Westmont College
Our Mission
Westmont College is an undergraduate, residential, Christian, liberal arts community serving God’s kingdom by cultivating thoughtful scholars, grateful servants and faithful leaders for global engagement with the academy, church and world.
Our History
In 1937, Ruth Kerr (among others) founded a school that in 1940 became a liberal arts college committed to the historic Christian faith. Wallace Emerson, the first president, envisioned an institution that rivaled the best colleges nationwide, and he set the standard for academic rigor and excellence that still applies.
By 1945, Westmont outgrew its facilities in Los Angeles and moved to the former Dwight Murphy estate in Santa Barbara with its 125 acres and beautiful Mediterranean house. Acquiring another property and the former Deane School for Boys completed the campus that features the pathways, stone bridges, and gardens of the former estate.
Achieving accreditation in 1958, Westmont began building its campus in the 1960s, adding nine major buildings. Enrollment rose to 840, and in 1976, the college received approval for 1,200 students. In 2007, the county authorized an updated campus master plan, and Westmont began the first phase of construction in 2008.
In recent decades, Westmont has earned increasing national recognition for its academic quality, leadership training and unique emphasis on intellectual, spiritual and personal growth. During his 25-year tenure, President David K. Winter helped the college attract a highly qualified faculty, create a vital Christian community, and make plans for constructing additional campus facilities. President Stan D. Gaede continued this work between 2001-2006. David Winter returned as chancellor and interim president for a year until Gayle D. Beebe became the eighth president in July 2007. His priorities include implementing the master plan and building a strong financial base for the 21st century. He presided over groundbreaking ceremonies for Adams Center for the Visual Arts and Winter Hall for Science and Mathematics in October 2008, which began a period of construction that will include up to five buildings and new athletic fields.
National Ranking
In its annual college rankings, U.S. News & World Report lists Westmont in the top tier, among the best 111 liberal arts colleges in the nation. The selective institutions in this group include eight other California institutions (Pomona, Claremont-McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Scripps, Occidental, Mills, Thomas Aquinas and Pitzer).
Academic Program
Westmont offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in 26 liberal arts majors, 11 pre-professional programs, an elementary and secondary credential program, and up to 12 units for internships and practica. Majors include: alternative, art, biology, chemistry, communication studies, computer science, economics and business, engineering/physics, English, English-modern languages, French, history, kinesiology, liberal studies, mathematics, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, social science, sociology and anthropology, Spanish, and theater arts.
Off-Campus Programs
Students may attend semester-long programs in San Francisco, Europe, England, Mexico, Washington, D.C., Costa Rica, Africa and Israel or visit one of the 12 other colleges in the Christian College Consortium for a semester. Professors also lead a variety of summer programs overseas.
Beyond the Classroom
Student musicians perform with vocal and instrumental ensembles. The Westmont Classical Repertory Theatre presents two productions each year. Senior art majors exhibit their work in the Westmont Museum of Art at the end of the year. Students may choose to participate in the Westmont Leadership Development Program. Seven national academic honor societies recognize outstanding students.
Community Service
Students are actively involved in the life of the community as volunteers, employees, and interns for a wide variety of businesses and organizations. They serve more than 30 student-run ministries on and off campus. During spring break, several hundred students travel to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Ensenada to join local churches, organizations, and ministries in their service to these communities.
Athletics
Many students compete in the extensive intramural program and 12 intercollegiate sports: basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, cross-country, and track for men; and basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, cross-country, and track for women. Westmont has won 13 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national championships and numerous district titles.
Financial Aid
comprehensive financial aid program includes all state and federal grant and loan programs, scholarships, funds for Westmont loans, grants, and scholarships, and part-time work on and off campus. More than 80 percent of students receive financial aid.