We aim to assist our students in developing a biblical worldview where the principles and norms derived from the Word of God are applied to the whole of life. Spiritual values are emphasized, and while we stress academic excellence, we also value spiritual growth. Our flexible and innovative curriculum also allows students to be invested in athletics and music, complete studies abroad, and engage in top internship programs.

Our classes are always taught by faculty, not teacher’s assistants. All faculty have a shared commitment to the doctrinal statement.

We hold the Word of God as sufficient in all things, including its own interpretation. To best equip our students for their intended fields, ministry, or otherwise, we teach them how to approach the Word; through Greek and Hebrew, the context in which it was written, along with a large selection of classes ranging from biblical counseling to the book of Revelation. Our professors are not just equipped scholarly but are heavily involved in their local church and other ministries: practicing what they teach and standing as examples to each student.

Dr. Greg Gifford, Chairperson

The Master’s University has developed one of the strongest Biblical Studies programs anywhere in the United States. The Department of Biblical Studies stresses the understanding, interpretation, and application of biblical literature. The biblical material is studied in light of its original historical environment so that an authentically biblical understanding can be applied to the theological and cultural issues of the modern age. The department attempts to assist all students in developing a biblical worldview in which the principles and norms derived from the Word of God are applied to the whole of life. Spiritual values are emphasized so that practical spiritual growth is experienced along with academic achievement.

We hold the Word of God to be sufficient in all things, including its own interpretation. To best equip our students for their intended fields, ministry or otherwise, we teach them how to approach the Word: through studying Greek and Hebrew as well as the historical and cultural context of each passage. Our students also take classes in theology, biblical counseling, and individual books of Scripture. All of our faculty and staff affirm our full doctrinal statement, which has remained essentially unchanged since our founding. We believe and teach:

• The inerrancy of the Bible,
• the tri-unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
• the total depravity of man,
• the necessity of salvation by grace alone through faith alone,
• and the coming earthly kingdom of Christ.

Minor in Biblical Counseling
A minor in Biblical Counseling is offered to students not majoring in Biblical Studies, but who desire a greater understanding of the Biblical Counseling.

Minor in Biblical Studies
A minor in Biblical Studies is offered to students not majoring in Biblical Studies, but who desire a greater understanding of the Bible and theology.

Minor in Global Studies
A minor in Global Studies is offered to all students who desire a greater understanding of cross-cultural missions. It is intended to equip students in other critical majors for work and ministry in a cross-cultural context.

The purpose of the Certificate programs is to assist those in both the University and the community who desire to study certain specific areas in order to be more equipped for their roles in ministry.

Global Studies Certificate
Non-credited courses offered to those outside the university: mission pastors, elders, lay leaders, and Christian professionals who desire to be equipped for effectiveness in their ministry roles in missions.

One-Year Bible Program
Within the Biblical Studies emphasis, the One-Year Bible Program comprises 30 units of Biblical Studies. It is designed to help those students who would like to front-load their G.E. Biblical Studies courses. It can also be used for those students who would just like to take a year of Biblical Studies, perhaps after already earning a bachelor’s degree, or to meet a requirement for the mission field, or just because they desire a year of intense Bible training. To receive the One-Year Bible Certificate, students must inform both the registrar and the dean of the School of Biblical Studies of their plans to enroll. Students must begin the program their first semester at the University, and they will have three semesters in which to complete the 30 units.

Women’s Ministry Certificate
These courses are offered to both TMU females and those in the community who desire to be equipped for greater effectiveness in women’s ministries within the local church.

Dr. John D. Street, Chairperson

The Master’s University (TMU) Doctrinal Statement has remained virtually unchanged since the inception of the institution in 1927 as the Los Angeles Baptist College (LABC). Our commitment to Christ and Scripture is affirmed in writing by every faculty member, coach, administrator, board member, and staff; it is also affirmed by every student in the admissions process. Our mission, our philosophy of education, our philosophy of spiritual development, and all our activities are uncompromisingly rooted in the doctrinal statement.

On July 1st, 2021, Master’s celebrated teaching biblical counseling for 30 years. When formal biblical counseling began to be taught at TMU, no other institution of higher education in the world was offering fully accredited training in biblical counseling. Initially, biblical counseling wasn’t very popular in the church and people wondered what the future of the movement would look like. It was unclear if biblical counseling would even exist moving forward in the face of the liberal church and culture.
Like many other schools that succumbed to liberalism during the 1960’s and 70’s, LABC had been integrationist in its approach to counseling, as it attempted to combine the Bible and psychology. When John MacArthur became President in 1985, he changed the name of the school to The Master’s College (TMC) and replaced the faculty in the Bible and Counseling departments with men who were doctrinally sound and committed to the sufficiency of Scripture. In 2016, TMC was renamed The Master’s University (TMU). TMU now offers both a graduate and post-graduate degree in biblical counseling: a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling (MABC) degree and a Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Counseling degree (DMin BC).

In 1991, Dr. MacArthur invited Dr. Bob Smith from Faith Church in Lafayette, Indiana to establish the undergraduate program in Biblical Counseling at TMC. In 1993, he asked Dr. Wayne Mack to lead the graduate program in biblical counseling here. Dr. Mack led the effort to teach our graduate level biblical counseling programs and assisted The Master’s Seminary (TMS) with their Master of Divinity program in which he taught pastoral counseling. Dr. Mack hired Dr. Stuart Scott in 1997 who taught here until 2005. Dr. Scott returned in 2015 and served here full-time until 2022.

Dr. John Street was hired by Dr. Mack in the Summer of 1999 to direct and develop our graduate programs. Dr. Street became the Department Chairman when Dr. Mack transitioned to serve on the mission field in South Africa. Dr. Street established the program further and oversaw significant growth and momentum built in the biblical counseling movement. He hired Dr. Ernie Baker in the Summer of 2005 to teach the undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and online programs here. Dr. Street brought Dr. Robert Somerville to Master’s in 2005 to teach in our graduate program in which capacity he served for 10 years until he retired in 2016.

Under Dr. Street’s leadership, TMU now offers residential, online, summer intensive, synchronous, and correspondence type courses in biblical counseling at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. We recognize that God has been faithful to us as we have attempted to be faithful to His Word. We also recognize that God has blessed us as we have trusted Him and are committed to the fact that His Word is sufficient in the biblical care of souls.

The Master’s University and Seminary is ranked and compared by numerous local and national publications and institutions. These rankings help to recognize the ongoing excellence and competitiveness of our institution. Here are highlighted rankings featuring the School of Biblical Studies:

• #1 in Best Religious Studies Colleges & Universities in California (#1 of 37, prepler.com 2023)
• #1 Best Bible Christian Colleges in California (#1 of 11, matchcollege.com 2023)
• #1 Best Theology and Religious Studies Schools in California and #10 in the U.S., Undergraduate (plexuss.com, 2023)
• #1 of 44 Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools (collegefactual.com, 2023)
• #1 of 22 Best Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools (collegefactual.com, 2023)
• #1 of 10 Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools (collegefactual.com, 2023)
• #1 of 36 in Influential Religious Studies Undergraduate Programs, Liberal Arts Colleges in California (academicinfluence.com, 2022)
• #2 Best Christian Colleges for Religious Studies in California (Niche 2023)
• #4 Best Colleges for Religious Studies in California (Niche 2023)
• #6 of 343 in Influential Religious Studies Undergraduate Programs, Liberal Arts Colleges Nationwide (academicinfluence.com, 2022)
• Top 7% Best Colleges for Religious Studies in America (Niche 2021)
• Top 7 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Christian Studies (Study.com 2021)
• 400+ Written Biblical Counseling Theses
• #8 Best in California Offering Theology and Religious Studies Programs (2021 PLEXUSS Global Rankings)