Southwestern Christian University
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Southwestern Christian University
Southwestern Christian University is a private non-profit Christian liberal arts university located in Bethany, Oklahoma. Its mission is to provide students for a life of learning, service and leadership by incorporating scholarship, living, and faith and empowering individuals to succeed and make a positive Christian impact on the world. Its motto is scholarship, spirit, and service. Faculty members are highly qualified and committed to superior instruction and servant leadership. They strive to extend and improve students’ leadership abilities in their chosen programs and careers. Southwestern Christian University is committed to providing students with unique opportunities to increase biblical literacy through a solid foundation of bible and theological courses. It offers programs at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels. Semesters begin every five-weeks to provide students with flexibility.
Southwestern Christian University offers Bachelor of Science degree completion options online in biblical leadership, human family services, and business leadership. The online courses are interactive and supportive and taught by the same highly qualified faculty as campus-based programs. Students are able to access online courses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere with an Internet connection. The online courses are delivered via the Comcourse Learning Management System that is a Moodle-based platform that has been customized directly for Southwestern Christian University. The virtual learning environment features a user-friendly simple layout to enable students to get started without unnecessary distractions. It includes synchronous and asynchronous features to allow students to regularly interact with instructors and fellow students including live video, voice chat, email, and discussion forums. Online students have access to technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide assistance with a variety of issues.
The International Pentecostal Holiness Church founded Southwestern Christian University as Southwestern Bible College in 1946 with a purpose of training individuals for church leadership. In the 1960s, the college expanded and added various junior college programs. The college received accreditation from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in 1964. In 1973, the college received accreditation from the North Central Association of College and Schools and it was approved as a four-year institution in 1979. In 1981, the college changed its name to Southwestern College of Christian Ministries and phased out the junior college programs and maintained its bachelor’s degree program. The associate degree program was reinstated in 1986. In 2001, the college changed its name to Southwestern Christian University and expanded its program offerings.
Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accredits Southwestern Christian University.
Schools of Education
School of Professional Studies: strives to meet the needs of adult learners who seek an accredited degree. It houses the theology/mission department, business administration department, education department, and online department.
School of Arts and Sciences: home to the department of creative arts, department of general education, department of language arts, and department of social and behavioral sciences.
School of Adult and Graduate Studies: strives to meet the needs of working adult students who seek to complete a degree or graduate study in ministry.
Scholarships Offered
Southwestern Christian University offers a variety of scholarships including Academic Scholarships, Achievement Scholarships, Ministerial Scholarship, IPHC Fine Arts/Bible Quiz Scholarships, Music Scholarships, Music Ensemble Scholarship, Bell Music Scholarship, Alumni Scholarships, Hamilton Scholarship, Fresh Start Scholarships, Loaves and Fishes Scholarship, Robin Hough White Endowment Scholarship, SCU Creative Arts Scholarships, Pauline Manning Memorial Scholarship, and Carmen Endowment Scholarship.
Financing Options
Southwestern Christian University participates in numerous financial aid programs including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG), Oklahoma Promise (OHLAP), Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant (OTEG), Native American Grants, Federal Direct Stafford Subsidized Grant, Federal Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Grant, Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), and Federal Work Study. The university also offers a university work-study for individuals who do not qualify for the Federal Work Study Program. Students are also able to pay tuition and fees through payment plans.
Credit Earning Options
Southwestern Christian University grants credits for coursework completed at other institutions of higher learning accredited by the Association of Biblical Higher Education. Credit may be granted from non-accredited institutions on a conditional basis. All courses must have been completed with a grade of C or better. The university also grants up to 30 semester hours non-traditional credit through advanced standing examinations. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is used to validate advanced standing credit in general education courses. Military students are able to receive credit for military experiences and the university follows recommendations by the American Council on Education. The university also grants up to 30 credit hours for correspondence or individualized study courses and credit may be granted for prior learning experiences.