In Fall 2025, Azusa Pacific University launched a new Biblical and Theological Formation Minor as part of the General Education (GE) program redesign. The addition of this minor is part of APU’s effort to more intentionally integrate faith into academics. Bryant Mathews, PhD, director of General Education and associate dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, played a key role in the redesign. “We aimed to design an academic journey that works alongside chapel, service opportunities, and discipleship groups to nurture students’ growth in faith, wisdom, and character,” Mathews said.
APU’s previous GE curriculum included 15 units of biblical studies and theology classes. The new GE requirements add one more class, which enables students to earn a Biblical and Theological Formation Minor. Students don’t need to take any extra classes to earn the minor; they simply need to submit the minor update form through the Office of the Registrar. Justin Marc Smith, PhD, chair and professor of the Department of Biblical Studies, Theology, and Ministry, shared how this benefits students. “Any student who comes in and starts as a freshman will complete the 18 units that are in the theology package and be eligible for an automatic minor,” said Smith. In addition to the streamlined structure of the minor, students benefit from the reduction of the GE program’s total unit requirement by eight units. Upperclassmen who have already completed portions of the previous GE curriculum may substitute those units for some of the new requirements.
This new minor equips students with a comprehensive understanding of Scripture and Christian tradition, emphasizing real-world application. Paul Boles ’99, PhD, program director and professor in the School of Theology, shared how the structure was intentionally designed for students. “The minor’s scaffolding and framework were crafted purposefully, so students have something to hang their hats on.” Students are encouraged to integrate faith with academics and explore how their sense of calling and career paths can contribute to God’s ongoing mission. “We have some students who start at APU with a deep background in the church, and studying the Bible, and students who have little to no background in Christianity. These classes are really meant to offer something for both of those types of students,” said Boles. The new minor meets students where they are in their faith journey, following students throughout their four years at APU, and helping them understand how to intertwine faith with future career aspirations.
The goal of the minor is to equip students with a foundational understanding of core
biblical principles. “I feel a real concern and love for our students,” said Boles.
The way the minor is set up promotes a cohesiveness that allows each student to build
on their knowledge of Christianity and Scripture from year to year.
The units start with CORE 100: Cornerstones, which prioritizes unpacking the four cornerstones of APU: Christ, Scholarship, Community, and Service. It provides a great introduction to the minor and ties in beautifully with CORE 450: Calling and Character Seminar, the last course in the new minor. Together, these courses serve as bookends to the minor, guiding students from their introduction to theological study through the transition into post-graduate life. The Department of Theology aims to divide CORE 450 into sections tailored to specific programs and areas of study. This gives students a chance to explore the most effective ways to integrate faith with their careers after graduation.
APU faculty purposefully designed this program with students in mind. “We studied innovative GE designs at other universities, interviewed nine prominent scholars, pastors, and authors on student spiritual formation in this generation, conducted many listening sessions with faculty and students, and engaged with the faculty governance curriculum review process,” Mathews said. The courses intentionally strengthen students’ foundations in the Christian faith. Mathews encourages students to ask big questions while they are enrolled in these courses, such as “Who created me and why? What is my purpose? Why is the world so beautiful and so broken at the same time? What is God doing about it? What does it mean to give Him my loyalty and trust and to join Him in his redemptive work?” This reflects the collaborative effort of faculty and staff to design a general education program rooted in APU’s shared mission to shape students’ lives for years to come.
Additionally, the minor aims to teach students knowledge of biblical stories and their themes, especially the history behind them, and the ability to pay close attention to small details of biblical passages. APU faculty want students to understand the community of Christianity, apply biblical principles to daily social situations, and be one step closer to finding God’s calling for their lives. “Wherever you are starting from, come with an openness that there is much to learn, knowledge that will intrigue and equip you.” While not every student may see the benefits of these courses, the program encourages curiosity: a curiosity to learn where Christianity came from, how the Bible was written, and what can come from a relationship with God. “You can either look at GE classes as something you have to do, or you can look at them as something you get to do,” Smith said, “I want to encourage students to lean into these classes, and ask, ‘How can I invest in this and get as much out of it as possible?’” Whether students arrive at APU with a strong Christian background or none at all, the Biblical and Theological Formation Minor invites them to engage deeply with Scripture, community, and vocation. In doing so, the program reflects the heart of APU’s mission: forming students to live lives of faith, purpose, and service.