Dr. Terry Tramel, Dean of the School of Adult and Graduate Studies at Southwestern Christian University, announced this week the SCU has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission to offer a Master of Arts in Theological Studies.

Applications for enrollment are beginning immediately as courses are set to begin in the upcoming Fall 2012 semester with classes offered on both the Bethany and Tulsa campuses as well as at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia and also online.

"This is a historic day for higher education in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and Southwestern Christian University,” stated Dr. Tramel. “For 18 years, the Graduate School at SCU has served the IPHC and the body of Christ by providing a Master of Ministry degree to over 350 students from all over America and around the world. Now, the long and laborious dream of many people has been realized with the approval to also offer the Master of Arts in Theological Studies. This new academic degree is especially beneficial for all of those who seek further studies in Bible and theology in preparation for research, writing, preaching, or teaching in higher education.”

The Graduate School will continue to offer the Master of Ministry degree for all of those seeking a more practical education. The offering of the M.A.T.S. is the first visible step toward one day having a full fledged seminary in which to train ministers in the IPHC.

Accredited by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges, Southwestern Christian University is a private Christian liberal-arts university located in Bethany, Oklahoma. Since its founding in 1946, Southwestern has continued to focus on its primary mission of providing students a Christ-centered education, equipping them for a life of learning, leadership and service through the integration of faith, learning and living.