by Dr. Michael Smith

Created on: February 18, 2010   Last Updated: February 20, 2010

Hyles-Anderson College, located in Crown Point, Indiana, a Chicago suburb, is an unaccredited Bible College, founded by Dr. Jack Hyles and Russell Anderson in 1972. The college is a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, which claims the largest Sunday School in the US, and focuses on training pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers.

The 100 acre campus boasts a lake, football field, bowling alley and other resources, and currently has 2,700 students enrolled in either a Bachelor of Science program with eleven concentrations including Pastoral Theology, Pastoral Assistant, Media Management and Graphic Design, Youth Pastor, Missions, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, General Studies, Music Director, and Music Education. The college offers Associate of Science degrees in Education and in Marriage and Motherhood. While no graduate degrees are offered the school endows at least one honorary doctorate each year at graduation.

Accreditation by Federal agencies is not requested by Hyles-Anderson, and is even refused on religious grounds, believing that the acceptance of government endorsement would lead to interference in teaching of science related to creationism and the forced teaching of evolution. Because of their accreditation status, Hyles-Anderson does not qualify for federal funds, and the degree is not recognized as a basis for the Army officer corps, but graduates can serve in the chaplaincy. Graduates do not qualify to teach in public schools, but usually fill jobs in the vast network of Christian schools.

Student life at Hyles-Anderson is dictated by a Fundamentalist approach to separatism, with issues like drinking alcohol, smoking, attendance at movies, women wearing pants, playing cards, and other “questionable entertainments,” considered off limits. The school accepts the Bible as the authoritative source of truth and teachers as well as students are required to attend and participate in the activities of First Baptist Church, Hammond.

A perusal of faculty (39 teachers and administrators) shows that all but two have at least one degree from the school and with most having multiple degrees from Hyles-Anderson (Hyles-Anderson school catalog 2007-2008). A few of the faculty have accredited degrees from outside schools. Most fundamentalist schools do not engage in the usual academic exercise associated with academia, through peer reviewed scholarship and research. Fundamentalism has waged war with science and academics since the 1925 Scopes Trial, especially regarding the teaching of evolution, leaving an enduring belief that Fundamentalism is anti-intellectual.

Students considering Hyles-Anderson for secondary studies should make that decision based on his/her future goals. If looking for a Fundamentalist, Christian education and preparing for Christian service, then Hyles-Anderson might be the right place. If on the other hand, your goals are graduate school, teaching, or other professional careers the accreditation issue will not put you in a good position for advancement.

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