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Pacific Oaks College
About Pacific Oaks College
Pacific Oaks College is a nonprofit, regionally accredited higher education institution established in 1958. Pacific Oaks offers bachelor’s completion and master’s programs designed to meet the needs of California-based and online learners. They strive to create an environment where students’ unique perspectives and experiences can inform their own and each other’s educational journeys.
Type
4 yr
Private not-for-profit 
Tuition
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
2:1
Financial Aid Percent
73%
Graduation Rate
Not available
Status
Accredited
Why Consider Pacific Oaks College?
Pacific Oaks College is home to graduate and undergraduate programs in a variety of fields, like Human Development, Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Education, Teacher Credentialing, and Organizational Leadership. The college is particularly known for their Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs, which are well-regarded both in California and nationwide.
Learning Rooted in Experience
Pacific Oaks practices a progressive approach to teaching and learning, where everyone in the classroom acts as both student and teacher. Learners hone their knowledge by connecting subjects to their own experiences, and sharing what they know with classmates and instructors.
Choose Your Location
Study at one of two California campuses: Pacific Oaks College Pasadena and Pacific Oaks College San Jose. The college also has remote cohort locations and instructional sites throughout Northern and Southern California, serving the needs of students who live farther afield. Finally, many programs are available in an online format designed to fit your busy life.
Online Learning to Fit Your Schedule and Learning Style
Pacific Oaks College online programs are designed for students with diverse scheduling needs and learning styles. Learners pursue their studies through Canvas, an interactive distance-learning tool through which they can access instructors and course materials. Classes are usually offered in seven-week sessions. Online programs are available in several areas, including Early Childhood Education, Education, Human Development, and Organizational Leadership.
Pacific Oaks Children’s School
Planning to study Early Childhood Education? Pacific Oaks Children’s School may offer graduate, undergraduate, and teacher credentialing students the chance to work with children in this pioneering children’s education center. The Children’s School focuses on providing anti-bias education, peaceful conflict resolution, and the latest in learning and exploration. Pacific Oaks College students might have the opportunity to volunteer or complete a portion of their educational preparation at the Children’s School.
Prior Learning Assessment Credits
Pacific Oaks recognizes that students may have learned theories and concepts during the course of their life and work experiences – not just in the classroom. Students who have at least five years of relevant work experience might be able to earn a maximum of 24 to 30 credit hours toward a degree, depending on the program. Students interested in having their prior learning considered for potential credit must participate in a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio Review process.
Student Services That Celebrate Your Potential
Student services and resources at Pacific Oaks College are designed to serve the needs of each individual, whether you are pursuing your degree online, on campus, or at an off-site location. The Center for Academic Advising helps students discover and clarify their educational goals, so they can develop a plan that works for them. The Center for Achievement, Resources, and Enrichment (CARE) can provide learning assistance and support, helping students overcome academic challenges. And Career Services offers advising, assistance in writing a resume, job search tools, and more. These and other resources help students make the most of their time at Pacific Oaks.
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Mission, Vision, and Values
Pacific Oaks College’s mission is to prepare students to be culturally intelligent agents of change serving diverse communities in the fields of human development, education, and related family studies. The college emphasizes four core values: respect, diversity, social justice, and inclusion.Admissions
Pacific Oaks takes a holistic approach to admissions, which means they weigh students’ life and work experience in addition to their academic backgrounds. The college accepts applications year-round, offering three start dates for campus-based students and six start dates for online students. Candidates may apply online.
- Program-specific Requirements: Each program may have slightly different requirements for admission, including potential prerequisite courses and additional application materials. Check with the program you’re interested in to learn more.
- International Applicants: Prospective international students should submit TOEFL scores and a course-by-course transcript evaluation of their prior academic work, in addition to other admissions requirements.
General Information
- Special Learning Opportunities: Undergrad Distance, Grad Distance
- Credit Accepted: Credit for life experiences, Credit For Military, Advanced placement(AP) credits
- Carnegie Classification: Other special-focus institutions
- Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Faculty
- There are 144 full-time faculty
- 303 Part-time instructional faculty
Student Services
- Study Abroad Services
- Weekend Evening College Services
- Academic Career Counseling Services
- Employment Services for Students
- Library Services
Enrollment, Attendance, Retention Rates and Graduation
Pacific Oaks College has a total graduate enrollment of 633
Graduate attendance rate of 92% part-time and 8% full-time
For the years 2017-2018 Pacific Oaks College awarded: 245 bachelor's degrees, 290 master's degrees
Graduate attendance rate of 92% part-time and 8% full-time
For the years 2017-2018 Pacific Oaks College awarded: 245 bachelor's degrees, 290 master's degrees
Financial Aid
Students of Pacific Oaks College may apply for Federal Financial Aid by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). For eligible graduate students, potential funding sources may include Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford and Graduate PLUS Loans.
Pacific Oaks College is accredited by the WASC Senior Colleges and Universities Commission (WSCUC), a regional accrediting agency serving public and private higher education institutions throughout California, Hawaii, and the Pacific. Some individual programs at Pacific Oaks College may have other accreditations or approvals.
- Courses in the credential programs offered by the School of Education meet the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) requirements for a California Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential or Preliminary Education Specialist Credential.
- The M.A. in MFT program offered by the School of Cultural and Family Psychology satisfies all of the requirements of SB 33 and the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) (Business and Professions Code Sections 4980.36c, d e 4980.39, 4980.40, and 4980.41).
Student Reviews
- The school is full of many supportive people who genuinely care for each other. You just really need to join something that interests you and then you'll be able to find some great friends. People seem very chill for it being considered a top university. Definitely a calmer atmosphere compared to schools like Stanford and Berkeley.
- The university provides the best of both academics opportunities as well as extracurricular activities in order to help their students explore and/or grow their skills on a specific or variety of fields. Their goal is to get their students involved in what they love in order to grow and expand the students knowledge.
- Overall, I love being a student at USC. On campus, I am a research assistant, a newspaper writer, and a dancer on the competitive hip-hop team. I've met a wide variety of students at USC, some who astound me with their intelligence and hobbies. I love talking to my professors during their office hours. The downsides to being a USC student is that a lot of things are inordinately expensive, the tuition keeps rising (unnecessarily), and the area around it is not super nice.
Campus Locations
- Pacific Oaks College: Online
- Pacific Oaks College: San Jose, CA1245 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, 95128
- Pacific Oaks College: Pasadena, CA5 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena, CA, 91103
Degree programs that may be pursued at Pacific Oaks College include master’s programs, teacher credentialing programs, and bachelor’s degree completion programs. Master of Arts programs are available in Education, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, Marriage & Family Therapy, Organizational Leadership & Change, and Advocacy & Social Justice.
Pacific Oaks College Program Highlights: M.A. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Discover how to make a different in the lives of young children as you pursue your Master’s in Early Childhood Education degree from Pacific Oaks College. Students explore educational trends, theory, and research-based practices as they as they prepare to pursue work with children and families.
Choose Your Format: Students may opt to study online or at the Pasadena campus. And depending on your lifestyle and goals, you could choose to pursue your M.A. part time or full time.
Trauma Studies Specialization: The Trauma Studies program is a unique track designed to help you work with a particularly vulnerable population. Coursework in this specialization focuses on providing guidance and support to children who have experienced traumatic events such as abuse, assault, immigration, and violence.
Immersive Learning: Students may have the chance to pursue real-world experiences working with kids, families, and educational administrators.
Study with the Experts: Pacific Oaks College has a history of being influential in the field of Early Childhood Education. They launched one of the nation’s first Head Start training programs in 1964. And, their transformative approach to early childhood education is grounded in theory, research, and cultural competencies.
