History

Hope International University began on October 9, 1928, as Pacific Bible Seminary. The first classes were held in the building of the Alvarado Church of Christ in Los Angeles. In 1930, the Seminary was moved to Long Beach where it conducted classes in the building of the First Christian Church. Separate property for a campus was purchased in 1936, on which the first unit was constructed in 1940. In 1962, the name was changed to Pacific Christian College. When the Long Beach campus was no longer adequate to house the growth of the college, the relocation to Fullerton took place in 1973. In 1997 the institution achieved university status and took the corporate name of Hope International University.

The present campus projects Hope's ambition to openly interact with and impact the major elements, peoples, and concerns of our contemporary world. It also permits involvement with California State University, Fullerton, and other nearby colleges. The University was first accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 1969 and became a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in 1993. The teacher credentialing program is accredited by the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing (CLTC) and the Marriage and Family Therapy program is accredited by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Full time presidencies have been filled by James Hurst, 1930-1953, Kenneth Stewart, 1954-1969, Medford Jones, 1969-1981, Knofel Staton, 1981-1990, LeRoy Lawson, 1990-2003 and John Derry, 2003-present.

The University is composed of three separate schools, including Pacific Christian College, the traditional undergraduate college; the School of Professional Studies, which includes adult degree and certificate programs; and, the School of Graduate Studies, which offers graduate programs to educate for professional advancement in ministry, education, marriage and family and management careers.

All degree seeking students of Hope International University are anchored in one of these three "schools" for purposes of admission and program development. While the Fullerton campus of Hope International University, some 19 acres in size, is small by some standards, that proximity of physical environment allows for significant student and faculty interaction, contact and collaboration in teaching and learning. However, Hope has a larger classroom as well. Our online programs and our working-adult programs extend our north Orange County campus to south Orange County, Riverside County, and beyond to most continents on the globe.

Hope International University is a private Christian University committed to maintaining its identity with its historical and immediate constituency, non-denominational Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. This fellowship of churches is also commonly known as part of the “Restoration Movement.”