On July 1, 2026, Biola University launched one of the most significant restructurings in its recent history: The School of Arts and Letters. The new school brings 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.

The School of Arts and Letters creates a new home for many of Biola’s longstanding programs and enduring programs, with additional innovations on the horizon.

“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, a hallmark of a Biola education.”

The school will play a pivotal role at Biola. The school is the largest of Biola’s seven academic schools in terms of undergraduate programs offered, with 17 majors spanning art, communication, history philosophy, music, political science and more. It also houses the Torrey Honors College, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.

Pending accreditation, the school will introduce degrees in architecture and interior design and is launching a cross-disciplinary program in politics, philosophy and economics, housed under the Department of Political Science in close collaboration with the Crowell School of Business, in Fall 2027. New concentrations in health communication, innovative media and business communication are also forthcoming. Students at the school will also be offered courses focused on internships in their fields of study, equipping them to enter the workplace with a biblically centered education.

For students, the new school opens 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.

The School of Arts and Letters at Biola prepares students to think deeply, express boldly and lead faithfully in the pursuit of truth. The school is designed to provide a whole-person education for students who aim to think deeply, express boldly and lead faithfully. Learn more and apply today to be part of the Biola community.

Written by Jason Newell and Sarah Dougher. For more information, email beacon@biola.edu.