Strategies to Foster Emotional Intelligence in Christian Higher Education

Abstract

This article proposes five initiatives to foster emotional intelligence (EI) education throughout institutions of Christian higher education. Goleman (1995) identifies self-awareness, managing emotions, motivation, empathy, and social intelligence as the hallmark skills of emotional intelligence. The importance of mastering these skills and their role in enhancing academic achievement, emotional health, and professional success in college students has been well documented (Goleman, 1995; Immordino-Yang, 2009; Yilmaz, 2009; Yueh-Tzu, 2009). However, the question of how to infuse EI education into the fabric of Christian higher education remains. This article proposes the following strategies: (a) teach the faculty emotional intelligence skills, (b) incorporate emotional intelligence into the curricula, (c) provide emotional intelligence training to first-year students, (d) incorporate biblical perspectives of emotional intelligence into spiritual formation curricula, and (e) teach counselors (mental health professionals) emotional intelligence skills.