anthropology, Linguistics and Mathematical Statistics, and a Theological degree from Princeton Seminary. In addition, Dr. Winter spent 10 years as tribal missionary and designed the first distance ed program for seminary training.

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4. Which colleges have accepted Insight credit?
Through Northwestern College Center for Distance Education:

Taylor University
Thomas Edison State College
Pasadena City College
Biola University
Grove City College

Through William Carey International University:

San Diego Christian College
California State University Monterey Bay
Wheaton College
George Fox University
Bethany College of Missions
Fairfax University
Nyack College
Hope International University
Seattle Pacific University
Gordon College
Columbia International University
Azusa Pacific University
Patten University
Christian Heritage College

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5. What degrees have INSIGHT students pursued post-INSIGHT?
Wheaton College : Anthropology
Wheaton College : Philosophy
Taylor University : Intercultural Studies
Dartmouth University : Engineering and Economics (double major)
CSULA: Anthropology
Thomas Edison State College: Liberal Studies
Biola University : Computer Science
San Diego Christian: Aeronautics (Pilot)
UC Berkeley: Middle East Studies

Other Insight alumni are pursuing studies at:

Grove City College
Harvard
Cal State University Monterey Bay
Biola University
Seattle Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University

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6. What if I’ve already started college, or have already committed to beginning another college next year?
You are welcome in Insight! In fact, you may find pre-exposure to philosophies and worldviews in college to be an asset as you study in Insight, and return to your campus better able to interact with professors and other students.

If you are already a student or are accepted for your freshman year, you can schedule an appointment with the registrar at your college and ask them, “What will happen if I defer enrollment for a year to do this program? What will that do to my financial aid package?” It is advantageous to discuss transferability of credits from the beginning and to get written documentation of what will be accepted. We are happy to help you as you consider how to present Insight to your school. Contact us at (626) 398-2297 or insight@uscwm.org

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7. Will taking INSIGHT limit the type of undergraduate degrees I can pursue afterwards?
No. If you’ve already decided on a major and know what school you hope to transfer to, the units will often satisfy general education requirements that you will have to take anyway. If you don’t have a specific sense of calling, this program will give you a dedicated year to seek God as you learn about His purposes in the world.

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8. Will I be stuck in an insulated Christian environment with little interaction with people from other cultures?
As one of the most ethnically diverse places on the planet, the greater Los Angeles area offers almost unparalleled opportunities for meeting people from different cultures and worldviews. As part of the program, you’ll visit local mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, etc., where you’ll interact with people from other religions. The USCWM Insight program includes a practicum component to help students build intentional relationships with people in the community.

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9. Will taking INSIGHT really get me out of required courses at other colleges?
Yes, depending on the school you transfer to and which credit option you choose. While the INSIGHT curriculum is completely integrated, your transcript will reflect credit for individual courses/modules completed. These courses will cover many of the general education requirements of most colleges. INSIGHT encourages you to check with your school about transferability if you already have a college (or two) in mind.

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10. What about financial aid?
Taking INSIGHT is less expensive than a year of education at many private universities and Christian colleges, and provides a great foundation for students wanting to complete their education at a public university. Financial aid is available through the credit- granting college, and additional aid may be available for special circumstances through the USCWM. For students planning to receive credit through Northwestern College, begin the financial aid process by filling out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

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