Private nonprofit college in Pasadena grounded in Quaker principles and social justice education.
Pacific Oaks College offers Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees, as well as Doctorate in Education and post-graduate teaching certifications. Programs are organized into two schools: School of Cultural and Family Psychology and School of Human Development & Education. Key academic areas include Early Childhood Education, Education, Teacher Credentialing, Human Development, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, and Business and Management. The college's M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy satisfies California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements for licensure, and its Teacher Education Program is certified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
The main campus is located in Pasadena at the north end of Old Pasadena, accessible via the Metro L Line light rail. The college operates a 4-acre suburban campus and maintains off-campus sites throughout California. The Andrew Norman Library supports degree programs with a collection of over 17,000 titles focused on early childhood education, curriculum development, human development, family systems, therapy, and child care. Students benefit from academic advising, disability support services, career services, and a Student Success Center.
Pacific Oaks takes a holistic approach to admissions, considering academic background alongside life and work experience. Students are accepted year-round with three convenient starting dates for campus-based programs and six for online students. The college welcomes transfer students and international students, with dedicated support services for each group. Admission requirements are program-specific and include personal essays.
The college emphasizes learning rooted in experience, allowing students to earn up to 24 credit hours through the Credit for Learning from Experience program. Classes foster dynamic learning where students' backgrounds and strengths are shared with peers from around the world. Pacific Oaks offers flexible learning options through on-campus, off-site cohort, and fully online programs to accommodate working professionals and diverse student needs.