A calling in pastoral ministry requires preparation. The religion courses and concentrations offered by the Department of Religion at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) focus on biblical understanding, personal application, evangelism, church leadership, and administration to prepare religion students for excellence in ministry.
What sets us apart
- Pastoral Internship Program, which assigns each junior and senior student to a local church as a student pastor under the guidance of an experienced pastor
- In-depth study of E.G.W. teachings and literature
- Field School of Evangelism, which trains students to perform a five-week-long evangelism campaign in one of the Southwestern Union conferences
- Active preparation for the Andrews University Master of Divinity Program placement exams
- Faculty expertise in Greek and Hebrew languages, biblical preaching, exegesis, and Systematic Theology
We use a real-world application to balance our classroom work, student pastoral experience, and work in the mission field worldwide. Education from the Department of Religion at SWAU facilitates the understanding, appreciation, and application of the Bible and a Seventh-day Adventist Christian worldview.
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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
Freshmen and sophomores are invited to take part in volunteer roles at churches in the surrounding area. These churches will welcome them and assign them to different ministries, such as the Pathfinder club, Sabbath school classes, praise team, sound and media, or as Bible workers or canvassers. This will help students to confirm their calling as ministers of the gospel.

Church Involvement
Freshmen and sophomores are invited to take part in volunteer roles at churches in the surrounding area. These churches will welcome them and assign them to different ministries, such as the Pathfinder club, Sabbath school classes, praise team, sound and media, or as Bible workers or canvassers. This will help students to confirm their calling as ministers of the gospel.

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
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."
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."

