Biola University

Categories: Los Angeles area colleges and universities | Universities and colleges in California

Biola University is a private Christian university, located in the city of La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California.

Biola University
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Motto Strengthening Mind and Character
Established February 25, 1908
School type Private
President Clyde Cook
Location La Mirada, CA., USA
Campus Suburban, 95 acres (384,000 m²)
Enrollment 3,595 undergraduate,
1,775 graduate
Faculty 300
Mascot Eagle
Athletics 11 varsity teams
Official website www.biola.edu


Contents

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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. 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.

In 1913, the Institute published a set of books called The Fundamentals, which was a series of essays defending the traditional conservative interpretation of the Holy Bible in response to the growing influence of liberal interpretations. The term "fundamentalism" is derived from this book series. (However, it should be noted that the current ethos of the University is not fundamentalist, but evangelical.)

Under the leadership of Dr. Louis T. Talbot, president from 1932 to 1952, 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. The Institute was renamed Biola College in 1949.

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. Under the leadership of Dr. J. Richard Chase, the College became Biola University on July 1, 1981.

In November 16, 1996, the University hosted the first national conference on Intelligent Design. Later, Intervarsity Press published Mere Creation (ISBN: 0830815155) which was a collection of the papers presented at the conference. Subsequent Intelligent Design conferences were held at the University in 2002 and 2004.

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Institution

Biola offers 30 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:

All 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. Biola is recognized as a National University (ranked 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 members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the only Evangelical Christian University to hold such a distinction. http://www.biola.edu/about/history.cfm

sv:Biola University

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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.
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Publications

The University is involved in the publication of 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.
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Famous alumni

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Notable faculty

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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 B.I.O.L.A.
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See also

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External links


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