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
Oct
26
6:30 PM -
Table Talk
Oct
28
5:00 PM -
Women’s Bible Study
Oct
30
7:00 PM -
Southwestern Recital Series Piano Duo
Oct
31
8:00 AM -
Last Day to Withdraw
Oct
31
7:30 PM -
Departmental Vespers
Oct
31
7:30 PM -
Education & Psychology Departmental Vespers
Nov
1
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Nov
1
6:00 PM -
FIFA Tournament
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
4:00 PM -
Hillcrest Fiesta
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
13
8:00 PM -
Self-Care/Stress Relief Workshop -Painting
Nov
14
All Day -
Advising Weeks Begins
Nov
15
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Nov
15
4:45 PM -
Refugio (The Refuge)
Nov
16
6:30 PM -
Table Talk
Nov
17
All Day -
Keene ISD: Theatre Event
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
24
All Day -
Thanksgiving Break
Nov
25
All Day -
Thanksgiving Break
Nov
25
8:30 AM -
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
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
7:30 PM -
Wednesday Knight Worship
Dec
13
3:00 PM -
Hopps Museum
Dec
13
4:45 PM -
Refugio (The Refuge)
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
Jan
17
4:45 PM -
Refugio (The Refuge)
Jan
19
7:30 AM -
MLK Jr Birthday/School Holiday
Jan
21
2:00 PM -
Hoops Classic Basketball Tournament
Jan
22
7:00 AM -
Hoops Classic Basketball Tournament
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
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
1:00 PM -
Week of Prayer
Feb
6
11:20 AM -
Week of Prayer
Feb
6
12:00 PM -
Spring Break Begins
Feb
15
8:00 AM -
Deadline for Fall Incompletes
Feb
21
4:45 PM -
Refugio (The Refuge)


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."

