Southwestern Christian University

SCU was established in 1946 by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church primarily for training men and women for church leadership. In its early years, the university became known as Southwestern Bible College because of its emphasis on the Bible as the nucleus and pivot around which all other studies revolved.

In the 1960's, the student body expanded and studies in various junior college programs were developed. The junior college was accredited in 1964 by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. In 1973 the junior college received accreditation by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. SCU was approved in 1979 by North Central as a four-year baccalaureate level degree-granting college in the field of religion.

In the fall of 1981, SCU phased out its junior college curricular offerings, maintained its baccalaureate program in religion and underwent substantive institutional change. Changing its name to Southwestern College of Christian Ministries, the college sold its campus at 4700 10th Street and moved to the present location in Bethany, Oklahoma. In 1986 the associate of arts degree program was reinstated in the SCU curriculum. A professional studies program focused on one-evening-per-week curriculum offerings was implemented during the 1990's.

The name of the institution was changed to Southwestern Christian University in 2001. The university also expanded its curriculum offerings to include business degree options, education options and, most recently, a Sport Management degree program. Additional curriculum enhancements and extended campus offerings are currently in the developmental stages.