Regarded as a leader in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Azusa Pacific University or APU is a private inter-denominational institute located near Los Angeles in Southern California. Since its inception, APU has been consistently providing quality higher-level education to students. What was established as the Training School for Christian Workers in 1899, received the status of University in 1981 and was renamed Azusa Pacific University. The main campus spans more than 100 acres and is situated in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley in Azusa, California. The region is known for its striking beauty, cultural diversity, and recreational activities. Apart from the main campus, APU also operates the following off-site regional centers:
Los Angeles Regional Center
Murrieta Regional Center
San Diego Regional Center
High Desert Regional Center (Victorville)
Orange County Regional Center (Orange)
Ventura Regional Center (Oxnard)
Inland Empire Regional Center (San Bernardino)
Azusa Pacific University
Academics
Azusa Pacific University is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). APU also has several other regional and discipline-based accreditations from associations such as International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE); National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); Association of Theological Schools (ATS); National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD); American Psychological Association (APA); Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP).
With a premeditated focus on faith integration, scholarship, diversity, and globalization, Azusa Pacific University provides quality academic programs within a well-knit community of students and scholars. The University offers more than 80 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and degree completion programs in diverse areas of study such as leadership, business, education, nursing, psychology, theology, and more. APU also provides accelerated and traditional degree programs and certificates through its various regional centers.
Research forms an important part of the Azusa Pacific University. Carnegie Foundation has classified the institute as a Doctoral/ Research University (DRU). Some of the important research centers at the University are Academic Service-Learning and Research; Diversity Planning and Assessment; Institute for Faith Integration; Noel Academy for Strengths-Based Leadership and Education; Research on Ethics and Values; Research in Science (CRIS); and Undergraduate Research.
The Learning Enrichment Center (LEC) at APU provides academic support to students through various services and programs tailored to encourage academic success. The services include Supplemental Instruction Program (SI), individualized and group tutoring, student disability accommodations, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), examination proctoring services, and study strategies to help students in their academic endeavors.
Schools and Colleges:
Azusa Pacific University is composed of the following academic units: School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences; School of Business and Management; School of Music; School of Nursing; School of Theology; School of Education; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and Center of Adult and Professional Studies.
APU Online:
APU offers online degree and certificate programs to students from all walks of life. These programs are especially designed for students who are unable to attend regular college due to various reasons. Most of the online undergraduate and graduate programs offered by APU can be entirely completed through the Internet. The students can access online classes and course materials, anytime and anywhere. Some of the online undergraduate, graduate and degree programs offered by APU are Associate of Arts Degree, B.A. in Management, TESOL (Teaching ESL), B.A. in Liberal Studies, and Registered Nurse to B.S. in Nursing.
Students can also complete online certificate programs in just four to nine months, and gain valuable skills and highly profitable specialties. The online programs include ELL/CTEL/CLAD Certificate; Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education (GATE); and Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Azusa Pacific University.
APU welcomes students from almost every state and over 70 countries worldwide. The admission requirements may vary for freshman, transfer, nursing major, and international students. APU follows a rolling admission process for graduate University admission, which means that the applications are continuously accepted and processed.
Students must send their official transcripts from other institutes along with their ACT or SAT score. Academic capabilities and involvement in church, school, and community activities are taken into consideration while evaluating the applicant’s potential for success. The application process acts as a tool for carrying out these assessments.
Transfer students who have successfully completed one year of full-time college work, or at least 12 transferable academic units in one semester can get a test-score waiver when applying for admission. However taking either the SAT or ACT test is necessary.
The international students application procedure is different from the standard admission process. Students whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test.
Financial Aid
Azusa Pacific University provides financial aid to nearly 90% of the student population. The financial aid department encourages students to apply for the different forms of assistance offered by state, federal and private bodies. All students seeking financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The different mediums through which APU provides financial aid are the following: Scholarships, Federal and State Grants, and, Federal and Alternative Loans.
Scholarships at APU are basically of three different types: Institutional scholarships, Graduate Education Scholarships, and Outside Scholarships. The institutional scholarships are offered to students by various departments or individual programs. Graduate Education Scholarships such as Alice V. Watkins Scholarship and Simmerok Family Scholarship Fund are offered to students enrolled in graduate degrees.
Grants are the type of financial aid that students don’t have to return. The federal and state grants available at APU include Cal Grant A, Cal Grant B, Cal Grant B Access, Federal Pell Grant, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).
Federal and alternative loans are the amounts that must be returned with interest. The various type of loans available at APU are Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, Federal Parent PLUS Loan, and Alternative Loans.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Azusa Pacific University 1668th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best California scholarships and financial aid
Azusa Pacific University boasts an active student life. Apart from academics, APU also aims at the overall development of a student’s personality, character and outlook. The various campus organizations, activities, and events enrich a student’s University experience. There are several on-campus students clubs and organizations such as Asian Pacific American Student Organization (APASO), Black Students Awareness (BSA), Latin American Student Association (LASA), and Native American Student Circle (NASC). The Student Government Association at APU works as the voice of the student body. They organize various events and activities for enhancing the campus involvement of the students.
The Office of CommUniversity caters to the needs of the commuter student population at APU. There are several programs coordinated by the student activities staff to improve the experience of an off-campus University student. The commuter student population receives special discounts and benefits to encourage their participation at the events sponsored by CommUniversity.
There are three well-stocked libraries at APU: Hugh and Hazel Darling Library, James L. Stamps Theological Library, and William V. Marshburn Memorial Library. The libraries house a varied collection of academic and research books, rare archives, and a wide-ranging catalog of print and electronic resources, to provide patrons the information they need within their reach.
Media & Publication
The Clause is the student-run newspaper, published weekly. It is committed to providing a rational educational experience for the APU students.
The Tavaleph is the student-run yearbook that provides APU students with a time-capsule at the end of each year.
KAPU is the University’s own radio station that features the most up-to-date campus announcements, engaging talk shows, and varied music mixes.
Campus Facilities:
APU students enjoy their University life on and off the campus. The Outdoor Adventures program presents outdoor recreational opportunities to the students. The Outdoor Adventures program takes students to places they’ve never been before and discover God’s creation in a whole new prospective. The campus organizes various outdoor day trips, weekend trips, and special events like rock climbing, mud caving, kayaking, backpacking, geocaching, bike tours, and Dutch oven cooking.
The George I. Alden Trust Media Center, located on the main level of Marshburn Library on East Campus features high-tech audio visual equipments, CD and DVD collection, a large video, instructional video, audio tapes, and APU wireless network access. There are also several group study rooms, two computer stations, along with assistive technology resources like Zoomtext, Kurzweil 3000, J.A.W.S., MagniSight.
Some of the other important campus facilities at APU include Chapel Programs, Student Government Association; The Arts: Music, Theater; the University Counseling Center; Health Center, and Fitness Center. These departments meet the various requirements of the students and help them discover their hidden talents and abilities.
Housing and Dining:
APU Residence Life department help students make the most of their University housing experience. A committed team of staff works to ensure proficient-management of the on-campus living areas and include recreational activities. The residence living at APU provides enriching experiences and unique opportunities for the students. APU’s on-campus residence program offers different types of living environments, which includes traditional residence halls and self-contained apartments.
Residence halls include Adams Hall for women; Engstrom Hall for men and women; Smith Hall for men; and Trinity Hall for men and women. APU also offers apartment-style living within the campus. The apartment complexes include Alosta Place, Bowles, Shire Mods, University Park, and University Village. All these housing options are well equipped with modern amenities and services for the convenience of the students.
Azusa Pacific University also offers a variety of dining options located throughout the campus. They offer full meals, snacks and coffee for students, faculty members and staff. The various dining options include Cornerstone Coffeehouse; Cougar Walk Café; Cougars’ Den Café; Dining Hall; Canyon Grill and Deli; Hillside Grounds Coffeehouse; APU’s Quikimart; Paws N Go Convenience Store; and Sam’s Subs. There are also several vending machines situated across campus featuring Pepsi products and an array of snacks.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Azusa Pacific University?
Azusa Pacific University’s athletic department fields both men’s and women’s teams in diverse varsity sports such as cross country, baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, cheerleading, football, swimming & diving, tennis , track & field, volleyball, and waterpolo. The sports teams are nicknamed as Cougars. Their colors are Brick, White, and Black. The Cougars compete in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Sports facilities available at APU are Cougar Athletic Stadium, Cougar Baseball Field, Cougar Dome, Cougar Soccer Field, Cougar Softball Field, Felix Event Center, and Tennis Complex.
Intramural Sports:
The intramural sports program aims to provide a safe and welcoming environment where the students, faculty members, and staff can enjoy, have fun, play, develop spiritually, exercise, participate, and enhance sportsmanship while taking part in the various recreational activities. The APU intramural sports program is designed to complement the academic goals. Students can participate in the following intramural sports: co-ed softball, men’s flag football, women’s flag football, co-ed volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, co-ed dodgeball, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer.
Alumni
APU graduates have earned a lot of reputation across the world. Some of the most notable alumni are Dan Barker, Minister turned atheist author/speaker; Doug Barnett, NFL player; Marcie Dodd, an eminent actress and Broadway cast member; Jack W. Hayford, founder of The Church on the Way.
Additional School Information
U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges (2009 issue) included Azusa Pacific University in the third tier of the national category. APU also ranked 9th among the best up-and-coming national universities in United States.
According to Higher Education magazine’s Diverse Issues, APU ranked 6th in the U.S. in awarding the most master’s degrees to Hispanic students.
Additionally, The Princeton Review included Azusa Pacific University among its 120 colleges in its 2009 Best in the West category.
Feel free to add comments or additional information regarding Azusa Pacific University, or discuss this school in the University Discussion Forum
over 4 years agoVince Scarlata vince dot scarlata ((at)) latenightwriter dot com
Please Forward TO: Dr. Jon Wallace
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This website and associated pages are not associated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Azusa Pacific University. StateUniversity.com has no official or unofficial affiliation with Azusa Pacific University.
vince dot scarlata ((at)) latenightwriter dot com
Please Forward TO: Dr. Jon Wallace Dear Dr. Wallace: I have a product that may be of interest to you for use by your students. After two years of design and implementation work, we are about to release the Alpha version of a web-based service to help college students improve their writing. Focus user groups have shown great promise, as students who have never scored well on a paper do much better using our web service. Our company was formed by a group of people who are from both the academic community mainly concerned with teaching composition, and from the high tech area. We’ve come together to create a product we believe will help any college student who struggles to get started writing a paper. The methodology was developed over the years in the college classroom to help students who have difficulty developing the content for assignment writing, and particularly those who wait until the last minute to begin their assignment. The benefit of the web-based service is that a student can write a paper without the precise knowledge of the required form (book report, argument, business paper, motivational speech, etc.), thus enabling the user to concentrate on the content of their particular work. Basically, the new paradigm is to let the computer take care of the correct form of the required writing and the user is thereby free to develop the correct content as they are lead through a session of well thought out questions that differ according to the paper type or assignment. However, every word of the writing produced is that of the student; plagiarism is avoided. This process does not make up for a student’s lack of research or understanding of a subject. However, a student who understands their subject can quickly produce a well formed paper. While we spend a great deal of attention on the questions asked to generate student content, the content of the web site, including the questions, is driven by an on-line editor enabling a teacher to tailor a writing assignment around their own requirements. While this is probably not a tool for use in a student composition class where teachers require more traditional methods, it has proven highly successful in the focus groups we have done in just about all other categories of student use. We would be honored if Azusa Pacific University would offer our service to your students. Please let me know your interest in our product; I would be glad to provide you with a demonstration. Thanks very much. Sincerely, Vince Scarlata Vice President of Sales, Late Night Writer, LLC 719-687-6958 vince.scarlata@latenightwriter.com www.latenightwriter.