Pastor Buster Swoopes, dressed in a gray suit, stands and talks as he teaches his class

Religion

Our Bible-based curriculum and hands-on approach prepare individuals for a life of ministry. 

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Religion Department

How SWAU Ranks


Did you know SWAU religion graduates show some of the best understanding of Greek when entering seminary? 

98%

Job placement by graduation

90%

Placed in churches within six months of graduation

15h

Average weekly internship


Church Involvement

In the Keene Church, two female students hold hands and bow their head as they pray together

Events


Dec

1


7:30 AM -

Instruction Begins


Dec

2


5:00 PM -

Women’s Bible Study


Dec

2


6:00 PM -

Christmas Lighting


Dec

3


6:00 PM -

Dinosaur Trackways Presentation


Dec

3


7:00 PM -

Grief Support Group


Dec

3


7:30 PM -

Wednesday Knight Worship


Dec

4


4:30 AM -

Christmas Card with a twist


Dec

4


12:50 PM -

Assembly- Faculty & Staff Talent Show


Dec

4


6:00 PM -

Christmas Card with a twist


Dec

4


7:00 PM -

Southwestern Recital Series Voice Recital


Dec

6


3:00 PM -

Hopps Museum


Dec

7


6:30 PM -

Table Talk


Dec

8


7:00 PM -

Southwestern Recital Series Strings Studio


Dec

10


7:00 PM -

Grief Support Group


Dec

10


7:30 PM -

Wednesday Knight Worship


Dec

11


12:50 PM -

Assembly- Senior Send-Off/ Dean’s Give-Away Assembly


Dec

13


3:00 PM -

Hopps Museum


Dec

13


4:45 PM -

Refugio (The Refuge)


Dec

13


7:00 PM -

University Singers Christmas Party


Dec

14


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

14


7:00 PM -

University Singers Christmas Party


Dec

15


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

15


7:30 AM -

Examinations


Dec

16


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

16


7:30 AM -

Examinations


Dec

16


6:30 PM -

ESL Completion Ceremony


Dec

16


8:00 PM -

ESL Completion Afterparty


Dec

17


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

17


7:30 AM -

Examinations


Dec

17


7:00 PM -

Nurses' Pinning


Dec

17


7:30 PM -

Christmas Vacation Begins


Dec

18


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

18


12:50 PM -

Assembly- December Graduation


Dec

18


7:00 PM -

December Commencement


Dec

19


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

20


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

21


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

21


6:00 PM -

Community Band Concert


Dec

22


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

23


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

24


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

25


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

26


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

27


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

28


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

29


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

30


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Dec

31


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

1


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

2


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

3


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

4


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

5


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

6


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

7


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

8


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

9


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

10


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

10


5:00 PM -

Refugio (The Refuge)


Jan

11


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

11


9:00 AM -

Floorball Tournament


Jan

11


10:00 AM -

Last Day to Register


Jan

12


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

12


7:30 AM -

Instruction Begins


Jan

13


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

14


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

15


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

15


12:50 PM -

Assembly- Union- Moody & Camp Directors


Jan

16


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

16


8:00 AM -

Last Day to Add Class


Jan

17


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

18


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

19


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

19


7:30 AM -

MLK Jr Birthday/School Holiday


Jan

20


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

20


12:50 PM -

Assembly- Alison Hill


Jan

21


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

21


2:00 PM -

Hoops Classic Basketball Tournament


Jan

22


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

22


7:00 AM -

Hoops Classic Basketball Tournament


Jan

22


12:50 PM -

Assembly- No Assembly- Hoops Classic


Jan

23


All Day -

Bookstore in Meadows Gallery


Jan

23


7:00 AM -

Hoops Classic Basketball Tournament


Jan

23


8:00 AM -

Last Day to Withdraw w/o W


Jan

24


6:30 PM -

Hoops Classic Basketball Tournament


Jan

29


12:50 PM -

Assembly- Scholarships & SA Assembly


Feb

2


11:20 AM -

Week of Prayer


Feb

3


1:00 PM -

Week of Prayer


Feb

4


11:20 AM -

Week of Prayer


Feb

5


11:00 AM -

Assembly- Endi- Relationships


Feb

5


1:00 PM -

Week of Prayer


Feb

6


11:20 AM -

Week of Prayer


Feb

12


12:50 PM -

Assembly- Endi- Relationships


Feb

13


All Day -

Bobcat Classic


Feb

14


5:00 PM -

Refugio (The Refuge)


Feb

14


6:25 PM -

Bobcat Classic


Feb

15


All Day -

Bobcat Classic


Feb

15


8:00 AM -

Deadline for Fall Incompletes


Feb

16


All Day -

Bobcat Classic


Feb

19


12:50 PM -

Assembly


Feb

26


12:50 PM -

Assembly


Feb

28


7:00 PM -

Nursing Dedication


Mar

4


8:00 AM -

Mid-Semester


Mar

5


12:50 PM -

Assembly- Departmental Assembly


Mar

6


12:00 PM -

Spring Break Begins at noon


Mar

7


All Day -

Spring break


Mar

8


All Day -

Spring break


Mar

9


All Day -

Spring break


Mar

10


All Day -

Spring break


Mar

11


All Day -

Spring break


Mar

12


All Day -

Spring break


Mar

12


11:50 AM -

No Assembly


Mar

12


2:00 PM -

He Said Go! Conference


Mar

13


All Day -

Spring break


Mar

13


8:00 AM -

He Said Go! Conference


Mar

14


All Day -

Spring break


Mar

14


8:00 AM -

He Said Go! Conference


Mar

14


5:00 PM -

Refugio (The Refuge)


Mar

15


All Day -

Spring break


Mar

16


All Day -

Instruction resumes


Mar

19


10:00 AM -

Music Festival


Mar

19


12:50 PM -

Assembly- Music Fest


Mar

20


8:00 AM -

Music Festival


Mar

21


9:00 AM -

Music Festival


Mar

22


9:00 AM -

Music Festival


Mar

23


8:00 AM -

Summer Registration Begins


Mar

26


12:50 PM -

Assembly- Leadership Assembly


Mar

27


All Day -

Southwestern Union Pathfinder Bible Experience


Mar

27


3:00 PM -

Praise Break


Mar

28


10:00 AM -

Praise Break



Jerry Pinzon graduated from SWAU in 2013
Michael Gibson graduated from SWAU in 2016.



Jerry Pinzon

Class of 2013

"Coming to Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) took place during a crucial point in my life and my military career. As I accepted the call to become a pastor, I found a warm environment and people willing to help me transition from the Air Force to the college classroom. The Religion Department provided excellent tools for my future endeavors as a pastor, especially in the area of pastoral ministry, and the professors were always open for individual counseling and support. As a recently married young man, I found a home at SWAU that welcomed both my beautiful wife and me! We are very grateful to God and to my Alma Mater for the opportunity to experience, change, growth, and family at Southwestern Adventist University.”

Michael Gibson

Class of 2016

"Little did I know that my choice to attend Southwestern Adventist University would lead me to falling in love with biblical languages while studying for my theology degree. Early-morning classes aren’t for the faint of heart, yet my professors began to unravel the beauty and depth of the library of Scripture found in the original text. This knowledge and experience helped me to excel while studying at the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Today, I continue to exercise and use my biblical language skills in the classroom and the pulpit as I teach at Southwestern Adventist University and preach at Keene SDA Church. The Word of God is as sharp as a two-edge sword, and I am forever grateful to the Department of Religion at Southwestern Adventist University for giving me the skills to wield it well."

Faculty

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