Many actors and filmmakers dream of premiering their films on the big screen, but may have to wait a lifetime to get the opportunity. For Azusa Pacific University students, they only waited until the end of their senior year. APU’s School of the Arts hosted the 2023 Industry Spotlight on May 4 at the legendary Warner Bros. studios, giving students in cinematic arts, animation, theater, games and interactive media, art, design, music, and journalism a chance to showcase their work in front of industry talent representatives and casting directors.

Cinematic Arts

A highlight of the night involved cinematic arts students premiering films they’ve worked on all year. These included Betting on Innocence, a family comedy directed by Ethan Samartin ’23; Trip, a psychological thriller directed by Trey Dickerson ’23; The Mediocrity of Sabine and the End of Fiction, a Wes Anderson style drama directed by Hope Daniel ’23, and City Streets, a civic engagement documentary directed by Jack Barrie ’23.

For Barrie, this project entailed far more than a chance to display his cinematography and directing skills. He was recruited by APU alumnus Ricky Staub ’06 (director of Netflix’s Concrete Cowboy) to help promote a nonprofit called The City Center, which offers transitional living for homeless families to get back on their feet. “We were able to make something important and special for The City Center. It was truly unlike anything I’ve experienced before,” Barrie said. In the short film, he worked alongside classmates Sarah Cloake ’23 and Grace Berry ’23 to interview two formerly homeless parents, sharing their stories of low points and what brought them to The City Center, along with the impact the center has had on their lives. The film brought many in the audience to tears, including Barrie’s mother. “This documentary was something I couldn’t have written a script for. God was working through us,” he said.

Animation

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Animation students also premiered their films, ranging from minute long 2D shorts to longer, more complex 3D stories. These included Coffee Chaos by Anne Farris, Lifeline by Rebecca Hartman ’24, Silhouette by Shelby Uchida ’23, A Lesson in Time by Jasmine Rogers ’23 and Lindsay Weyman ’23, Night Owl by Chloe Weberg ’23, Peter and Wendy by Matthew D’Amico ’23, Sonríe Mi Chiquito by Melinda Almanza ’23, Drome 19 by Madeleine Chaffin ’23, Valerie and Eddie by Seojin Jeong ’23, Skate Bait by Kayla Dennis ’23 and Whitney Hii ’23, and Hooked by Victoria Ortiz ’23 and Kaitlyn Ford ’23. Each film shared a captivating story displaying different animation techniques.

Ortiz was thrilled to share her film, a completely computer generated (CG) animation about a woman who gets catfished on a date with an actual catfish. The film took an entire year to make and Ortiz estimates that her team spent well over 1,000 hours cumulatively in creating it. “Seeing it in the theater at Warner Bros. was indescribable. There was this magical sense of completion and achievement, that all those hours meant something,” she said.

“Then at the very end, when they brought us all up on stage, I could finally see all the hard work and connections I’ve made pay off. I don’t think I realized I was actually graduating until that moment. It felt like the start of something new and exciting.”

Watch cinematic arts and animation student films here.

Theater

In a separate theater, APU theater students screened a showcase of the webseries So That Happened and performed in front of 20 talent representatives and alumni including Staub and Mackenzie Phillips. Each senior delivered a monologue that they had practiced and refined for months under the direction of Jill Brennan-Lincoln, MA, chair of the Department of Theater Arts. “Many talent reps shared with me that the APU’s Spotlight is their favorite university acting showcase to attend,” Lincoln said. “This is high praise because they compared our BFA students to MFA programs from USC, Julliard, and NYU, endorsing the training and talent our students have.”

For senior Abigail Holland, the showcase was the once in a lifetime opportunity that she had been waiting for since she started at APU. Holland performed a minute long monologue from Pretty Theft. “It was so great to present something true to myself. Every time you perform, you’re playing a character, but this time I was playing myself and I was able to show the agents and the world for the first time who I am,” she said. After the showcase, Holland met with an agent who complimented her on her performance and offered to connect her with casting directors from Netflix and Amazon Prime.

“It was a huge win and reminded me that I can do this, that the talent God gave me is coming through.”

Artist Alley & Oceanview Mall

The Industry Spotlight also featured an “Artist Alley” where a group of students from games and interactive media, art, design, and journalism shared their creations. Students in APU’s first ever comic book class shared original comics they designed, showcasing their creative talent and storytelling abilities while journalism students presented documentaries they created.

In the Artist Alley, the first graduating class of APU’s games and interactive media program presented a demonstration of their video game Oceanview Mall. The game centers around a character named Wilson Wyatt who gets lost in an abandoned mall and is forced to face his consumeristic habits while finding a way out. Oceanview Mall was created by six students who spent a full year coming up with the story, designing the graphics, adding sound effects, and playtesting. “It felt surreal to share Oceanview Mall at the Spotlight. This project was our baby,” said Chrisitan Duran ’23. “We saw it through the whole process from when it was just a couple of gray blocks on a computer screen to it being a fully fledged world with music, sound, a beautifully designed environment, and a story playing out in the game.” After a lot of hard work and late nights, Duran felt incredibly relieved to see how much people enjoyed the game.

“I felt like I was putting part of myself out there. I know this is something that’s really good and I can present it to future employers showing what we created.”

APU’s Industry Spotlight has become a signature annual event for COTA, connecting students with industry professionals and paving a way for their God given talent to take them to the next level after graduation.

From unexpected opportunities to pandemics, life can be unpredictable. And while you likely planned to complete your degree at one college, a variety of situations can disrupt your plans. Or perhaps you’re just looking to take a summer course at a college in your hometown. The question is, can you take college courses at different colleges?

It’s possible to split your time between two colleges, but you should be aware of some caveats. Understanding how to transfer college credits and what types of college credits (also known as units) will transfer is essential to determining your options.

Can You Take College Courses at Different Colleges?

At the most basic level, it’s typically easier to transfer general education courses than it is to transfer units for your major. However, depending on how far along you are in your academic journey, you may still have some flexibility. For example, if you’re a first- or second-year student, you may be able to take lower-level college units for your major at an outside institution.

Are All Courses Transferable?

So, how do you figure out what’s transferable and what’s not? If both colleges are located in the same state, the first step is to look at the articulation agreement between the colleges. An articulation agreement is a course-to-course arrangement between two institutions that identifies courses at a sending institution as “acceptable in lieu of” corresponding courses at the receiving institution (more on those terms later). This is a great starting point to identify courses you’ve already taken or are considering taking that will transfer between universities.

The process may be a little more complicated if the colleges are in different states, but it’s certainly possible to transfer college units across state lines. The best way to find out what your options are is by contacting your university’s Student Services Center and explaining your situation. They’ll be able to help you determine which college credits are transferable and direct you to any required paperwork to ensure the process goes smoothly.

How Can You Transfer Units Seamlessly?

As you weigh your options, a few general guidelines can help you determine which courses you might be able to take elsewhere.

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Understand Which University Is Sending and Which Is Receiving

Even if you take college courses at two different institutions, you can only receive your degree from one of those colleges. If you’re taking outside courses at a community college, this is fairly straightforward. Community colleges don’t offer bachelor’s degree programs, so the community college would be the sending institution—meaning it sends college units to the university where you’ll earn your degree.

But what happens if you want to take courses at a state university and a private university, for example? They both offer bachelor’s programs, so you’ll need to decide which institution you plan to graduate from. The university you want to receive your degree from will be the receiving university, while the other will be the sending university.

Focus on General Education Courses

If you’re looking to take classes at a second college to speed up your academic journey and receive your degree sooner, general education courses are the best route since they’re the easiest to transfer. Most colleges have comparable general education courses.

Stick to Lower-Level Courses

Likewise, 100- and 200-level courses are easier to transfer to your receiving institution. These are the introductory classes you generally take in your first or second year of college. While transferring units from an upper-level class may be possible if you’re attending a university that offers bachelor’s degree programs, clearing the transfer is likely to be more complicated.

Transferring College Credits to Azusa Pacific University

APU offers a wide range of transfer pathways for students looking for an alternative way to complete their degree. Whether you’ve received your associate’s degree or you’re still figuring out what your path forward looks like, there are many transfer options to ensure you get the most out of your academic experience.

To learn more about transferring units or to find out what transfer options are available to you at APU, contact the Student Services Center.

Most fields and institutions have their own commonly used lingo, and that’s true for the world of education, too. Some of these terms are more straightforward than others. For example, you probably know what college graduation means—but what about commencement? If you’re suddenly second-guessing yourself, read on.

Commencement vs. Graduation

Some people use these terms interchangeably, but they’re not actually synonyms. Here’s what to know about commencement vs. graduation.

Commencement

Commencement is the ceremony that honors graduating students. Commencement refers to the start of something, and in an academic context, this ceremony signifies you’re starting your career and the next phase of your life. Students may be allowed to participate in commencement prior to completing all of their graduation requirements.

Commencement ceremonies are typically celebrations, and graduating students often invite their friends and family members to support and cheer them on. In most commencements, a designated speaker addresses the graduating class with a speech, and a university president, provost, or dean may hand graduates a congratulatory document or folder as they walk across the stage. Students who have fulfilled their graduation requirements will receive their diplomas in the mail following the ceremony.

Students may receive honors at commencement. For example, graduating students might be recognized as “cum laude,” “magna cum laude,” or “summa cum laude.” All of these terms reflect high grade point averages.

Graduation

Graduation means you’ve completed the requirements to earn a degree or diploma. In colleges and universities, you’re able to graduate once you’ve:

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• Earned the required number of credits
• Taken all the necessary courses to satisfy your major
• Completed any other requirements, such as internships or service hours

Sometimes people use the phrase “graduation ceremony,” which differs from graduation. By adding the word ceremony, they’re actually referring to commencement (also called “commencement ceremony”).

Why These Terms Matter to You

It’s easy to see how commencement vs. graduation might be used to mean the same thing. But when you know what each term means, you can better understand how they’re related to each other and how they differ. For example, you can have one without the other. You can graduate but choose not to walk in commencement. In that situation, you meet the requirements for your major and earn your degree and diploma, but you don’t participate in the traditional cap-and-gown ceremony.

At many colleges and universities, you can also walk in commencement without officially graduating. In this scenario, you may be permitted to take part in the commencement ceremony with your classmates as long as you’ll meet the graduation requirements soon after commencement.

At Azusa Pacific University, you’re invited to participate in commencement if you have no more than three units remaining and if you’ll complete them in the term immediately following the ceremony. Of course, you’ll also need to meet your financial obligations and complete your service credits.

Taking the Next Step toward a Brighter Future

Graduating from college and walking across the stage in your commencement ceremony are two different things, but they’re intertwined. College graduation marks the completion of your degree requirements, while commencement celebrates those accomplishments and looks toward the future. If you’re interested in working toward these milestones, reach out to APU to learn more about the degrees and programs that can put you on the path to success.

When Helena Mayer ’20 began her career, she had a pivotal choice to make. Although she had studied worship music at Azusa Pacific University, she felt unsettled about going into a career in Christian music. “I prayed and asked God what He wanted from me. I heard Him say ‘I want you to reach the lost,’” she said. “I feel called to be at the beginning stage of people’s faith journeys. For people who have turned around because they’ve been so hurt by the church, I want my songs to start the process of showing them there’s something more, something worth living for even if that’s not under the description of Christian music.”

Mayer draws inspiration from the story of Esther. “The word God is not used once in the book of Esther and yet everything about that story is about God and this complete surrender to God’s will in your life,” she said. “I’m not shy about my faith. It’s there and it’s present but I’m more passionate about showing people the good and beautiful life.”

Mayer debuted her first song, When It’s Over, in 2018. It got placed on Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlist which led it to grow in popularity. Today, When It’s Over has more than 1.7 million streams. Although she was thrilled to see the song doing so well, Mayer had a sense of impostor syndrome at first. “I was insecure about being honest about where I’m at in life and translating that into music,” she said. It wasn’t until Mayer released her first EP, Growing Up, in 2020 that she felt a sense of confidence in her lyrics, especially with the song Childish.

“Knowing that it was about something that came from my own experience was something where it was really hard to sit and realize people could think of me differently because I’m not this cookie cutter, perfect, have done no wrong kind of human being,” she said. “I can’t be vulnerable if I’m not willing to be honest about my own experiences.”

Mayer’s vulnerability has led her to write songs on a variety of topics including anxiety, being an introvert, feeling misunderstood, breakups, and going through mental health struggles. Fans have resonated strongly with this and her 21 songs have more than 10 million cumulative streams on Spotify. However, Mayer doesn’t pay attention to the numbers—anymore. “So many of our formative years were shaped by social media where value is determined by likes. I’m trying to focus less on the likes and streams,” she said. “It’s hard for me to do and I’m still learning how to do it.” So what does she place her value in? “Response.”

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, like musicians across the world, Mayer had to halt her live performances. She moved back to her family’s home in Thousand Oaks, retreated to her room, and disappeared to the outside world for months. “That was really necessary,” she said, “I needed that time because there was just so much I hadn’t processed. I wasn’t really able to. It had just compounded over the years. I needed to recharge.”

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When ready to perform again, a newer medium presented itself. While Twitch had mostly been used to stream gaming and esports prior to 2020, the pandemic led the platform to become a hub for virtual concerts, something musicians sorely needed for their livelihood. Mayer started streaming on Twitch in August 2021 and hit partner status after six months. She now performs four times a week for her more than 9,000 followers. While the platform is free for users, fans can support their favorite artists by subscribing for $5-25 a month. Half of these proceeds go to the artist.

Twitch revitalized Mayer’s life and career more than she could have imagined. She has dedicated fans across the world. Not only do they listen to her music, they want to hear the backstories behind every song and request their favorites on repeat. Fans’ response and engagement has driven Mayer to new creative heights. She hopes her music will have the kind of reach that changes lives.

“I’ve had multiple people reach out to me and share personal details about their life and how my song helped them get through tough times,” she said. “Even if that’s the only impact I’ve had through my music, to me, that’s enough.”

Reflecting on her time at APU, Mayer credits both her areas of study for equipping her to become the musician she is today. In her music and worship major, she was heavily influenced by Stephen Martin, DCM, director of the Worship Studies program. After taking a songwriting class with Martin, Mayer served as his teaching assistant for three years. “Working with Stephen was really formative. He was integral to my musical journey,” Mayer said. Some of Martin’s biggest impact came when Mayer would share her songs with him and ask for feedback on the lyrics. “He wouldn’t tell me to change this or change that. Instead, he would pose these really great questions that helped me reach the conclusion on my own.”

Mayer also drew upon many experiences in the music program that prepared her for her career. These included leading a chapel band which expanded her musical repertoire and gave her experience singing in front of a large crowd, learning how to use a soundboard which she uses every time she streams on Twitch, and being told to always hire a lawyer when working with other artists on songs so she receives fair pay for her work. This is also where she learned the true meaning of worship.

“When most people think of worship, they think of Sunday mornings before the sermon where you repeat the chorus over and over. There’s so much more to it,” she said. “Worship is something everyone can do using the gifts they have.”

Mayer also majored in honors humanities. Being a part of the Honors College was one of her favorite parts of APU. “I loved the intentionality of honors. It taught me how to think critically,” she said. “Writing and discussing deep topics is my bread and butter.” Mayer specifically credits colloquy with David Weeks, PhD, Diana Pavlac Glyer, PhD, and Gary Black, PhD, where she learned ideas that have inspired many of her lyrics. “They taught me how to look at the big picture and see how we can take these intricate concepts and make them into something that’s relatable, showing people a better piece of humanity.”

Mayer trusts that God is guiding her in the right direction. “I’d love to have a big impact, but I don’t want it to be about me,” she said. “If there’s a way I could take people on little blind dates with Jesus and have them leave the show talking more about the music than the artist, talking about the meaning behind the songs, that to me is impact.”

Whether you’re getting ready to apply to colleges or you already have a few classes under your belt, understanding what it takes to complete your degree can be as daunting as it is exciting. For example, how many credits do you need to graduate college?

This is an important question, and preparing early is a good idea. By having a plan for how you’ll complete the required credits—also known as units—you’ll be able to graduate on time and know what to expect each year.

What Are College Credits?

College credits are a unit of measurement that accredited colleges and universities use to communicate how much time you’ve put into your degree. Federal guidelines define a credit hour as roughly one hour of classroom learning plus two hours of independent work per week for a semester. The number of credits you earn indicates the extent of education you receive and plays a part in facilitating transfer and financial aid processes.

At Azusa Pacific University, college credits are identified as units. So, if you take a 3-unit class, you can assume you’ll spend three hours in the classroom each week plus an additional six hours on your own.

How Many Credits Do You Need to Graduate College?

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For a bachelor’s degree program, you can expect to complete a minimum of 120 units before earning your degree. But it also depends on the college you attend and the individual degree program. Some programs, like nursing or engineering, may require additional units.

It’s also worth noting that not all of the 120 units go toward your major. A good portion of them will go toward your general education, which is a required part of completing your degree. If you have a minor, this will add more units to your completion time.

Can You Transfer Units to a Different College?

One of the benefits of the college credit system is that it makes the transfer process easier for students. Say you complete 40 units at a community college and then transfer to a university. Knowing how many units you’ve already completed can give you a clear picture of your path to graduation.

Keep in mind that not all units are transferable to every college. The type of class and whether or not there’s a comparable course at the college you’re transferring to may affect whether your units are accepted. To determine which units are transferable to a specific institution, contact the school’s enrollment office.

Connect with Support for More Information and Guidance

If you’re unsure how many units you have or how many are required for your degree, your academic advisor at your current college can break it down for you. For a quick glimpse at programs at other schools and how many units are required to complete them, you can typically find information on the school’s website or in its college catalog. Knowing this information can help you identify the right college for your transfer journey.

To learn more about how many credits you need to graduate college or for more information about transferring to APU, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Ever since Taylor Swift’s “Welcome to New York” came out in 2014, Ruby McAuliffe ’20 dreamed of moving to the Big Apple. Aside from her favorite singer’s pop hit, the journalist also knew she wanted to pursue a career in fashion, beauty, and commerce fashion — an industry largely based in New York City. Though it came at the cost of leaving friends, family, and familiarity behind, McAuliffe has no regrets about her cross-country move. “I am working my dream job. This is why I wanted to be here. At the same time, there are sacrifices, but my family always reminds me — in the best way possible — we don’t want you here [in California]. They want me to be out here achieving my dreams,” she said.

At only 24, McAuliffe fulfilled her dream of writing and editing for a top women’s magazine: InStyle. Now living in the fashion capital of the country, she achieved her goal with hard work, big dreams, and a lot of prayer. “I remember praying ‘God, do not open the door even the slightest amount because if you do, I am going to burst through it,” she said. And burst through it she did. After a year as a commerce writer for the New York Post, McAuliffe accepted a position at InStyle.

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Having achieved so much at a young age, McAuliffe, though immensely grateful for her career thus far, is focusing on slowing down and enjoying where she’s at in life. “Before working for InStyle, I had never been in a state of life where I could just stop because there was always something to achieve: do well in high school to get to college; do well in college so you can get good internships, and get good internships so you can get a good job,” she said. “Now, my goal is to find joy in being content, slowing down, and settling in because I’ve been ‘go go go’ for so long.”

As an associate commerce fashion editor for InStyle, McAuliffe’s daily routine ranges from pitching stories, interviewing celebrities — such as Demi Moore, Jessica Alba, and Mindy Kaling — attending events, writing articles, and editing. The Upland native’s love for editing began after she took a course on the subject at Azusa Pacific University, which was a part of her journalism curriculum. After applying to APU’s student-run newspaper, ZU News, as a copy editor during her sophomore year, she worked her way up to becoming the editor-in-chief by her senior year, serving as a managing editor for ZU Magazine along the way. Along with her editing class, McAuliffe credits many of her courses at APU for equipping her in current position. “Even though I’m in an editing/writer position, there really is a whole multimedia aspect even to this one position,” she said. “You would think because I’m an editor, I just edit, but that’s not true. I really am utilizing everything I learned, from AP style to how to work with others.”

Along with valuable skills for her career, McAuliffe also credits APU for providing her with a tight-knit community of like-minded individuals. “I loved studying journalism with my best friends,” she said. “It was so fun that I was able to get really close with the people in my department, so I was enjoying both what I was studying and who I was learning it with.”

Now, as a Christian thriving in the fashion industry, McAuliffe credits both her prayer life and faith community for keeping her grounded. “Without prayer, I’m a mess. Praying helps me remember that at the end of the day, I am not in charge,” she said. “Surrounding myself with good friends has helped me evaluate what I want here in New York and what I want my life to be. They help to keep me on that path.”

Surrounded by friends who love Jesus, McAuliffe has had opportunities to shine her light with others in an industry some believe is devoid of faithful Christians. “I’ve had so many conversations in this industry about God and my faith and people coming up to me and being so interested in my faith, and I get to share it with them,” she said. As she continues writing and editing in the fashion world, McAuliffe is taking things one day at a time in the craziness of NYC, trusting God to guide her, leaning on her friends for support, and being authentically herself.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” but that advice isn’t always practical. You might enjoy doing many different things, making it challenging to narrow down your interests to a single type of work. Or perhaps your passion, such as writing poetry or playing the ukulele, isn’t likely to translate to a career with your desired salary.

Whether you’re just launching your career or looking to move into a new line of work, pursuing in-demand jobs can offer security in a fast-paced, ever-changing world. And, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, these eight exciting jobs in demand are among those projected to grow the fastest through 2031.

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners provide health care in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and clinics. They have more authority than nurses and treat patients in the same way as doctors in many situations, including writing prescriptions and ordering and interpreting tests such as blood work and X-rays.

Expected growth rate: 46%

Median yearly pay: $120,680

Education: Master’s degree in a nurse practitioner-focused program, state license, and national certification exam.

Data Scientist

Data scientists work in a variety of industries, usually in office settings. People in this role extract insights from data with analytical tools and techniques to help solve complex business challenges, figuring out what questions to ask and how to answer them. Businesses use their results to guide key decisions.

Expected growth rate: 36%

Median yearly pay: $100,910

Education: Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a similar field.

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts protect computer networks and systems from security threats that could put passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive information at risk. They often work for financial, technology, or consulting businesses.

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Expected growth rate: 35%

Median yearly pay: $102,600

Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field like computer information systems.

Statistician

Statisticians solve problems by analyzing data and using computational techniques. They might also create and administer surveys or experiments to obtain the necessary data for analysis. They often work with engineers and scientists in research and development companies or for the federal government.

Expected growth rate: 33%

Median yearly pay: $95,570

Education: Usually, a master’s degree in statistics. For some positions, a bachelor’s degree is sufficient.

Web Developer

Web developers create websites that look attractive and are easy for users to navigate. They might also be responsible for the site’s performance, such as how quickly pages load. They often work in computer systems design, advertising, consulting, and publishing.

Expected growth rate: 30%

Median yearly pay: $77,030

Education: A high school diploma is sufficient for some positions; for others, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree.

Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services managers oversee healthcare providers’ business activities, making sure operations run smoothly so healthcare professionals can focus on caring for patients. They usually work in group medical practices, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Expected growth rate: 28%

Median yearly pay: $101,340

Education: Bachelor’s degree or, in some cases, a master’s degree in healthcare administration or a related field.

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants work under a physician’s supervision to examine, diagnose, and treat patients. They work in primary care and almost every specialty area and operate in healthcare settings such as doctors’ offices, hospitals, and clinics.

Expected growth rate: 28%

Median yearly pay: $121,530

Education: Master’s degree from an accredited program and state license. A bachelor’s degree in allied health can be the first step.

Taking the Next Step

Identifying opportunities for job security is a great place to start when planning your next career move. From there, seek support. Connect with the Center for Career and Community-Engaged Learning at Azusa Pacific University to learn more about how you can develop the skills for these in-demand jobs of the next decade and beyond.

As soon as you start applying for colleges, people will likely ask you what your major is. After all, your major plays a large role in deciding what courses you take, what your overall academic experience is like, and what career paths might be available to you after graduation. It’s understandable that your family and friends are interested in your plans for the future. But what is a college major, exactly?

What Is a College Major?

A major is a focused area of study. When you choose a major, you select an academic path: about a third to half of your courses will belong to that academic area. For example, if you major in English, you’ll take literature, writing, and linguistics classes. If you major in engineering, you’ll focus on math, physics, and computer science.

Common Majors

Majors range from traditional studies, like mathematics and history, to newer studies, like human-centered computing and nanotechnology, to niche areas, like theme park technology and nautical archaeology.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the most popular majors fall into these categories:

• Business. This includes business, management, economics, marketing, and related majors.
• Healthcare professions. This may include biology, chemistry, exercise science, and other majors. For many health professions, you’ll need to continue your education after you earn your bachelor’s degree.
• Social sciences. This can include history, anthropology, geography, psychology, sociology, and political science.

What’s the Difference between a Major and a Minor?

Your college major is your primary area of study—that’s the subject you’ll receive your degree in. A college minor is another topic you concentrate in, but it doesn’t require the same level of in-depth study. You can minor in a field related to your major, but most schools don’t allow you to major and minor in the same subject. You can also minor in a field that’s unrelated to your major. Minors are optional.

At Azusa Pacific University, you typically need 12 units of 200-level or higher courses (and 18 units total) to complete a minor.

Are You Required to Select a Major?

Most colleges and universities require that you choose a concentration. If you’re interested in studying a field that’s not covered by a major, some colleges will allow you to create your own major or combine different academic areas into a personalized major. At APU, a major in interdisciplinary studies gives you the freedom to design your own degree program.

When Do You Need to Declare a Major?

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It depends on your school and program of study. Some colleges and universities ask you to declare a major when you apply. Others let you apply as undecided. If you’re not sure what you want to major in, taking electives and general education courses in the first few semesters can help you explore your interests. The Exploring Program at APU offers seminars, coaching, mentoring, and events to help you discover your vocation.

Most schools will require you to declare a major during your sophomore year. At APU, you need to declare a major before you start your fifth full-time semester.

Can You Change Your Major?

It’s common for students to declare a major before they start college or early in their studies only to later discover they’re more interested in another subject. As you take your classes, you might realize you want to change your major. If so, it’s best to make the switch quickly. You can then move forward with the required classes for your new major and stay on track to graduate on time.

If you change your major, consider minoring in the subject area you originally planned to major in, especially if you’ve already earned several units toward that major.

Can You Have More than One Major?

At many schools, you can pursue a double major. This can help you pair two concentrations that prepare you for your future career. For example, if you want to open your own tax preparation business, you could major in accounting and entrepreneurship. Or you might want to major in two unrelated areas you’re interested in, like communication and criminal justice.

How Does Your Major Impact Your Academic Experience?

The subject you choose to major in will take a lot of your time, attention, and focus. You’ll take more 300- and 400-level courses in your major than in any other subject area. As you advance toward your degree, you’ll find you spend a lot of your class time with other students who have the same major. You may also have the same professors for multiple classes.

Course Load

Most majors require between 10 and 20 classes, and some number of those classes need to be upper level. Generally, majors in the liberal arts fields require fewer specialized courses, whereas sciences majors require more. In either case, you’ll need to complete the same number of total classes to earn your degree (usually 40 classes).

Course Selection

Once you choose your major, map out a path to ensure you can take all the required courses. Some classes are prerequisites for others, so you’ll need to take them in the correct order. Certain courses will be required for everyone in your major. For others, you may be able to choose from a group of related classes. Your academic advisor can help you make a plan to complete your coursework and graduate on time.

How Does Your Major Influence Off-Campus Education?

Some majors require you to complete internships, co-ops, or clinicals. Internships generally consist of unpaid work in a field related to your degree. Co-ops are usually paid positions, and clinicals give you hands-on experience treating patients in healthcare settings. You’ll often get academic credit for internships, co-ops, and clinicals.

Different schools and majors can also offer various opportunities to study abroad. Some schools have a formal program where you can study in another country for a semester or year. In other cases, you may study abroad during a break or over the summer. At APU, Go Terms offer locations worldwide where you can study anywhere from 10 days to a semester.

APU offers a range of majors and minors designed to prepare you for success in whatever fields interest you most. Dive in to find the one that’s right for you.

More than 90 alumni ranging from the classes of 1955-89 filled Upper Turner Campus Center to honor their mentor, legendary Azusa Pacific University basketball coach and vice president emeritus Cliff Hamlow ’56, PhD, on Saturday, February 4. The group of former basketball players shared memories of their time as Cougars and the impact Coach Hamlow had on their lives.

Kicking off the event, athletic director Gary Pine ’84, MBA ’05, talked about the connection that brought the players together and the man at center court. “We’re celebrating four decades of Cougar basketball,” Pine said. “Cliff is the common bond right alongside the one forged by a team. There’s nothing like playing, battling, and winning together.”

After an opening prayer by Steve Seavers ’78, Pine passed the mic to the master of ceremonies, Ed Munson, who was APU’s sports information director from 1969-72 before becoming the official scorer for the Los Angeles Angels and later the Los Angeles Dodgers. Munson recounted many noteworthy moments throughout Hamlow’s tenure, including seven consecutive 20-win seasons, scoring 155 points in a single game, scoring more than 100 points in a single half, scoring 100 or more points 15 times in one season, and winning the Christian College Tournament four years in a row from 1968-72. “I’ve seen no-hitters and perfect games, but the moment that sticks out in my mind above everything else was watching Cliff get his 300th win as Bob Dickinson made a shot with six seconds left on the clock,” Munson said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone jump as high as Cliff did in that moment. I thank God for Cliff being an excellent coach, a better friend, and a pivotal mentor.”

Following Munson, Bill Young ’57 talked about how he and Hamlow came to campus together, back when the school was called Pacific Bible College. “At the time, I don’t think there was one person who came to be a part of the athletic program,” he said. “Cliff became a student-coach instead of a student-athlete and developed the program into what it is today.” In the first few years of Hamlow’s coaching career, the team practiced at gyms off campus before a donor provided funds to build the Cougar Dome in 1958.

As the years went by, Hamlow began recruiting players and strengthening the program. By the end of the 1960s, the Cougars were a perennial powerhouse thanks to excellent coaching and talented players such as Chuck Boswell ’69. Boswell’s freshman season was the year Azusa College and Pacific Bible College merged to form Azusa Pacific. While the players had been rivals before, Hamlow coached them to work together to reach new heights. Boswell fondly recalled his favorite memories, from going on basketball road trips and running out of gas to singing in church choirs. He ended by describing all of Hamlow’s accolades. “Cliff, your greatest award isn’t here. Your greatest reward is that some day you’re going to Heaven and you will see players you brought to the Lord, and through faith they each became a different person,” he said. “Coach, I appreciate that, because I was one of those people. You did that for me. I love you and can’t thank you enough.”

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Following Boswell, Dennis Dickens ’70 talked about how Hamlow gave him a chance to develop his skills when few other coaches would have done so. After graduation, Dickens had a brief NBA career before playing professionally in Europe. “My coach in the pros told me the only reason I made it this far is because Coach Hamlow taught me how to play right,” Dickens said.

“Every year as a coach, Cliff got better. That doesn’t happen often. He’s more than a great coach. He put APU’s basketball program on the map. In the basketball world, everybody knows APU all because of Cliff.”

Many players went on to coach after graduating, including Gordon Billingsley ’73 and Gary Johnson ’80. Billingsly said he treasured Hamlow’s mentorship and patience. Johnson described watching the way Hamlow coached, not shouting or getting angry with his players. Johnson replicated this in his coaching, as he went on to win Coach of the Year many times at the high school level in the San Gabriel Valley. “My favorite part was getting to coach the all-star teams, because the all-star games were held at APU,” Johnson said. “I was so proud because Coach could see me walking those sidelines just like he did.”

The final two players to share, Dave Dangleis ’87 and John Hoetker ’89, spoke about Hamlow’s impact off the court and in their lives after graduation. Dangleis spoke about a film session that turned into a prayer session as the team gathered around an old TV to watch the aftermath of the space shuttle Challenger explosion. “Cliff knew we could watch game film anytime; he made sure we stopped to grasp the significance of what had happened and prayed about it,” Dangleis said. “Coach, you taught us a lot about basketball, but you taught us more about being men, and I will always appreciate that.” Hoetker spoke about a moment more than 25 years after he finished playing basketball when he called Hamlow up and asked him to baptize his son and their family.

“I know a lot of this is about basketball and that sport is a wonderful thing because it brought us all together. But more than that, you taught us how to be in the right spot to have the greatest impact, showing us your vision for something more,” Hoetker said. “In my life, I never had a greater champion than you, Coach.”

To close out the ceremony before the group went over to the Felix Event Center to watch the current men’s basketball team beat Dominican University, Hamlow spoke about his legacy and his favorite memories from his 60 years of coaching (33 at APU and 27 at the high school level with his son, Gordon). “When I started college in 1954, I was at chapel and the Lord talked to me. I promised I would serve Him and go anywhere He wanted me to go,” Hamlow said. “Little did I know He didn’t want me to go very far. He put me here to develop an athletics program with the support of then-President Cornelius Haggard.” Hamlow recounted games in the Cougar Dome with a thunderous home crowd, giving players a quarter to go buy their meals on road trips, beating Richard Felix’s Bethel College basketball team at the National Christian College Tournament decades before Felix became APU’s president, and watching as his legacy was carried on by coaches Bill O’Dell, Justin Leslie, and Peter Bond. “It’s been great to see how our coaches have ministered to their players,” he said. “That’s been true of all our coaches here at APU. That’s why I believe in this place.” Hamlow ended by commending his players for making an impact in the lives of so many young people.

“In my 89 years, I’ve learned that we never retire from God’s work. We will slow down, but we won’t retire, because God always has something for us to do and people’s lives to touch.”

As technology continues to become a cornerstone of modern society, the engineering industry is rapidly expanding. Engineers play a significant role in building the systems that make up our daily lives, and there’s a wide range of applications for people with engineering degrees.

Azusa Pacific University offers engineering concentration options to allow you to focus your goals and personalize your academic journey to your career path. From systems engineering to mechanical engineering, choosing a concentration can support your professional aspirations and help you build a career where you can thrive.

What It’s Like to Major in Engineering

All engineering majors receive the same foundational engineering education with special attention to topics like thermodynamics, engineering ethics, and computer science. This comprehensive curriculum provides a strong understanding of engineering processes and practices and equips students with the analytical skills to approach challenges with unique solutions.

No matter which engineering concentration you choose, an engineering major prepares you to design, build, test, and operate complex products and systems that make the world more convenient, comfortable, or efficient.

How an Engineering Concentration Can Support Your Academic Goals

Concentrations allow you to specialize your area of study and take classes that pertain to your specific career path. APU offers four engineering concentrations: systems engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Systems Engineering

Systems engineering is the most interdisciplinary concentration. This can make it ideal if you want to keep your options open or if your desired industry doesn’t benefit from the specific skills that the other engineering concentration options offer.

Systems engineers design, develop, and manage products or systems in a range of industries.

Computer Engineering

If you concentrate in computer engineering, you’ll spend more time studying topics like computer architecture and organization, computer networks, cybersecurity, and machine learning. Computer engineers play a major role in how people interact with technology, especially as it becomes more relevant to daily life.

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Electrical Engineering

An electrical engineering concentration may include classes like electromagnetics, electric circuits, communication systems, and computer organization. Many systems run on electricity, so engineers with this specialization are always in high demand.

Mechanical Engineering

With mechanical engineering, you apply your foundational knowledge to physical systems like machines, vehicles, and appliances. Mechanical engineers rely heavily on understanding movement and hydraulic and electric systems.

Career Options for Engineering Majors

Engineering majors can apply their degrees in a wide range of industries, and choosing an engineering concentration adds unique context to your background and resume. Engineering students typically benefit from an interdisciplinary degree with a specialty that gives them a leg up when applying for jobs.

Possible engineering careers include:

IT Consultant

IT consultants help businesses leverage technology to efficiently support their company in a financially responsible way.

Civil Engineer

A civil engineer plans, designs, and oversees physical structure and facility construction.

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers design, build, operate, and test machines in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, and manufacturing.

Electrical Engineer

Depending on the job, electrical engineers may develop new ways of using electrical power, manage electrical product development, establish electrical standards, or test electrical equipment.

User Interface Developer

UI developers design web and mobile applications to be as efficient and functional as possible for users.

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineers design, test, and operate aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and satellites. Their job is to ensure functionality and safety.

Systems Analyst

Systems analysts typically work with clients to create, adapt, or test software to ensure it’s effective for their business.

Carving Your Path to a Promising Future

Choosing a concentration to support your engineering degree is an excellent way to set yourself apart and pursue your desired career path with confidence. You’ll also benefit from taking classes you’re genuinely interested in and developing projects that add meaningful experience to your resume.

To learn more about engineering concentrations at APU, contact the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.