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Pepperdine University

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Pepperdine University is a private institution of higher learning affiliated with the Church of Christ. The university's location overlooks Malibu, California.

Pepperdine University

Seal of Pepperdine University (Trademark of Pepperdine University)

MottoStrengthening Lives for Purpose, Service, and Leadership
Established 1937
School type Private
President Andrew K. Benton
Location Malibu, CA, USA
Enrollment 3,153 undergraduate,
2,900 graduate
Faculty 366
Endowment US$496 million
Campus Suburban, 830 acres (3.4 km²)
Sports team Waves
Website www.pepperdine.edu

History

Pepperdine University was established as George Pepperdine College in 1937, by George Pepperdine. For thirty years, George Pepperdine College was a small undergraduate school located near Watts in South Los Angeles. Badly shaken by the 1965 Watts Riots, which led to the exodus of most of South Los Angeles's remaining White population, Pepperdine's leadership decided to leave inner-city Los Angeles. In 1972, through the generosity of Frank Roger Seaver, Pepperdine opened a new 830 acre (3.4 km²) campus in the Malibu area. The former campus is now the site of the Crenshaw Christian Center and Faithdome.

Pepperdine gained university status in 1971 when a school of law was added and the business and education departments became separate schools. In 1975, the undergraduate program was named Seaver College in honor of the Seavers. In the 1980s, Pepperdine rose to prominence as one of the United States' leading centers of conservative politics, attracting many conservative-leaning professors from nearby UCLA and USC. Prominent conservatives on the Pepperdine faculty have included Ben Stein, Kenneth Starr, Arthur Laffer, and Douglas W. Kmiec. In 1996 a massive brushfire threatened the campus with destruction, but firefighters succeeded in protecting almost all structures. [1]

Campuses

Houses adjacent to the Malibu campus.

Seaver College (Malibu, CA)

Seaver College (named for Mr. Frank R. Seaver, the largest single benefactor of Pepperdine) is the primary campus of Pepperdine University, nestled among several ridges that overlook the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway, outside the Malibu city limits (although its mailing address is "Malibu"). Most buildings were constructed in a typical 1980s-style reinterpretation of classic Californian and Mediterranean architecture (red tile roofs, white stuccoed walls, large tinted windows). Pepperdine University was voted as having the most beautiful campus by Princeton Review and having the best dorms of any campus in the nation. Parking is difficult relative to the average university, however. This is a result of the small size of the campus and limited room for building (not to mention strict building codes from the city of Malibu, and other governmental and political organizations in the Malibu region). The campus contains one parking garage at the Drescher Graduate Campus which was completed in mid-2003. The main roads that run through Pepperdine are Seaver Drive, John Tyler Drive, and Banowsky Boulevard. Seaver Drive and John Tyler Drive are named in honor of donors to the university, and Banowsky Boulevard is named in honor of William S. Banowsky, the 4th president of Pepperdine. Driving up the main campus entrance road is a memorable experience, as it ascends a steep well-groomed grassy slope past a huge stylized cross, symbolizing the university's dedication to its original Christian mission.

Graziadio School of Business and Management (Los Angeles, CA)

Pepperdine's Graziadio School of Business and Management enrolls approximately 2,400 students in its programs, which are offered as both full-time and part-time classes. It is the fifth largest graduate business school in the country, and was founded in 1969. The school was named after its benefactor, George L. Graziadio. Degrees granted by the school include:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • International Master of Business Administration (IMBA)
  • Master of Science in Organization Development (MSOD)
  • Undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Management (BSM)

Degree programs are offered at the Graziadio School’s headquarters located in West Los Angeles; the Drescher Graduate Campus in Malibu; and additional campuses located throughout Southern California including Encino, Irvine, Long Beach, Pasadena and Westlake Village. The Executive MBA program also is available in Northern California.

School of Law (Malibu, CA)

File:Solbuilding.jpg
The Harnish Law Library at Pepperdine's School of Law.

The School of Law is located adjacent to the Seaver College Campus, and enrolls only about 670 students who come from all parts of the country. It is fully approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Some of its newer degree offerings include the LL.M. in dispute resolution, and the juris/doctor master of divinity in conjunction with Seaver College. Other joint degree programs include the JD/MBA, JD/MPP, and JD/MDR. The school offers a fall semester in Malibu and a summer semester in London, England.

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

The West Los Angeles campus is located in Howard Hughes Center next to Interstate 405.

Pepperdine University also has satellite campuses in Encino, Irvine, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Clara, Westlake Village, and abroad.

Organization

Presidents

Athletics

File:Pepperdine logo.gif
Pepperdine Waves Logo

Pepperdine University participates in the West Coast Conference. Appropriate for its location adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, its teams are known as the Waves.

Pepperdine University was recently ranked by the Sears Cup as the having the most successful athletic program for non-football Division I schools. Stanford University was ranked the most successful Division I athletic program with football. Pepperdine University sponsors 14 NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics teams-baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, tennis, volleyball and water polo teams for men, while women compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

NCAA Division I Team Championships:

  • Baseball (1992)
  • Men's Golf (1997)
  • Men's Volleyball (1978, 1985, 1986, 1992, 2005)
  • Water Polo (1997)

NCAA Division I Individual Titles:

  • Robbie Weiss (1988 Tennis - Singles)
  • Carlos DiLaura & Kelly Jones (1985 Tennis - Doubles)
  • Jerome Jones & Kelly Jones (1984 Tennis - Doubles)

Notable alumni

Academia

Business

Entertainment

Politics and government

Sports

Rankings and reputation

In 2005, the Princeton Review ranked Pepperdine as #1 on the list of colleges with "Dorms Like Palaces." Pepperdine also appeared on two other lists: "Beautiful Campus" and "Students Pray on a Regular Basis." Because of its Christian affiliation, many contend that the student body breeds a religious and politically conservative atmosphere. Others note that despite its religious affiliation, Pepperdine does not require its students to sign an 'Honor Pledge' to attend; therefore, students from all religious and political backgrounds can be found on campus. The 2005 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges has also noted Pepperdine as being one of the nation's largest conservative colleges. US News has also ranked Pepperdine as the 55th best national university for undergraduate education, its law school among the top 77 ABA-approved law schools, and the Straus Institute as #1 in the field of dispute resolution.

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