Updates to Multnomah University
Witness & Welcome:
Undergraduate Structure and Enrollment Requirements
June 2023
Hear From Our Leaders
Learn about the heart behind the structural changes taking place at Multnomah. This video contains a message from Vice Chair of The Board of Trustees, Joyce Schroeder, regarding the updates.
Looking for more from our leaders? Watch a full presentation from President Taylor about the decision here.
Updates at a Glance
Why is Multnomah Making this Change?
This update gives Multnomah University the ability to live out its goal of being a transforming force in the world through Christian education by prioritizing growth, sustainability, and vitality to ensure a vibrant institutional future. It gives a clear institutional identity so everyone can move forward in unity and care for students, faculty, and staff, who are the heartbeat of the university.
The landscape of higher education continues to shift at a dramatic pace, and the Board of Trustees understands that Multnomah University must adapt to these changes with guidance from scripture and the Holy Spirit. We believe there is a large group of students who want to learn in Multnomah’s community but have previously been excluded because of our admissions structure. We are a community of restorers and cultivators who have existed within a structure that limits who we educate. As we’ve grown, we’ve realized our distinctive lies in how we educate, not in who we admit. Our faculty are best-in-class at biblical integration, and we want to share that education and fervor for Christ with the world.
“Geared to the times, but anchored to the Rock”
— Billy Graham
The heart of Multnomah will be the same; we have not lost our character, love for Christ, or integrity. At Multnomah University, Scripture is foundational. We have always emphasized Biblical literacy and competency, and we continue that commitment to the study of the Bible as a discipline within our new School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry. We will also continue to see this integrated by our brilliant faculty in our non-Bible/Ministry majors.
With the Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40) as the North Star, the university will continue to be compelled by the love of Christ, engaging the minds, hearts, and souls of students. As students are drawn into the love of God, our great hope is their questions lead to deeper trust, greater commitment, and a growing call to impact their communities. In doing so, we protect and evolve our purpose of being a transforming force in the world.
Structural Updates
Multnomah University has adjusted its non-Bible/Theology/Seminary admissions policies to create more space to invite more students to our Christ-centered community that wish to pursue their education in an environment where being transformed by Christ’s love is a central tenet. We will welcome a wider demographic of students by creating multiple distinct schools within the institution to better share our faith and Christian mission with the world: Multnomah Biblical Seminary & School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry (MBS & MSBTM), Multnomah School of Professional Studies (MSPS) and Multnomah University Online (MUO). While all Multnomah Biblical Seminary and School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry students will still require a signed statement of faith, all schools will uphold a signed community standards agreement and integrate faith into all majors. All employees of the University will continue to sign a statement of faith, while student employees may have an exemption from signing unless the role they will occupy is a professional role.
This decision comes from an unanimous vote of the university Board of Trustees, who see an opportunity in this pivotal time in higher education to impact the lives of more students with the transforming love of Christ. Multnomah has always functioned as a “covenant” (closed enrollment) community, which focused on educating only Christian students. The Board of Trustees felt called to become a “missional” (open enrollment) community, which will educate any student in a Christian context, regardless of a student’s faith journey.
Multnomah Biblical Seminary (MBS) & Multnomah School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry (MSBTM)
We are thrilled to announce the focus of Multnomah Biblical Seminary & School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry (MBS & MSBTM) which is dedicated to raising up Christian leaders within the discipline of Biblical scholarship and literacy. Our Bible, Theology, and Ministry programs will live in the Multnomah Biblical Seminary & School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry (MBS & MSBTM) which will require its students to affirm a doctrinal statement and a personal statement of faith. This will ensure alignment and unity in the beliefs of our students, professors, and the respective course materials. This school will be a unique and needed space in Christian higher education and will extend the university’s legacy of training and equipping Christian leaders and theologians.
Multnomah School of Professional Studies (MSPS)
As demand has grown for Multnomah’s professional programs, so too have the demographics of students seeking to study at Multnomah. There are four key pillars Multnomah identified that run through each mission statement, change, and major shift in our history: 1) Christ honoring 2) Centrality of scripture 3) Changed lives/transformation 4) Community impact. Welcoming a wider demographic of students will allow Multnomah to pursue life transformation and community impact at a far greater scale while maintaining the Christ honoring nature of our community and the centrality of scripture in our classrooms.
Click here to see a full list of programs within Multnomah School of Professional Studies
How Will Things Be Different?
The primary difference will be in the enrollment requirements for the multiple schools. Multnomah Biblical Seminary & School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry will continue to require affirmation of a doctrinal statement and a statement of personal faith. The School of Professional Studies will allow for a more ecumenical approach by becoming a more “missional” (open enrollment) community, integrating faith and learning into all majors. Students applying to the School of Professional Studies will not be required to affirm a doctrinal statement or a statement of personal faith.
Christ Honoring
Centrality of Scripture
Changed Lives
Community Impact
Incoming freshman students will still have the same graduation requirements (minimum 18 credit hours of Bible courses) and the university will still require chapel attendance throughout the year by providing dozens of opportunities to be spiritually engaged and informed each year. All staff and faculty have been and will continue to be doctrine-affirming Christians. All students will still be required to uphold a signed community standards agreement.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:34-49 NIV
Multnomah University has adjusted its non-Bible/Theology/Seminary admissions policies to create more space to invite more students to our Christ-honoring community that wish to pursue their education in an environment where being transformed by Christ’s love is a central tenet. We will welcome a wider demographic of students by creating multiple distinct schools within the institution to better share our faith and Christian mission with the world: Multnomah Biblical Seminary & School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry (MBS & MSBTM), Multnomah School of Professional Studies (MSPS) and Multnomah University Online (MUO).
Multnomah has previously functioned as a “covenant”(closed enrollment) community, which focuses on educating ONLY Christian students. We are now expanding ourselves to include an element of being a “missional” (hybrid enrollment) community, which will educate any student in a Christian context, regardless of a student’s faith journey.
While all Multnomah Biblical Seminary and School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry (MBS & MSBTM) students will still require a signed statement of faith, all schools will uphold a signed community standards agreement and integrate faith and Bible into all majors. All employees of the University will continue to sign a statement of faith ensuring a Christian ethics remains central.
Our commitment to Christian education is unchanged. Our staff and faculty are dedicated, professing followers of Christ, and the curriculum in every classroom integrates faith and academic excellence. Multnomah University will continue to require every student to participate in the traditional Bible core.
We will continue to offer and require chapel attendance, and our campus community will be unapologetically Christian in its culture and practices. The heartbeat of the university will be the same, but our structure will be more welcoming. Our love of Christ and our integrity are intact, and we are using them to impact the kingdom of God.
There is the deepest respect for the Bible at Multnomah University. We have always emphasized Biblical literacy and competency, and we continue that commitment to the study of the Bible as a discipline within our new School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry. We will also continue to see this integrated by our brilliant faculty in our non-Bible/Ministry majors.
We also know many students are eager to engage with themes and questions in the Bible as they relate to the story of humanity. With the Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40) as the North Star, the university will continue to be compelled by the love of Christ engaging not just the minds of students, but their hearts and souls as well. As students are drawn into the love of God, our great hope is their questions lead to deeper trust, greater commitment, and a growing sense of call to impact their communities.
No, the landscape of higher education is complex and evolving. As we prepare for the next academic year, restructuring of Multnomah’s academic structure is one element of various changes that will be taking place. However, the commitment from the Board of Trustees and administration to continue collaborative connections across our community as changes are made is stronger than ever.
Yes, however, in order for students to change from the School of Professional Studies to the School of Biblical Seminary or School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry (MBS & MSBTM) they must provide a statement of faith and affirm the university’s doctrinal statement as the admissions requirements for each school are different.
General graduation requirements will not change and each student, regardless of major is still required to engage in the core Bible classes required for each major. However, we hope in the future that students will have more options for the Bible courses they take in order to fulfill this graduation requirement.
No, chapel will continue to be a vital part of the Multnomah student and community experience and the graduation requirement will not change. If you have questions regarding what chapel credit requirements look like, click here to check out our Spiritual Life webpage.
Yes, all students will agree to the community standards guidelines as part of their admission to the university. Any student that chooses to attend Multnomah University, regardless of their faith background, will be knowingly choosing a Christian institution for their studies. Our community standards will remain in alignment with scripture and in service to creating a safe and Christ-honoring environment for all students.
Yes, students can change majors throughout their tenure at Multnomah. In fact, we hope this happens, and that compelled by the LOVE of Christ more students would desire to study scripture in deeper and more meaningful ways. Students entering the School of the Bible, Theology & Ministry will need to provide a statement of faith and affirm the university’s doctrinal statement in addition to submitting the major change paperwork with the Registrar’s office.
Contact Us
Do you have feedback or questions? We are giving an opportunity to our community to ask questions directly to the Office of the President through the form linked below:
Looking for a direct contact point? Please reach out to the folks below:
- Applied Theology, M.A.
- Bible and Theology, B.A.
- Bible and Theology, B.A. (Online)
- Bible Foundation Certificate (Graduate)
- Biblical Hebrew, B.A.
- Biblical Studies – Hebrew Bible, M.A.
- Biblical Studies – New Testament, M.A.
- Biblical Studies – Old Testament, M.A.
- Chaplaincy, M.Div.
- Christian Leadership, M.A.
- Doctor of Ministry, D.MIN.
- Greek, B.A.
- Ministry and Pastoral Leadership,B.A.
- M.Div.
- M.Div. – Neighborhood Flourishing (NF)
- M.Div. – Theological Studies (TS) Track
- Ministry and Pastoral Leadership, B.A.
- Seminary Certificate
- Theological Studies, M.A.
- Youth and Educational Ministries, B.A
- Accounting, B.A.
- Addictions Counseling, M.A.
- Applied Psychology, B.A. (Online)
- Biology, B.S.
- Business Administration, B.A.
- Business and Organizational Psychology, B.A.
- Business Management, B.A. (Online)
- Counseling, M.A.
- English, B.A.
- Environmental Science, B.S.
- Exercise Science, B.S.
- Global Development and Justice, M.A.
- Global Studies, B.A.
- Graduate Peacebuilding Certificate
- Graduate Peacebuilding Certificate
- History Major with a Secondary Education Social Science Emphasis
- History, B.A.
- Human Resources Management, B.A.
- Humanities, B.A.
- Lay Counseling Certificate
- Management and Leadership, M.S. (Online)
- Nonprofit Management, M.A. (Online)
- Professional Sales, B.A.
- Psychology, B.A.
- Supply Chain Management and Logistics, B.A.
- TESOL Advanced Certificate