Pacific Oaks College U.S.

Pacific Oaks College is a not-for-profit, accredited higher education institution offering bachelor’s-completion, master’s, and certificate programs in human development, counseling, education, early childhood education, and teacher credentialing. The school offers classes at its main campus in Pasadena and at a number of convenient instructional sites throughout California, as well as online.

Founded more than 60 years ago by a small group of Quaker families, Pacific Oaks College has remained dedicated to the fundamental Quaker principles of inclusion, social justice, and the valuing of every human being. Three basic concepts underlie the educational philosophy at Pacific Oaks:


- that every individual has a fundamental worth;
- that growth is a dynamic and life-long process;
- and that every individual has a unique identity and human potential.

Pacific Oaks has a long history of serving non-traditional and adult students and has become known and recognized for its progressive approach to teaching and learning—valuing real-world experiences in addition to academic achievements. This philosophy is embodied in the school’s Experiential Learning approach, and opportunities such as the Credit for Life Experience option which allows students to gain academic credit for real-world experiences.

Pacific Oaks is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and has been since 1959.


Mission Statement

(Approved by the Board of Trustees on May 6, 2011)

Grounded in its social justice heritage, Pacific Oaks College prepares students to be culturally intelligent agents of change serving diverse communities in the fields of human development, education, and related family studies.

At Pacific Oaks College, you’ll receive an empowering, transformational education specifically tailored to adults and non-traditional students—one in which your unique background and strengths are valued and respected and you are encouraged to leverage those gifts to achieve your full potential.

Here are just a few of the things that set us apart:

We are flexible and convenient.

We recognize that our students lead busy lives, so we offer our programs in a wide range of formats—including evening, weekend, and weekday options. We offer programs online, at our main campus in Pasadena, and at convenient instructional sites throughout California.

We are diverse and affirming.

At Pacific Oaks, you will find yourself immersed in a vibrant and supportive community of students and faculty from wide-ranging ethnic, cultural, educational, and experiential backgrounds. Founded more than 60 years ago on the principles of inclusion and social justice, we our known for our distinctive Culture-Centered Model of Education, through which we will actively nurture and encourage you to leverage your unique identity and strengths to achieve your potential.


We value your life experience.

While most schools value “textbook learning,” we believe that what you have learned on the job and throughout your life can be equally instructive—so much that you may even have the opportunity to receive academic credit for your life experience. Throughout your educational journey with us, you will also benefit from our unique “experiential learning” approach—learning by sharing and reflecting on your past experiences and those of your peers, and through diverse real-world training opportunities.

We respect you as an adult.

Pacific Oaks believes that every individual has a unique and valuable background, skill set, and perspective. That belief creates a classroom experience like no other—one in which you are treated with respect, encouraged to speak freely, and benefit from a genuinely collaborative and egalitarian learning process.

pacificoaks.edu