The Story of Biola University: From Bible Institute to NCAA Division II Competitor
Biola University, a private, nondenominational, evangelical Christian university located in La Mirada, California, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1908. Originally established as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Biola has evolved significantly over the years, expanding its academic offerings and athletic programs while remaining rooted in its Christian mission.
The Early Years: Bible Institute of Los Angeles (1908-1949)
The institution was founded on February 25, 1908, by Lyman Stewart, president of the Union Oil Company of California; Thomas C. Horton, a Presbyterian minister and author; and Augustus B. The early leaders envisioned the institute as a center for biblical and missionary training, distinguishing it from the broader approach of Christian liberal arts colleges. This model was largely based on the Moody Bible Institute. The institute offered a diploma after completion of a two-year curriculum.
In 1912, R. A. Torrey was appointed as dean. The following year, construction began on a building at the corner of Sixth and Hope St. in downtown Los Angeles. This building featured a 3,500-seat auditorium, a carillon of 11 bells on which hymns were played three times each day, and two large neon signs (added later) on top of the building proclaiming "Jesus Saves".
John Murdoch MacInnis, a Presbyterian minister who had been an instructor at the school for about two years, became the school's second dean as of 1925. MacInnis served as dean until his forced resignation on December 31, 1928. In 1929, Charles E. Fuller a businessman, evangelist, and graduate of Biola, was drafted as vice president to find a new dean and a president. Elbert McCreery and William P.
The institute faced serious financial difficulties during the Great Depression. Louis T. William P. Louis T. Paul W. Louis T. Samuel H. J.
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Transition and Growth: Biola College (1949-1981)
Beginning in the 1920s, attempts were made to broaden the curriculum. In 1949, the institution officially changed its name to "Biola College," signaling a shift towards a more comprehensive academic program.
Becoming a University: Biola University (1981-Present)
In 1981, Biola College adopted the name "Biola University," reflecting its expanded academic offerings and the addition of multiple schools and graduate programs. These include the Talbot Theological Seminary, Rosemead Graduate School of Professional Psychology, School of Intercultural Studies, Crowell School of Business, and School of Education.
Today, Biola offers 47 undergraduate majors, 80 concentrations, and more than 150 professional fields of study. Degrees awarded include B.A., B.S., B.M., B.F.A., M.A., M.B.A., M.Div., Th.M., D.Min., D.Miss., Psy.D., Ed.D., and PhD.
Academic Divisions and Programs
Crowell School of Business: Established in 1993, Crowell offers undergraduate and graduate programs in business, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Masters in Professional Accountancy (MPAcc). Both programs are accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, with the MBA program also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The undergraduate program offers majors in accounting and in business administration with emphasis in international business, management, marketing, marketing management and business analytics. The school offers a minor in business administration available to all undergraduates at Biola University.
School of Education: The School of Education was established in 2007, originally started as the Education Department in 1952. It offers biblically integrated courses and programs that exist to train those who desire to make an impact as educators and administrators in public, private, homeschool, charter and international schools. At the undergraduate level, the School of Education is home to the elementary education, multidisciplinary majors and liberal studies, which consistently rank among the most popular undergraduate majors at Biola.
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Torrey Honors College: Formerly the Torrey Honors Institute, this classical literature great books program was started by John Mark Reynolds in 1995 and named after Reuben Archer Torrey. Classes in the department are used to meet most of the general education requirements at Biola University in four years; the program does not offer a major or minor.
Centers and Conferences
Biola is also known for its conferences and academic centers. The university hosts annual events such as the Missions Conference and the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference, a three-day conference dedicated to students' spiritual growth. On November 16, 1996, the university hosted the first national conference on intelligent design. Later, Intervarsity Press published Mere Creation, a collection of the papers presented at the conference. On October 8, 2007, Biola opened the Charles L. Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies in Manhattan.
The university supports several academic centers, including the Center for Christian Thought and the Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts. In October 2014, Biola launched the Center for Marriage and Relationships (CMR).
Publications
Biola has been associated with several significant publications. 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). 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. Journal of Psychology and Theology has as its purpose 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.
Athletics: The Biola Eagles
The Biola athletic teams are called the Eagles. The university is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) since the 2017-18 academic year; while its men's and women's swimming & diving teams compete in the Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference (PCSC). They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the West Region of the Division I level.
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In 2012, Biola inducted three alumni into its Inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame: Todd Worrell (baseball), Becky White (volleyball and women's basketball), and Wade Kirchmeyer (men's basketball). Biola also has a club men's lacrosse team that competed in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) from 2001-2009, and has since competed in the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference (SLC). A club women's lacrosse team began competition in 2012 in the Western Women's Lacrosse League (WWLL).
On July 20, 2016, Biola University's application for membership into the NCAA Division II had been approved for the three-year membership process. The Eagles continued as an active member of the GSAC and the NAIA for the 2016-17 school year while completing Provisional Year One with the NCAA. In Provisional Year Two (2017-18), Biola joined the PacWest Conference and competed primarily against NCAA opponents.
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