La Sierra University, an institution nationally acclaimed for its diverse campus and its service to others, offers a transformational experience that lasts a lifetime.
U.S. News & World Report named La Sierra University the most diverse university in the western United States for the past five years. And in early 2008, the Corporation for National and Community Service selected La Sierra for the Honor Roll with Distinction, part of the 2007 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll program. The award recognized La Sierra's students for providing nearly 45,000 hours of service. Such efforts included international economic development projects by La Sierra's World Cup-winning Students In Free Enterprise team, and community projects through La Sierra's campus-wide Service-Learning program.
The Seventh-day Adventist denomination established La Sierra University in 1922 on acreage formerly part of the Rancho La Sierra Mexican land grant. Today the institution provides more than 120 bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degrees for about 2,300 students.
"To Seek, To Know, and To Serve" is the key to the mission that drives La Sierra University, with all areas of campus encouraging students to develop a deeper relationship with God.
La Sierra University, "Where Academic Investigation, Christian Faith and Service to Others Unite," is widely recognized as an exceptional academic institution providing hands-on learning experiences in a safe, nurturing atmosphere.
Affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, La Sierra is acclaimed for its academic quality, research opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate level, community service¬ emphasis, and demographically diverse student body. Students thrive in the small, professor-taught classes where academic topics are investigated, and Christian faith is a cornerstone of education.
La Sierra students change the world as they learn. Service-learning courses put classroom knowledge to work in helping the community. La Sierra's internationally award-winning Enactus (formerly SIFE) team has empowered people around the globe. Also, many students participate in mission work around the world.
All undergraduate students at La Sierra University participate in a comprehensive general education curriculum called University Studies, rooted in the concept of liberal education as a formative and transformative process.
University Studies offers an integrated curriculum that:
- Stimulates the meaning-centered development of its students.
- Familiarizes students with various academic disciplines.
- Exposes students to intercultural, international, and inter-ethnic concerns.
- Encourages students to recognize the importance of developing a personal value system to distinguish between right and wrong.
First-year students are automatically enrolled in University Studies. The program is team-taught by master teachers, with a theme-integrated core curriculum designed to help first-year students find a common thread and meaning in various topics.
Service-Learning incorporates community-based volunteer service into academic instruction. It is driven by the course's learning objectives and, at the same time, responds to the real needs of community organizations. In support of La Sierra University's mission, "To Seek, To Know, To Serve," all students are required to complete three Service-Learning designated courses as a part of the university studies requirements (see below). Junior transfer students must complete two Service-Learning experiences. Senior transfer students must complete one Service-Learning experience.
A maximum of one Service-Learning requirement may be waived by serving as a long-term student missionary (9 months) along with the required Portfolio, supporting documents, and approval by the Portfolio Committee. Contact the Office of Service-Learning for more information regarding the Portfolio Waiver.
Students may take no more than two Service-Learning courses in one quarter. Service-Learning courses can be found by searching in the Online Course Schedule's General Ed pull-down menu and are identified by S1R (Service-Learning Required) or S1O (Service-Learning Optional). When a class offers Service-Learning as an option, students wishing to participate will register for S1R on that class's first day.
The most crucial process in applying for financial aid is filing the "Free Application For Federal Student Aid", (FAFSA) application. The U.S. Department of Education has posted the application online, which allows you to apply for federal student aid electronically from your home computer or a computer at a central location such as a high school, post-secondary school, public library, or local college or university.
Students with disabilities frequently have expenses not incurred by other students. When applying for financial aid through the Student Financial Services Office, they may qualify for an increase in their educational budgets. Costs of special equipment, fees for special services such as readers, interpreters, note-takers, personal care attendants, and medical costs related to the disability are all considered disability-related expenses. The Office of Disabilities will help determine disability-related expenses. When these expenses have been identified, students should submit a Financial Aid Adjustment Request Form to the Student Financial Services Office documenting any such expenses not paid for or provided by another agency.
Keeping quality Christian education affordable is important to us. At La Sierra University, we are committed to helping students achieve their educational goals with help from the various financial aid programs we offer.
Videos
