This summer, Biola will launch one of the most significant academic restructurings in its recent history — creating a new home for many of its most essential and enduring programs, with additional innovations on the horizon.

The School of Arts and Letters, which debuts in July 2026, will bring together two existing schools — the School of Fine Arts and Communication and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences — into one collaborative, cross-disciplinary community.

“I believe this strategic change will strengthen Biola’s academic identity and reemphasize the liberal arts as a central part of a Biola education,” said Dr. Todd Guy, the school’s inaugural dean. “The new school unites the arts, humanities and social sciences into one academic home and reflects a renewed commitment to the pursuit of truth within a fully integrated Christian liberal arts tradition.”

The school will play a pivotal role at Biola, shaping much of the core curriculum experienced by all undergraduate students. At launch, it will also be the largest of Biola’s seven schools in terms of undergraduate programs offered, with 17 majors — spanning art, communication, philosophy, music and more. It will also house the Torrey Honors College, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.

For students, the shift is expected to open new opportunities for interdisciplinary study and creative collaboration across traditionally separate fields.

“Bringing together these eclectic disciplines will remove structural silos, expand interdisciplinary opportunities, strengthen Biola’s and each department’s academic distinctiveness, and I believe position the departments and their programs for long-term vitality and strategic growth,” said Dr. Matthew J. Hall, Biola’s provost and senior vice president.

Within the next few years, leaders anticipate adding degrees in architecture and interior design, launching a cross-disciplinary program in politics, philosophy and economics, and developing new concentrations in health communication, innovative media and organizational communication.