Biola University
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Biola University |
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| Motto | A Global Center for Christian Thought and Spiritual Renewal |
| Established | February 25, 1908 |
| Type | Private |
| President | Clyde Cook |
| Staff | 900 |
| Undergraduates | 3,595 |
| Postgraduates | 1,775 |
| Alumni | 47,800 |
| Location | La Mirada, CA., USA |
| Campus | Suburban, 95 acres (384,000 m²) |
| Athletics | 11 varsity teams |
| Mascot | Eddie the Eagle |
| Website | www.biola.edu |
Biola University is a private Christian college, located in Southern California that is known for its conservative evangelical theology. Biola's main campus is located in the city of La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California and has satellite campuses in Chino, Inglewood, Thousand Oaks, San Diego, San Bernardino and as of May 6, 2006 a new facility in Laguna Hills, Orange County [1].
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[edit] History
Originally located in downtown Los Angeles at the corner of Sixth St. and Hope St., the university moved to its present location in 1959.
The University was founded in 1908 as the Bible Institute Of Los Angeles by Lyman Stewart, co-owner of the Union Oil Company of California (currently known as Unocal), and T.C. Horton, a well known preacher and Christian writer.
In 1909, Lyman Stewart and his brother Milton, anonymously funded the publication of a twelve-volume series of articles called The Fundamentals, published between 1910 and 1915, and distributed free of charge to a wide range of Christian teachers and leaders, "Compliments of Two Christian Laymen." These volumes were intended as a restatement of conservative Christian theological teachings, primarily in response to the growing influence of modernist theology in the Church. In 1917 these articles were republished in a revised, four volume set by the Institute. The term "fundamentalism" is in part derived from these volumes, although it should be noted that the ethos and self-identification of the University is evangelical, not fundamentalist.
By 1912, the school had grown sufficiently in its outreach and constituency to call R.A. Torrey, a leader in the field of Christian education, as the first dean. Between 1912 and 1928, Biola was an established leader in conservative Christianity in North America, publishing The King's Business (a magazine similar to Christianity Today), operating one of the largest Christian radio stations in the U.S. (KTBI), and running the Biola Press, which sold and distributed Christian literature worldwide, including material for the Los Angeles based pentecostal preacher, Amy Semple McPherson. After Stewart's death and Torrey and Horton's retirements, William P. White, a well-known Christian leader and speaker, became Biola's first president in 1929. Charles E. Fuller, a graduate of Biola, became chairman of the board. Fuller later founded Fuller Theological Seminary.
Biola fell into hard times during the Great Depression and was forced to sell its publishing company and radio station. The 13-story downtown building that housed the school was also under threat of loss. It was during this time that Louis T. Talbot became Biola's second president in 1932. Talbot also served as the pastor of the Church of the Open Door, which held services in the school's downtown building.
In 1935, Paul W. Rood became Biola's third president. He was instrumental in establishing the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference, which is one of the longest standing Bible conferences today. He resigned in 1938. During Rood's presidency, Talbot was instrumental in helping to save the school from financial ruin caused by the Great Depression.
Talbot entered a second term as Biola's president from 1938 to 1952. During this time, the Institute program became a four-year course, leading to degrees in theology, Christian education, and sacred music. The School of Missionary Medicine came into being in 1945, laying the foundation for Biola's current baccalaureate nursing program. In 1946, Talbot also established the Biola Institute Hour, a national radio program. It was later called the Biola Hour. The Institute was renamed Biola College in 1949.
Under the leadership of Samuel H. Sutherland, president from 1952 to 1970, Biola moved its campus to its current location La Mirada, Calif. in the summer of 1959. Sutherland and Russell Allder, Biola's business manager, were instrumental in purchasing and developing the new 75-acre campus, which was purchased from publishing magnate Andrew McNally, founder and president of Rand McNally Publishing Company. In those days, plans were still under way for the development of the soon-to-be city of La Mirada, which was mostly olive trees and rolling hills. La Mirada was incorporated as a city in 1960.
Under the leadership of Dr. J. Richard Chase, president from 1970 to 1982, the College was renamed Biola University on July 1, 1981.In 1977, the graduate programs of Rosemead Graduate School of Professional Psychology were acquired by the College and relocated on the La Mirada campus. The undergraduate programs in psychology were merged with Rosemead's graduate programs in the fall of 1981, forming the present Rosemead School of Psychology. Clyde Cook became president of the University on October 8, 1982.
The School of Intercultural Studies was instituted as part of the University in 1983. Talbot Theological Seminary became Talbot School of Theology in the fall of 1983 as a result of the merger between the appropriate undergraduate and graduate level programs.
In 1988 Biola acquired the adjacent McNally Campus adding an additional 25 acres to the main campus.
In 1993, the Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the School of Business, and the School of Continuing Studies in 1994, now called the School of Professional Studies.
On November 16, 1996, the University hosted the first national conference on Intelligent Design. Later, Intervarsity Press published Mere Creation (ISBN 0-8308-1515-5) which was a collection of the papers presented at the conference. Subsequent Intelligent Design conferences were held at the University in 2002 and 2004.
On June 1, 2006, Clyde Cook announced his retirement after 25 years of service as president. He will retire in June 2007, one year before Biola's centennial anniversary. He was one of California's longest serving university presidents. [2] [3] Dr. Cook is noted for his strong defense of Biblical doctrine, including the key doctrine of Biblical inerrancy.[citation needed] Under Dr. Cook's leadership, Biola has grown tremendously from a small Bible college to one of the largest evangelical universities in the nation, with nearly 6,000 total students.
[edit] Institution
Biola offers 33 majors, 145 professional fields of study, as well as master's, doctoral and professional degrees. Degrees include B.A., B.S., B.M., M.A., M.B.A., M.Div., Th.M., D.Min., D.Miss., Psy.D., Ed.D., Ph.D. All are regionally and professionally accredited and are integrated with evangelical Christian doctrine. The schools are:
- Crowell School of Business [4]
- Rosemead School of Psychology [5]
- School of Arts and Sciences [6]
- School of Intercultural Studies [7]
- School of Professional Studies [8]
- Talbot School of Theology [9]
All undergraduate students are required to take 30 units of Bible classes, regardless of their major. The mission of Biola University is "biblically centered education, scholarship, and service — equipping men and women in mind and character to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ".
Biola is recognized as a "Best National University" by US News & World Report - one of 229 out of the 3,300 institutions of higher learning in the United States that are called the "major leagues" of higher education. Biola is the only school among the 100 American members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the only Evangelical Christian University in the US to hold such a distinction. [10]
Biola is famous for holding the line on conservative doctrine when most evangelical colleges have become either moderate or liberal. It is still considered one of the most conservative evangelical institutions in the nation and is one of the only evangelical Christian universities that still proudly advertises that it holds to a full view of Biblical inerrancy. Biola also holds to the teaching of dispensational premillenialism.[citation needed]
[edit] Athletics
A member of the NAIA, Biola competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference in the following nine intercollegiate sports:
- Baseball (Men)
- Basketball (Men & Women)
- Cross Country (Men & Women)
- Golf (Men and Women)
- Soccer (Men & Women)
- Softball (Women)
- Swimming (Men & Women)
- Tennis (Men & Women)
- Track (Men & Women)
- Volleyball (Women)
[edit] Accreditation and affiliation
Biola University holds institutional accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (1961). In addition, the institution and certain of its programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (1980), the Association of Theological Schools (1977), the National Association of Schools of Music (1970), the State of California Board of Registered Nursing (1966), the National League for Nursing (1972), and the California Commission for Teacher Preparation and Licensing (1960), the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (1977), and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (1998). Note: Dates in ( ) reflect the initial approval date.
Biola University is authorized to train students under the Veteran's Bill of Rights. In addition, the University is affiliated with a number of professional organizations, of which the following are representative:
- American Anthropological Association
- American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
- American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers
- American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
- American Council on Education
- American Guild of Organists
- American Intercollegiate Athletic Women
- American Library Association
- Associated Collegiate Press
- Association of Christian Schools, International
- Association of College Unions International
- American Association of Higher Education
- Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
- California Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
- California Council on the Education of Teachers
- Choral Conductors' Guild (California)
- Christian College Coalition
- Christian Scholar's Review
- College Entrance Examination Board
- Council on Post-secondary Accreditation
- Evangelical Teacher Training Association
- Intercollegiate Press
- Music Educator's National Conference
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Western Association of Graduate Schools
- Western Council on Higher Education for Nursing
- Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
[edit] Publications
The University is involved in the publication of magazines and academic journals, They are:
- The King's Business was a monthly publication of Biola from 1910 to 1970. In the first decades of its publication, it was the leading journal for conservative Christianity and the early fundamentalist movement. In fact, The Fundamentals and The King's Business shared the same chief editor (R. A. Torrey) and were supported by the same "concerned laymen" (Lyman and Milton Stewart).
- Journal of Psychology and Theology The purpose of the Journal of Psychology and Theology is to communicate recent scholarly thinking on the interrelationships of psychological and theological concepts, and to consider the application of these concepts to a variety of professional settings. The major intent of the editor is to place before the evangelical community articles that have bearing on the nature of humankind from a biblical perspective.
- Philosophia Christi is a peer reviewed journal published twice a year by the Evangelical Philosophical Society with the support of Biola University as a vehicle for the scholarly discussion of philosophy and philosophical issues in the fields of ethics, theology, and religion. The journal is indexed by The Philosopher's Index and Religious & Theological Abstracts.
- Christian Education Journal The purpose of the journal is to strengthen the conception and practice of Christian education in church and parachurch settings.
- Biola Connections is the official magazine of Biola University.
- Sundoulos is the official magazine of Talbot School of Theology.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Scott Derrickson, film director
- Charles E. Fuller, founder, Fuller Theological Seminary
- Dick Hillis, founder, OC International (formerly Overseas Crusades), 1932
- John F. MacArthur, author, teacher, & president of The Master's College
- Josh McDowell, Christian author
- John G. Mitchell, founder, Multnomah Bible College
- John Thune, South Dakota senator
- Todd Worrell of the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers
- Tim Worrell of the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants
- Ryan Dobson, author, speaker, and son of James Dobson
- Steve Bridges, comedian, master impressionist of George W. Bush
- Wesley Stafford, president of Compassion International
- Jonathan Rouwenhorst, of the Salt Lake Bees, AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Jonnie Russell, Matt Maust, Matt Aviero, and Nathan Willett, of the Cold War Kids
[edit] Notable faculty
- Clinton Arnold, Professor of New Testament Language and Literature [11]
- Paul Buchanan, Children's author, Professor of Creative Writing
- David Cimbora, Associate Professor of Psychology
- William Lane Craig, Research Professor of Philosophy [12]
- Christopher Davidson, poet, Professor of Creative Writing
- R. Douglas Geivett, Professor of Philosophy [13]
- Craig J. Hazen, Director of the M.A. Christian Apologetics Program
- J.P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy [14]
- Timothy Muehlhoff, speaker for Campus Crusade and Family Life conferences, Professor of Communication Studies
- Bruce Narramore, Distinguished Professor of Psychology [15]
- Todd Pickett, Professor of English of Literature; Dean of Humanities
- Scott Rae, Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Ethics [16]
- Walt Russell, Professor of Bible Exposition [17]
- Robert Saucy, Professor of Systematic Theology [18]
- Bernard Ramm, Professor in the 1940s, author of eighteen books
- Jim Canning, former Vice President/CFO World Vision, Professor of Finance
- Michael Wilkins, Professor of New Testament [19]
- William Worden, Professor of Psychology [20]
- David T. Bourgeois, Professor of Information Systems [21]
- Lisa Swain, Chairman of the Mass Comm Department [22]
[edit] Trivia
- For many years, the 13 story B.I.O.L.A. Building was the tallest building in downtown Los Angeles. A large neon sign on top of the building proclaiming "Jesus Saves" was a prominent part of the downtown skyline.
- Biola, California, a small rural town in Fresno County, was named after the university.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Educational institutions established in 1908 | Christian schools | Christian universities and colleges | Los Angeles area universities and colleges | Seminaries and theological colleges in the United States | Seminaries and theological colleges | Universities and colleges in California | Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
