About the Graduate School
Introduction
C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University is an expansion of an institution that began in 1899 with the formation of the Training School for Christian Workers. Devoted Christian educators from the Evangelical Friends (Quaker) and Methodist churches provided education for ministry at the training school throughout the early part of the 20th century. Today, the graduate school exists to carry on and expand this fundamental purpose of training men and women for effective ministry in the Church and the world, whether as lay persons or as ordained professionals, through its ATS- and WASC-accredited degree programs. The school's theological stance is Wesleyan.
Mission Statement
C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology, in keeping with its commitment to the centrality of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture, seeks to prepare men and women for effective, practical ministry in the Church throughout the world by promoting the spiritual, personal, and vocational development of students, and by extending theological knowledge through academic inquiry, research, writing, and publication.
Specifically, the graduate school is dedicated to the following purposes:
- Serving the global mission of the Kingdom of God
- Preparing people for leadership in the Church and ministries within various cultural and ethnic settings
- Challenging students to respond to the spiritual and social needs of the world
- Providing a balanced core of academic studies within the theological disciplines
- Engaging students in experiential learning and integrative academic reflection
- Promoting evangelical Christianity from a Wesleyan heritage
Accreditation
C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
University Reputation
Azusa Pacific University held its place for the second year in the most prestigious category of the U.S.News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2009, ranking in the third tier of the national category. Additionally, for the first time, APU ranked ninth among the best up-and-coming national universities. Previously, APU was ranked in the top 25 schools within the Western Universities-Master’s category, enjoying prominent placement and recognition for outstanding first-year and service-learning programs.
According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine, APU ranked number 6 in the nation in awarding the most master’s degrees to Hispanics. In addition, The Princeton Review included APU as 1 of 120 colleges in the 2009 Best in the West category.
Programs Offered
Master's Degrees
The Asian Program offers bilingual courses in English and Korean for the various graduate degree programs in C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology. Blending Korean culture with the principles of God's Word, the program provides academic excellence coupled with practical ministry training.
The Master of Divinity Program prepares men and women for professional ministry in the church by providing solid training in biblical, theological, and ministerial studies.
The Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies Program is designed for persons seeking preparation in a specialized field of ministry. Concentrations include church leadership and development, urban studies, worship leadership, and youth ministry.
The Hispanic Program provides Hispanic students a graduate theological education in a linguistic and cultural dynamic that enhances the richness of the Hispanic worldview in the context of mainstream American culture. The Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (M.A.P.S.) and the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) are offered in a bilingual setting, and all classes are taught in Spanish or English.
The Master of Arts in Theological Studies is designed for individuals seeking advanced academic training in biblical studies or theology and ethics in preparation for teaching in Christian schools and colleges, or for doctoral studies in Bible or theology and ethics.
The Master of Arts in Youth Ministry Program prepares men and women for the specialized field of youth ministry.
Doctoral Degrees
The Doctor of Ministry Program renews and transforms ministry leaders, churches, and communities, equipping them to spread the message of Jesus Christ.
