About Redlands

Located in Redlands, California, the University of Redlands is an independent, coeducational liberal arts and sciences university of 5,000 students. Approximately 2,500 of these students are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, with over 70% residing in on-campus housing. The remainder of the student body is enrolled in the University’s programs for graduate and professional students in business or education, attending classes either on campus or at locations throughout Southern California.

 The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is governed by a Board of Trustees. It is one of 283 colleges and universities in the country to have an active chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

Founded in 1907 by the American Baptists, Redlands maintains an informal association with that denomination. The University has always been widely inclusive. We value the diversity of our faculty, staff, student body, and trustees. As the first Catalog declared in 1909:

The University of Redlands will avoid sectarianism and narrowness in its teachings and policy. It is a school to which anyone may come for college training without having his denominational preference interfered with in the least. Its aim is to educate the heart as well as the head, and to develop the student physically, intellectually, and morally.

 For over 100 years, the University of Redlands has offered its select student body a high-quality, personalized education that blends liberal arts and professional preparation.

The University defines itself as a community of scholars and encourages a value-centered education by challenging assumptions and stressing ethical concerns in both classes and activities. A commitment to liberal arts and sciences education forms the foundation of the University’s programs. Skills and values developed in this context not only support specific disciplines but also promote professional development and career education, as well as personal growth.

In seeking to develop responsible citizenship as part of a complete education, faculty members and other personnel strive to provide students with a variety of opportunities for learning through excellent teaching and individualized personal interaction beyond the classroom. Intense intellectual activity is complemented by immersive and experiential learning, as well as time for quiet reflection, programs for cultural enrichment, community involvement, recreation, and social life.

The College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences offers undergraduate majors and minors in more than 40 departments and programs grounded in the liberal arts. A smaller number of graduate programs is offered at the master’s level in Communication Science and Disorders (CDIS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Public Policy and Administration (MPPA), and the Conservatory of Music. Numerous opportunities exist for students to take advantage of special honors courses on campus and approved off-campus study programs throughout the world.

The faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences is both talented and dedicated to the learning process. Classes generally are small, and individual attention to students is a hallmark of a Redlands education. In addition to their work with students in regular classes, faculty members mentor students in many ways, from First-Year Seminars (where faculty members serve as academic advisors as well as teachers of first-year students) to guiding students in selecting, planning, and completing majors. Faculty members work closely with students in such areas as individualized studies, fieldwork, community service learning, summer research projects, May Term travel courses, internships, senior projects, and advising for postgraduate education and careers.

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may enroll in almost any course (assuming they satisfy prerequisites), regardless of major, and are encouraged both to study in-depth in a major and to explore the range of ways of knowing and creating through the Liberal Arts Inquiry and additional elective courses.

The Johnson Center for Integrative Studies

The College of Arts and Sciences’ Johnston Center for Integrative Studies allows students to design their own education in consultation with faculty advisors. Students write contracts for their courses and receive narrative evaluations in lieu of traditional grades. The Center has received national acclaim for its innovative approaches to education and a robust living-learning community.

The School of Education

Founded in 1924, the School of Education has prepared leaders in California public and private education. Teachers, counselors, and administrators have selected Redlands for its long tradition of academic excellence, personalized approach to instruction, innovative programs, and focus on educational justice.

The School offers multiple and single subject teacher credential programs to University undergraduate students and to applicants who have earned their baccalaureate degrees. In addition, the School of Education offers an Education Specialist credential with an emphasis in mild/moderate disabilities.

Nine master’s programs are offered: clinical mental health counseling, educational administration, school counseling, curriculum and instruction, learning and teaching, higher education, human services, leadership for social justice, curriculum and instructional design. The school offers four programs online the MA in teaching and learning, human services, leadership for social justice, curriculum and instructional design. For those holding master’s degrees, the pupil personnel services and both preliminary and professional-level administrative services credentials are offered as credential-only programs. Intern credentials are available to students who receive contract offers from districts while still enrolled in their degree programs. Students also may pursue the Doctorate in Leadership for Educational Justice (Ed.D.). All credentials are accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The teacher credentials are aligned with the SB2042 standards, and service credentials meet current state standards.

Students receive personal attention from an outstanding full-time faculty, seasoned adjunct practitioners, and experienced field supervisors. The curriculum purposefully blends theory and application, integrating professional development, personal reflection, and principles of educational justice into each of its programs of study. The School also features the Center for Educational Justice, which sponsors institutes, symposia, workshops, and other educational efforts related to social advocacy, research, and policy development.

The School of Business & Society

In 1976, the University founded the Alfred North Whitehead College for Lifelong Learning, dedicated to providing high quality education for adult students who are employed and wish to undertake advanced undergraduate or graduate study. Recognizing the evolution of its adult business programs, the University formally launched the School of Business & Society in the Fall of 2001. The School now has 40 years of experience in delivering business programs to working professionals.

Its mission is to train the business leaders of tomorrow in 21st century business skills, including critical thinking and analysis skills, persuasive communication abilities, firm business ethics and functional business skills. The school hosts three research centers: the Banta Center for Business, Ethics, and Society; the Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis; and the Center for Spatial Business. The school has partnerships with over 400 private, public and non-profit organizations and sponsors study abroad opportunities focusing on global business in Asia, Europe, and other locations.

The School of Business & Society offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees throughout seven campuses in southern California (including the main campus in Redlands), with courses designed for working professionals. Undergraduate programs are offered in business and management. Graduate programs are offered in business administration, business analytics, and management, and organizational leadership. Most recently, the school has launched an online Master of Business Administration degree.

The Graduate School of Theology

The Graduate School of Theology (GST) is comprised of the San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS), and the Shaw Chaplaincy Institute (SCI).

San Francisco Theological Seminary

Founded in 1871 and rooted in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) is dedicated to the education of ministry through unparalleled innovation, rigorous scholarship, and a tradition of commitment to spirituality and social justice ministry in the Christian faith. Students and faculty from all corners of the world come to SFTS to form a multicultural community of learners.

Nestled within Marin Country, SFTS is located in picturesque San Anselmo, California. The campus setting is rural, charming, and lies north of San Francisco, one of the most eclectic and exciting cities in the nation.

SFTS offers Master’s and Doctoral degrees, along with diplomas and certificates. As a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), a consortium of Protestant and Catholic theological schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, SFTS offers open enrollment in a cohesive partnership of seminaries comprised of varying traditions. SFTS students take classes at all the GTU seminaries, as well as the GTU’s centers and affiliates for the study of Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and other world religions. An additional benefit of SFTS includes access to other premier higher education institutions throughout the Bay Area, including the University of California at Berkeley.

SFTS values dialogue and engagement with other religions and faith traditions. SFTS is grounded in Reformed traditions and fosters faith-filled engagement in public life and service to others. As part of this, the University of Redlands is proud to incorporate all aspects of the San Francisco Theological Seminary into the Bulldog family and offer its first Graduate School of Theology (GST) to the communities of Redlands, Northern California, and abroad.

The Campus Setting

Located in Southern California 65 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the University of Redlands is accessible to a variety of diverse natural and cultural attractions. The campus is noted for its tree-lined streets and was designated as a "Tree Campus" by the Arbor Day Foundation. Its natural beauty is enhanced by its close proximity to high and low deserts, ski resorts, and hiking trails in nearby mountains. Beaches and amusement attractions are little more than an hour’s drive. Equally accessible are nationally known art galleries, libraries, theatres, and music centers. The University’s home, the historic city of Redlands, is regarded as one of Southern California’s most livable cities.

The University itself serves the surrounding community as an anchor of cultural and educational leadership. It is home to the Redlands Symphony Orchestra and sponsors numerous performances in music and theatre, as well as exhibits in the Peppers Art Gallery. It also provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, as speakers of national and international importance visit the campus each year to participate in the Convocation Series, President’s High Tables, Visiting Writers Series, the Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival, and events sponsored by the Jameson Center for the Study of Religion and Ethics, and the Hall Network for Innovation in Public Policy. Members of the faculty also present public lectures, minicourses, and discussions on a range of topics of current interest throughout the year.

The University also co-sponsors the Esri/Town and Gown Forum, which twice monthly brings speakers who are visiting Esri, the leading GIS mapping technology company, or the University, to share their ideas with the public.

Sixty-four buildings, including 12 residence halls housing over 70% of the students in the College of Arts and Sciences, are situated on the 160-acre campus. The University has one apartment complex and 14 organizational houses that offer students a variety of living environments from which to choose. The campus also is home to the Orton Center, a modern conference building; the 1,500-seat Memorial Chapel, site of many major events as well as voluntary weekly worship services; the 350-seat Glenn Wallichs Festival Theatre; the Alumni-Greek Amphitheatre; and the Alumni House.