Welcome to Pillar College where we are dedicated to helping you pursue God’s purpose and your passions in higher education. Pillar is an undergraduate and graduate institution of higher learning that is faithful to classical Christianity, grounded on the authority of God’s Word, and committed to challenging Christians to serve Christ with passion and purpose. As He came into the world to serve God and humanity, you also are invited to learn how to invest your life to make a lasting impact on our world.
Pillar College educates, inspires, and equips students for excellent scholarship, service, and leadership. Rooted in and committed to Pillar College has its roots as an educational ministry of the Pillar of Fire, International. The Pillar of Fire was organized in 1901. It is an evangelical organization with theological roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church and the nineteenth century American Holiness Movement.
Originally called Zarephath Bible Institute, ZBI was founded in 1908 as a training school for missionaries, preachers, and teachers. Over the years, it has prepared many students to serve in various occupations in numerous Christian ministry organizations.
ZBI became Somerset Christian College on March 23, 2001 When the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education issued the license to grant the two-year Associate in Biblical Studies degree. In 2006 the college was approved to offer four-year Bachelor of Arts degrees.
After the loss of the Zarephath Campus due to Hurricane Irene in 2011, Somerset Christian College moved its headquarters to Newark NJ and in 2012 changed its name to Pillar College.
Christian faith and love, Pillar fosters intellectual, spiritual, and social development among its diverse student population at various instructional sites.
The following is a concise statement of the Wesleyan-Arminian theological doctrines upon which Pillar College is founded. While students are not required to subscribe to all of the following points, all agree to honor the rich tradition upon which this institution was established.
We believe that there is one God, creator and sustainer of all things, infinite in love, perfect in judgments, and unchanging in mercy. God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe Jesus Christ is God’s Son incarnate, born of the Virgin Mary. He died for the sins of all, taking on Himself, on behalf of sinful persons, God’s judgment upon sin. He rose bodily from the grave and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God present and active in the world. The Holy Spirit was given to the Church in His fullness at Pentecost. By the Spirit, Christ lives in His Church, the gospel is proclaimed, and the kingdom of God is manifested in the world.
We believe in the divine inspiration, truthfulness, and authority of both the Old and New Testaments, the only written Word of God, without error in all it affirms. The Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. The Holy Spirit preserves God’s Word in the Church today and by it speaks God’s truth to peoples of every age.
Pillar College is an accredited learning community dedicated to building tomorrow’s leaders today. The only accredited Christian college in New Jersey, Pillar has been offering a Christ-centered education for over 100 years. We offer traditional four-year Bachelor of Arts degrees in addition to two-year and nontraditional degree or certificate options for adult learners. When you visit any of our three locations—in Somerset, Newark or Paterson—you’ll find that Pillar College is more than an address. It’s a community of supporters. As such, we offer a quality comprehensive education with the highest possible accreditation.
Our academic programs are tailored to fit the specific needs of each student. It is our goal to meet you where you are as you pursue a brighter future, and to ultimately help you get there. We take pride in helping you to discover, clarify and to achieve God’s greater vision for your life.
The Associate’s degree in General Studies offers students the opportunity to earn a traditional two-year degree in as little as four semesters, depending upon life experience. Students gain competencies in writing, verbal communication, problem solving, critical and creative thinking and emotional intelligence – essential skills for the workplace and for life-enhancement in general.
An Associate’s in General Studies has the following advantages: preparation for employment at the entry level, development of career skills and preparation for further study at the bachelor’s degree level.
The Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is designed for future elementary school teachers, kindergarten through sixth grade. Through this program, the student will gain the skills to communicate effectively with diverse learners, particularly in urban school districts, and to promote the intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development of young minds. Employment of Kindergarten and Elementary school teachers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment of Kindergarten and Elementary school teachers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2015-2016 Edition, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers.
With every passing day our society becomes more and more diverse. With these changes the need for people with specialized skills and knowledge in cross-cultural relations becomes essential for any organization. In the Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Communication program, you will be challenged to understand the dynamics of cross-cultural communication that will help prepare you for careers in national and international levels of Public Relations, Radio & TV, Journalism, and Community Development. The knowledge, insights, and praxis that students gain in this program will help empower them to transform your world.
The Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Communication is designed to be completed in four years (full-time). The first two years will introduce basic communication studies theory and practice, along with initial coursework in understanding diversity. In the final two years, through research and focus on particular cultural phenomena, the student will develop more specific goals and plans in order to engage the culture in a meaningful way.
The Organizational Leadership Program is designed for those who seek to strengthen their leadership capabilities in corporate, non-profit, government or community organizations. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while learning to be effective leaders. They will also increase their capacity to understand and lead strategic change and renewal in organizations. This degree is offered in Pillar’s LEAD program.
The Organizational Leadership Program is designed for those who seek to strengthen their leadership capabilities in corporate, non-profit, government or community organizations. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while learning to be effective leaders. They will also increase their capacity to understand and lead strategic change and renewal in organizations. This degree is offered in Pillar’s LEAD program.
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