In 1895, Dr. Phineas F Bresee, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Dr. J P Widney, a Methodist layman and former President of the University of Southern California, founded the Church of the Nazarene in Los Angeles. Their primary purpose was to bring the good news of the gospel to the poor and underprivileged. In 1902, Dr. Bresee founded Pacific Bible College in Los Angeles, California, at the urging of several laypersons. The institution was to train ministerial and lay leadership for the new denomination. Pacific Bible College is the predecessor of Point Loma Nazarene University.

In 1910, the University purchased the Hugus Ranch property in Pasadena and moved to the Pasadena campus site. The scope of the curriculum was enlarged to include a typical program in the liberal arts. The school grew as Pasadena College, receiving accreditation from the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools in 1943, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in 1949.

In 1973, the University was relocated to the historic Point Loma peninsula in San Diego as Point Loma College: An Institution of the Church of the Nazarene. In 1983, the name was changed to Point Loma Nazarene College. In 1998, the name was changed to Point Loma Nazarene University.

Point Loma Nazarene University is the regional University of the Southwest Educational Region of the Church of the Nazarene. A Board of Trustees, composed of an equal number of ministers and laypersons, oversees the affairs of the University. Board members are nominated from eleven districts in the Region and elected to the Board to serve on the self-perpetuating body.

The Church of the Nazarene is an international protestant denomination in the holiness tradition. The Church is Wesleyan in doctrine and evangelical in mission. Its polity is representative. Emphasis is given to the conversion of sinners, the entire sanctification of believers, and the spreading of the gospel to every person. The Church is a member of the Christian Holiness Association and the National Association of Evangelicals.

Mission Statement

To Teach - To Shape - To Send
Point Loma Nazarene University exists to provide higher education in a vital Christian community where minds are engaged and challenged, character is modeled and formed, and service becomes an expression of faith. Being of Wesleyan heritage, we aspire to be a learning community where grace is foundational, truth is pursued, and holiness is a way of life.

Mission Context
The University , established in 1902 by the Church of the Nazarene, offers quality liberal arts and professional programs on its main campus in San Diego and select graduate and professional programs throughout the denomination's southwest educational region.

Core Values

• Excellence in teaching and learning
• An intentionally Christian community
• Faithfulness to our Nazarene heritage and a Wesleyan theological tradition
• The development of students as whole persons
• A global perspective and experience
• Ethnic and cultural diversity
• The stewardship of resources
• Service as an expression of faith

Each student is expected to develop, in substantial measure, an awareness and understanding of these goals as relevant to a liberally educated person:

1. A knowledge and appreciation of cultural, intellectual, social, scientific, and spiritual development, through general studies in the natural sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, the fine arts, and religion.
2. The knowledge and skills required to live intelligently and effectively in the modern world, including:
   • A comprehension of physical and mental health, recreational skills, the successive stages of life, and the challenge of aging
   • The development of interpersonal skills for successful marriage, family life, interracial accord, and intercultural relations
   • An understanding of the art and science of communication, with the development of acceptable skills in the reading, writing, and speaking of the English language
   • A knowledge of the role and significance of social, political, and economic factors on human life
   • An awareness of the impact of science and technology on the welfare of the individual, the natural environment, and the survival of the human race
   • An exposure to international and ethnic issues and the comparative values of established and emerging nations and cultures
   • A grounding in philosophy and religion for the appraisal of values and Christian ethical decisions
   • A beginning in the creative synthesis of Christian faith, learning, and life
   • An acquaintance with the distinctive emphases of the Wesleyan-Arminian theological tradition
3. A reasonable mastery of the knowledge, skills, and values of one or more of the major branches of learning.

Point Loma Nazarene University is numbered among those institutions of higher education that meet or exceed the rigorous standards of accrediting associations and commissions. Point Loma is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, for which it periodically completes a self-study that addresses recognized principles of excellence. The University is also accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, California Board of Registered Nursing, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the National Association of Schools of Music.

In addition, many departments/schools and support units, as well as individuals, hold memberships in a variety of professional associations. Point Loma Nazarene University is a member of numerous local, regional, and national organizations, which are listed in the Catalog.


The official document which sets forth the basic beliefs, ethical guidelines, and structural and functional relationships within the Church of the Nazarene and its subdivisions is called the Manual. It is normally revised every four years following the International General Assembly of elected delegates. A full statement of the Articles of Faith is found in the latest edition of the Manual.

The essence of this statement of belief is as follows:

1. We believe in one God--the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. That the Old and New Testament scriptures, given by plenary inspiration, contain all truths necessary to faith and Christian living.
3. That man is born with a fallen nature and is, therefore, inclined to evil, and that continually.
4. That the finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost.
5. That the atonement through Jesus Christ is for the whole human race: and that whosoever repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is justified and regenerated and saved from the dominion of sin.
6. That believers are to be sanctified wholly, subsequent to regeneration, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
7. That the Holy Spirit bears witness to the new birth and also to the entire sanctification of believers.
8. That our Lord will return, the dead will be raised, and the final judgment will take place.