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
Sep
17
5:00 PM -
Résumé Prep Workshop
Sep
17
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Sep
18
8:00 PM -
Self-Care/Stress Relief Workshop
Sep
20
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Sep
20
4:45 PM -
Refugio (The Refuge)
Sep
22
6:00 PM -
Scholarship Gala
Sep
23
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Sep
27
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Sep
27
3:00 PM -
SWAY-Jam Session
Sep
27
3:00 PM -
Uplift Card Ministry
Sep
28
6:30 PM -
Table Talk
Sep
30
All Day -
Wentzel Family
Sep
30
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Oct
1
All Day -
Ignite Service Day
Oct
1
All Day -
Wentzel Family
Oct
2
All Day -
Wentzel Family
Oct
3
All Day -
Wentzel Family
Oct
4
All Day -
Wentzel Family
Oct
4
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Oct
4
7:00 PM -
May Family Birthday Event
Oct
5
All Day -
Wentzel Family
Oct
6
All Day -
Wentzel Family
Oct
7
All Day -
Wentzel Family
Oct
8
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Oct
9
6:00 PM -
SWAU STEM Arts Showcase
Oct
11
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Oct
11
7:00 PM -
Nursing Dedication
Oct
11
7:00 PM -
Private Reservation - James The
Oct
12
6:30 PM -
Table Talk
Oct
14
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Oct
15
8:00 AM -
Mid-Semester
Oct
15
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Oct
16
All Day -
Fall Holiday
Oct
17
All Day -
Fall Holiday
Oct
18
All Day -
Fall Holiday
Oct
18
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Oct
19
All Day -
Fall Holiday
Oct
21
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Oct
22
8:00 AM -
SWAU Career Fair
Oct
22
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Oct
23
5:00 PM -
University Days
Oct
24
8:00 AM -
Deadline for SU Incompletes
Oct
24
8:00 AM -
University Days
Oct
25
10:00 AM -
University Days
Oct
25
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Oct
25
3:00 PM -
Uplift Card Ministry
Oct
26
6:30 PM -
Table Talk
Oct
28
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Oct
30
8:00 PM -
Self-Care/Stress Relief Workshop
Oct
31
8:00 AM -
Last Day to Withdraw
Oct
31
5:00 PM -
Cancelled - Vespers
Oct
31
7:30 PM -
Departmental Vespers
Nov
1
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Nov
2
All Day -
SWAU Thanks & Giving Run 2025
Nov
3
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
3
8:00 AM -
Spring Registration Begins
Nov
4
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
4
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Nov
5
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
5
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Nov
6
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
7
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
8
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Nov
9
3:00 PM -
University Experience
Nov
9
6:30 PM -
Table Talk
Nov
10
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
10
8:00 AM -
University Experience
Nov
11
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
11
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Nov
12
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
12
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Nov
13
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
14
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
15
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Nov
16
6:30 PM -
Table Talk
Nov
18
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Nov
19
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Nov
22
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Nov
22
3:00 PM -
Uplift Card Ministry
Nov
24
All Day -
Thanksgiving Break
Nov
25
All Day -
Thanksgiving Break
Nov
25
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Nov
26
All Day -
Thanksgiving Break
Nov
27
All Day -
Thanksgiving Break
Nov
28
All Day -
Thanksgiving Break
Nov
29
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Dec
1
7:30 AM -
Instruction Begins
Dec
2
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Dec
3
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Dec
6
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Dec
7
6:30 PM -
Table Talk
Dec
10
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Dec
13
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Dec
15
7:30 AM -
Examinations
Dec
16
7:30 AM -
Examinations
Dec
17
7:30 AM -
Examinations
Dec
17
7:00 PM -
Nurses' Pinning
Dec
17
7:30 PM -
Christmas Vacation Begins
Dec
18
7:00 PM -
December Commencement
Dec
21
6:00 PM -
Community Band Concert
Jan
11
9:00 AM -
Floorball Tournament
Jan
11
10:00 AM -
Last Day to Register
Jan
12
7:30 AM -
Instruction Begins
Jan
16
8:00 AM -
Last Day to Add Class


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."

