Criswell College is a private

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college and divinity school in

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. The college's stated mission is to provide ministerial and professional higher education for men and women preparing to serve as Christian leaders throughout society, while maintaining an institutional commitment to

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History

Classes began on January 12, 1971, after being founded in 1970 as the Criswell Bible Institute. The school would later be known as the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies before assuming its current name in 1985. The college is named after its founder, W. A. Criswell, long-time pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas. James Bryant was the founding dean. Ruth Ray Hunt, a Dallas citizen with deep religious convictions, provided much of the financial support establishing Criswell College. The college has been affiliated with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention since 2001 (SBTC provides some financial assistance and has representation on Criswell's board, but the college is independently owned and operated). The college offers

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Associate of Arts An associate degree or associate's degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of academic qualification above a high school diploma and below a bachelor's degree ...

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and

Master of Divinity For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and ...

degrees. In 2013, the board of trustees approved plans for an expansion of the undergraduate curriculum and relocation. The expanded curriculum now includes undergraduate majors such as Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE), Education, and Psychology. In 2015 the college applied for an exception to

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allowing it to discriminate for religious reasons against students based upon

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, pregnancy, and marital status. In 2016 the organization

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ranked the college among the worst schools in Texas for LGBT students. Past presidents include Criswell, H. Leo Eddleman, Paige Patterson, Richard Melick, C. Richard Wells, and Jerry A. Johnson. Barry Creamer is the seventh and current president. Johnson resigned from the college in 2008 citing "philosophical differences with the chancellor and trustee leadership about the future of Criswell College." In a related development in 2010, the school officially separated from First Baptist Church of Dallas. Johnson returned as president later that year before leaving in 2013 to become president and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB).

Articles of faith

As a conservative Southern Baptist institution of higher learning, Criswell College holds to the Baptist Faith & Message (2000 edition), with some additional passages reflecting the teachings of Criswell which are still held by the college.

Accreditation

Criswell was first accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a regional educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. As of 2022, the organization oversees ap ...

(SACS) in 1985.

Notable alumni

* Daniel L. Akin – President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary * Emir Caner - President, Truett McConnell University * K. P. Yohannan – President, Gospel for Asia

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Universities and colleges affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention Private universities and colleges in Texas Universities and colleges in Dallas Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Universities and colleges established in 1970 1970 establishments in Texas