School of Theology
Become Equipped for Transformational Ministry
The School of Theology cultivates a vibrant Christ-centered community committed to real-world ministry, guided by expert faculty who are deeply invested in students’ spiritual, academic, and vocational formation. Through coursework in biblical studies, theology, and Christian ministries, students are equipped to integrate a resilient Christian faith with academic excellence and a thoughtful vision for faithful service in the world. The school provides strong preparation for graduate study as well as immediate leadership and service in a wide range of ministry and vocational contexts. Students also benefit from additional opportunities and resources offered through the Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service.
Rooted in the Wesleyan theological tradition, Azusa Pacific University's Undergraduate School of Theology aims to:
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Nurture critical thinking and habits of the mind that move beyond the superficial.
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Create space for exploring important and pressing questions within a Christian context, preparing students to be a compelling presence in a diverse world.
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Inspire curiosity and imagination about the historical and cultural forces that shape the world of the Bible and our interactions with it.
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Deepen students’ capacity for theological and moral reflection rooted in Scripture and its interplay with tradition, reason, and experience.
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Model a value for human and cultural diversity as a pathway toward virtuous engagement with the world.
Faculty Spotlight
Now, as a professor in Azusa Pacific University’s School of Theology, Birge gets to help students wrestling with similar questions, guiding them as they learn more about God and refine their faith. “I’m not afraid of students who ask difficult questions. Truly, the only non-faithful response is to stop asking,” she said.
Articles
Students Find Their Voices in APU’s Preaching Lab
William McCoy, PhD, Named Dean of APU’s College of Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Theology
Alumni Feature: The Full Circle Journey of Steve Dang ’05
The Value of a Lifelong Student-Professor Relationship
Faculty Feature: Paul Boles ’99, PhD Grows in His Faith Alongside His Students
Global Engagement Stories: Hector Castaneda ’25 Learned What Service Is in Uganda
Global Engagement Series: Olivia Redmond’s Experience in the Dominican Republic
About the Dean
Bill McCoy, PhD, comes to APU with 20 years of prior experience working in Christian higher education, primarily at Eastern Nazarene College, where he served four years as chief academic officer. Prior to that role, he was a faculty member teaching a range of courses in African and European history. He holds a PhD in African history, with additional specialties in modern British history and anthropology, from Boston University. His dissertation, Healing the Leper? Mission Christianity, Medicine, and Social Dependence in 20th Century Swaziland, led to multiple publications in industry journals.
McCoy is passionate about the transformative power of higher education integrated with deep Christian faith. His primary goal for the College of Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Theology is to cultivate a community of scholars who embody that transformative integration and celebrate its fruit in each other’s lives and in the world around us.
About the Associate Dean
Eunny Lee, PhD, has served in Christian higher education for more than twenty years, teaching courses in biblical interpretation and biblical languages to both undergraduate and seminary students. She is the author of The Vitality of Enjoyment in Qohelet’s Theological Rhetoric (De Gruyter, 2012), which received the John Templeton Award for Theological Promise. She is currently writing a commentary on the book of Ruth for the Old Testament Library series published by Westminster John Knox. Her research also focuses on the Psalms, particularly their poetry, performativity, theology, and reception history. Passionate about Scripture and teaching, she loves reading biblical texts closely and deeply alongside students and communities of faith.
Contact Information
Department Coordinator: Whitney ZeimisEmail: [email protected]
Phone: (626) 815-5496
Hours
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location
Duke Academic Complex