ABOUT
A Rich History Founded in Scripture
Committed to the Word of God and Reformed theology, Westminster offers a distinctly Reformed theological education in order to glorify Christ, promote his gospel, and serve his church.
President Kim Welcomes You
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Westminster Seminary California. Here you will find a community of faith, study, fellowship, and prayer all in the context of a Reformed theological seminary. At WSC you will find an encouraging place to reflect on and prepare for your calling from Christ.
We are committed to the gospel of Christ as taught in the inerrant Scriptures and as summarized in our Reformed confessions of faith. We seek to provide a theological education that is grounded in the rigorous study of God’s Word and prepares leaders for the sake of Christ and his church.
Our faculty is outstanding. Each member is an experienced pastor and an excellent teacher. They are active in their churches and committed to helping students in and out of the classroom. Their academic credentials are impressive. They all have doctoral degrees from fine institutions and are active in research and writing in their fields.
WSC offers two primary programs of study. First is the three-year Master of Divinity program. This program is carefully designed to prepare men for the ordained pastoral ministry. Second is the two-year Master of Arts program, which includes our Masters in Historical Theology, Masters in Biblical Studies, and Masters in Theological Studies programs. These three seminary degree programs are intended to encourage women and men to pursue their own interests in preparation for various kinds of service in Christ’s kingdom.
Through this website we hope to convey something of the warmth and abilities of our students and the sense of community that we enjoy together. We hope that you will schedule a seminary campus visit and experience WSC for yourself.
May the Lord bless you richly.
Joel E. Kim
President
Degrees & Programs
Westminster is committed as an institution to providing a quality education that is confessional, rigorous, and personal. Whether a Master of Divinity degree or Master of Arts in theology is what you’re after, we are here to guide you to finding your path. With a close community that bonds students and faculty, we hope to equip you through your education to serve Christ and his church beyond our campus.
Explore ProgramsOur Mission
Westminster Seminary California (WSC) exists to glorify Christ, teach his gospel, and serve his church through graduate theological study. WSC is a Christian institution that offers instruction in biblical, theological, and ministerial disciplines to both men and women in seminary in order to help them develop intellectually and spiritually as leaders.
While its primary focus is to educate and prepare men for ordained pastoral ministry, especially in Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, WSC also provides theological education to men and women who wish to serve the broader Christian community and society at large so that the whole body of Christ may be enriched through the diverse gifts bestowed by God’s Spirit.
Because “zeal without knowledge” and “knowledge without zeal” can only injure the church, WSC seeks to develop in its students a balance of scholarship and Christ-like piety where the proper cultivation of the mind increases the devotion of the heart. In this way, the Seminary strives to be an academic community whose scholarly pursuits ultimately seek to glorify Christ, promote his gospel, and serve his church.
Why Choose Westminster?
1. Doctrinal Clarity
WSC and each of our faculty members is committed to the gospel of Christ as taught by the inerrant Scriptures and as summarized in the Reformed confessions of faith. Our students come from a variety of geographical, theological, and church backgrounds. The unity of our faculty and diversity of our student body ensures an atmosphere of stimulating learning and discussion about theology and ministry.
2. In-Person Education
Because we believe that ministry preparation and academic study are best done in relationship and community, WSC is committed to face-to-face, in-person education. The seminary maintains a 1:10 faculty/student ratio and intentionally fosters personal interaction between our accomplished professors and WSC students. Our on-campus housing (known as the Village) enables mutual support, community life, friendships, and relational growth among students and their families.
3. Rigorous Academics
Our rigorous, structured theological education centers on the study of the Scriptures in their original languages, Hebrew and Greek. Students are equipped with tools to understand and interpret the Word of God faithfully. As a result of our rigorous education and wonderful faculty, WSC alumni have been accepted into prestigious academic programs around the world.
4. Church Focused
WSC exists to serve Christ, his gospel, and his church by preparing the next generation of pastors and leaders. WSC is engaged in serving churches through learning resources, events, partnerships, internships, scholarships, graduate placement, and more. Generous scholarship packages and affordable housing from WSC serve churches by minimizing financial constraints upon future leaders.
5. Globally Minded
Our gateway location in San Diego positions us to engage and serve not only the United States, but also Latin America, Asia, and the world. Training in a context of cultural and ecclesiological diversity is valuable for engaging a diverse, changing world with the gospel message. WSC has been blessed to have students from over 25 countries, with international students regularly making up 15–20% of our student body.
6. Accredited Education
Our institution is the only fully accredited Reformed seminary on the West Coast of the United States. Our outstanding and accomplished faculty and rigorous academic standards give graduates the skills to excel and to leave well-prepared for numerous endeavors.
Doctrinal Standards
Theological unity is of critical importance in accomplishing the mission of WSC. The WSC faculty have authored two statements that express their unified understanding of important doctrines and theological issues: Faculty Statement on Justification and A Testimony to Our Time. Additionally, prior to being installed as professors or members of the Board, all WSC prospective faculty members and trustees must agree, by signature, to uphold the following Reformed confessions and catechisms as faithful summaries of Scripture:
Our History
1979
Administrators move to California to open Westminster Theological Seminary in California
1980
First students attend Westminster Theological Seminary in California
1982
Dr. Robert B. Strimple becomes 1st president; moves campus to permanent Escondido location
1984
Westminster Seminary California becomes an independent institution from Westminster Theological Seminary.
1988
Mr. Robert G. den Dulk becomes 2nd president; increases school size
1993
Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, 12-year professor of church history, becomes 3rd president
2017
Rev. Joel Eunil Kim appointed 4th president
1979
Administrators move to California to open Westminster Theological Seminary in California
1982
Dr. Robert B. Strimple becomes 1st president; moves campus to permanent Escondido location
1988
Mr. Robert G. den Dulk becomes 2nd president; increases school size
2017
Rev. Joel Eunil Kim appointed 4th president
Top Accreditation in California
Westminster Seminary California is a fully accredited school of theology at the graduate level, authorized by the state of California to grant graduate theological degrees upon recommendation of the faculty and by the authority of the WSC Board of Trustees.
Westminster Seminary California is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC, 985 Atlantic Ave., Suite 100, Alameda, California, 94501, 510/748.9001).
The Seminary is also accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS, 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15275, 412/788.6505) which has approved the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree and Master of Arts (MA) degree programs.
ATS and WASC are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. WSC is approved for the Veterans Administration’s educational benefits and the Department of Education’s Title IV Direct Student Loan Program. WSC is also certified by the Department of Homeland Security to enroll students in F-1 visa status through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
Westminster Seminary California school admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. The seminary is a distinctively and pervasively Christian community of scholars dedicated to the preparation of men and women for service to Christ and his church. The Seminary Board and faculty understand the criteria for the gospel ministry set down in Scripture as limiting candidacy for the gospel ministry to qualified males. Because the Master of Divinity program is designed to prepare candidates for official pastoral ministry, only men are admitted to the MDiv degree program. Women as well as men receive gifts and callings from God to serve in various non-ordained ministries. Therefore, women and men are encouraged to enroll in the Master of Arts programs.
Experience Our Campus
Learning and growing are best done in-person and in community. Come for a personal visit and see for yourself why our education on campus is so special.
Get $500 Toward Your TravelSchedule a Visit
Our Staff Welcomes You
Our team is here to support your studies and encourage your well-being every step of the way.
