Pepperdine University Top Questions

What are the academics like at your school?

Nicole

So far, I'm extremely impressed with academics at Pepperdine. The majority of classes have fewer than 20 students, some less than 10. As a freshman, you'll probably take at least one large lecture class, but even those are usually capped around 150 students. Professors here are passionate about what they teach, and they truly want their students to succeed. Sometimes, when a student isn't doing well, the professor will actually email the student to set up an appointment. Many professors live on campus, and they love to invite students over for dinner. The personal connections you make with your professors is invaluable for making professional connections, getting letters of recommendation, and other skills that ultimately help you find a job. Students here are very intelligent, but they don't tend to be particularly intellectual. That being said, Pepperdine's Great Books program, Philosophy Club, and House Groups all provide great sources of deep discussion. Students are generally very humble about their accomplishments, so I've never felt a huge sense of competition among my peers. Pepperdine won't force you to get stellar grades or push yourself, but the opportunities for those who succeed are plentiful and well worth the effort.

Megan

As a Journalism major who is pacing herself, I've been challenged without feeling completely overwhelmed. I’ve felt that my workload has enabled me to delve deeply into the coursework without needing to “rush through everything to get it done.” I'd HIGHLY recommend taking the Great Books Colloquium if you're looking for an intellectual experience. In this program, students read classic texts, such as Plato’s Republic, and discuss them in a Socratic format. Although it absolutely tests your discipline and assumptions about the world, it is an extremely worthwhile experience. Most class sizes are small and teachers are tremendously accessible. It is not uncommon for teachers to invite students to their homes for dinner. Although this personal element might feel frustrating for some, I’ve noticed that this nurturing environment has held me accountable in my coursework and attendance. Class participation is highly encouraged and extremely interesting. Many teachers incorporate media clips into their power-point presentations in order to stimulate discussion. In reference to the intellectual style of the student body, Pepperdine may not be the place to discover an overall population of highbrow scholars who sequester themselves in the library and ponder scientific enigmas (although I do know one or two individuals like that). I'll generalize by observing that students express their intellects through entrepreneurship and social prowess. The extensive accomplishments of my classmates astound me on a daily basis, and there absolutely is a level of competition.

Megan

As a Journalism major who is pacing herself, I've been challenged without feeling completely overwhelmed. I’ve felt that my workload has enabled me to delve deeply into the coursework without needing to “rush through everything to get it done.” I'd HIGHLY recommend taking the Great Books Colloquium if you're looking for an intellectual experience. In this program, students read classic texts, such as Plato’s Republic, and discuss them in a Socratic format. Although it absolutely tests your discipline and assumptions about the world, it is an extremely worthwhile experience. Most class sizes are small and teachers are tremendously accessible. It is not uncommon for teachers to invite students to their homes for dinner. Although this personal element might feel frustrating for some, I’ve noticed that this nurturing environment has held me accountable in my coursework and attendance. Class participation is highly encouraged and extremely interesting. Many teachers incorporate media clips into their power-point presentations in order to stimulate discussion. In reference to the intellectual style of the student body, Pepperdine may not be the place to discover an overall population of highbrow scholars who sequester themselves in the library and ponder scientific enigmas (although I do know one or two individuals like that). I'll generalize by observing that students express their intellects through entrepreneurship and social prowess. The extensive accomplishments of my classmates astound me on a daily basis, and there absolutely is a level of competition.

Genevieve

Academics at Pepperdine are pretty demanding. Most general education (GE) classes have weekly quizzes, while classes which count towards one's major incorporate papers and/or projects, as with most university's classes. While GE classes are not terribly difficult, if a student truly wants to learn from them, they are time consuming. The majority of students taking the three humanities and three religion classes required to graduate rely on past students' notes to get by--thus, the classes have gained a reputation as being "boring" and "too easy". While the private liberal arts university requires more GE classes than California's state schools, some students graduate proud of their well-rounded education, while others complain that the extra classes were a "waste of time". My experience with coursework at Pepperdine has been that classes are mainly geared towards learning for the sake of knowledge. Most of my professors do not make it a point to note the practical application of any skills we are sharpening; the focus of most Pepperdine classes are not trade-oriented. I imagine major coursework for music, theater, and telecommunications students has an emphasis on the business side of their art, covering what sorts of jobs exist within their interests. I have been both a nutritional science and creative writing major (the latter being my current one) and most of my experience has been that it is up to the student to figure out how they will apply their knowledge in the future. Fortunately, there are quite a few on-campus opportunities to test out different fields, such as journalism, theater set design, and magazine publication. While I have heard of unique classes like Randall Wallace's (Braveheart) candlelit screen writing hour, in which he creates a cozy environment by candlelight whereby students exchanges tales of their writing struggles and he shares stories of personal experience in return, I have yet to experience such an unconventional class myself. The structure of my intro to creative writing class was purely workshopping, where groups of three students would submit individual work twice a week, and students not assigned to submit that day were expected to read and critique their colleagues' work and be prepared to discuss their thoughts in class. Students who had submitted pieces of writing were required to sit silently and take notes while the other students offered their critiques. This set up led to the empowering of students who were encouraged to lead the class, and my writing improved dramatically from the teaching style. Another emboldening class was a community nutrition course in which the students were assigned to research and produce a six week program to be implemented in the community and to be taught to the target group the following semester. Despite these strengthening, major-related classes, my favorite class at Pepperdine was the first-level humanities class (one which many students yawn through and rely on T.A notes to get by). The blend of art with history and sociology personally made for a fascinating insight into our past which allowed my imagination to flourish. In small departments of study like nutritional science and creative writing, the head of the department will know most of their students by name. The clear benefit of such is the individualized attention that these students receive, and students who seek extra attention are offered opportunities to further strengthen the skills they pursue through extracurricular work. These valuable opportunities are found with greater ease than if these students had been at a larger university. A decent number of professors live on campus and some invite students over for study groups (this is especially common within the history major). On the whole, professors make themselves readily available outside of class. This is a major bonus since the shorter semesters and longer break periods at Pepperdine make for semesters which feel like they're racing at the pace of a sprint rather than that of a jog. With such speedy semesters, finals sneak up on relieved students before they know it. The downside to the jam-packed three and a half months is that there's little time to breathe; only the most efficient of students can pencil in a social life once they've passed their sophomore year. The rigorous schedule of the university's courses are balanced out by professors who take the time to get to know their students and who genuinely invest their efforts into ensuring the best academic experience they can offer. The majority of classes are no bigger than twenty five students (with classes for one's major being around fifteen students large) so student participation is quite high, as the spotlight would fall on a silent student. As this school gets an F for party life, it seems academics take the wheel to driving students toward their graduation. Pepperdine students are definitely competitive, yet outside of the classroom, conversations are less intellectual and moreso centered around the entertainment business or theology, if generalizations are to be made. Not a highly intellectual community overall, Pepperdine students are primarily in awe of the sand and surf surrounding them and are eager to indulge in LA, while thanking G-d for the view and putting any personal struggles down to a test from the Lord. While this obviously does not represent each student, those who are the loudest are the ones which are heard.

Sonya

One of the highlights of Pepperdine academics is the professor-student ratio, which allows professors to know us by name. For example, one of my professors had us over for lunch last weekend to kick off the Christmas season, another is bringing her homemade lasagna to our final exam, and a third, who is also the chair of an entire division, met with me this morning to guide me through research analysis. It's a neat aspect of Pepperdine, and this sort of interaction is common through many majors and departments. Student participation in class and intellectual discussion outside of class varies by major and department. Participation is usually decent in my classes, though some have been much more responsive than others. As a psychology major, I do have friends in the major who actively discuss intellectual concepts taken from class, but I think this can be encouraged more. We discuss our research with each other and our professors, who are often very available to students through their office hours. While I think we could sometimes use more intellectual stimulation at Pepperdine, I know it depends on the class. It also depends on the student -- the experience can be as intellectually stimulating as you make it through your course selections, time spent talking to professors, etc. My favorite classes I've taken in my major have included Psychopharmacology and Personality Psych. The former was the most difficult class I have taken, but if I put in the work and did a few hours of reading each week, it was manageable. The professors in our international programs, and sometimes in Malibu, seem overqualified for their jobs, making our experience that much more interesting with them because they know so much which they want to impart to us. My least favorite classes have been some General Education requirements, of which I think we have a few too many. The most unique classes are some I'll be taking next semester, including one on eating disorders and another on Holocaust history. A popular unique course offered to freshmen revolves around the Harry Potter book series. With the revision of some majors, more and more interesting classes are being offered. And the quirk of the course depends on the professor, too -- "Braveheart" screenwriter Randall Wallace's class sits on the floor by candlelight for a little while each class to encourage others to share their story ideas without judgment, for example. One of the best things about Pepperdine academics is that they're easily coupled with outside opportunities. Internships are an integral part of college, and Pepperdine has connections to a great many prominent companies in Los Angeles and abroad. Students receive credit in their major for doing an internship. In other outside experiences, many classes, especially in the psychology major, require service learning outside the classroom, which can be very eye-opening. Sometimes, these outside experiences will lead to job offers after graduation.

Noelle

On the Malibu campus, the academics are demanding without being overly so. I definitely feel like I am being challenged, but I don't feel overwhelmed by the amount of work I have. If you choose to study abroad, the academics vary. There are some programs with extremely difficult academic programs, and others which are much easier. A great thing about Pepperdine is that most (though not all) of your classes are small, which makes it easy to get to know your professors on a more personal level. The main issue that I have with Pepperdine's academics is that I feel like there are too many GE requirements, and many of them are non-transferable. For example, there is a US History GE that is required, but the AP US History test cannot be applied because its technically an upper division history class.

Noelle

On the Malibu campus, the academics are demanding without being overly so. I definitely feel like I am being challenged, but I don't feel overwhelmed by the amount of work I have. If you choose to study abroad, the academics vary. There are some programs with extremely difficult academic programs, and others which are much easier.

Kristin

Aside from the required general education classes that can potentially have over 50 students, most classes are quite small. This allows professors to get to know you personally and even recognize you around campus. A large amount of students take their studies seriously, especially around midterms and finals when the library becomes 'the place to be.' Classes are rigorous, but not impossible. Professors are always willing to meet and help you outside of class time. Incoming freshman are required to enroll in a Freshman Seminar course, and can choose from a wide variety of courses. My Freshman Seminar was one of my favorite classes, as it was a course completely devoted to the rereading/study of the Harry Potter books.

Courtney

My favorite thing about Pepperdine's academics is the small class sizes, there are only a few classes that will be held in the auditorium and those are GEs. All of my professors except the two who taught in the auditorium have known my name and been available, and more than willing, to talk to me outside of class. Some of the professors have their students over to their house for dinner as well, and they've all been very interested in their students' wellfair as well as their academics. I've had a lot of great classes at Pepperdine, but my favorite by far is Great Books which is a 4 semester seminar in which you read great literature from all throughout history and discuss them. I had an excellent professor who was genuinly interested in all of his student's opinions and I learned as much from my fellow classmates as I did from him. A few of my friends were in different classes of Great Books and we would always bring it up outside of class and continue the discussions we'd had. At least in my group of friends, we love to discuss issues brought up in our classes, current events, or even spiritual issues with each other and I've learned a lot from them over the past two years.

Kathleen

I would hate the feeling of simply being a number in a large lecture hall. So it's comforting to have close relationships with my professors, and Pepperdine provides that. In fact, I ran into one of my first professors that I had ever taken a class from, and she still knew my name and asked how I was doing. To me, that's pretty incredible, and it's a great feeling. Everybody is concerned with academics here, but we don't take things too seriously. During finals week, everybody flocks to the library and it actually ends up being really fun spending so much time with your friends.

Rex

Classes are small and the professors try their best to see that you succeed in their class. Even though Pepperdine acedemics are probabbly harder than most Universities, its easy to succeed because you get so much help. They also offer some pretty interesting classes. My freshman year I took a class on Harry Potter and learned more than i needed to know about the books.

Kelsey

People are competitive and hardworking - generally. People are intellectual outside of as well as inside of class, and getting to know our professors is easy with such small classes, and they are often seen around campus and even invite students to their home. The education is for learning as well as helpful towards getting a job. Pepperdine has a lot of resources available for students.

Kristina

Classes are small and generally interactive. You get to know your professors very well, and they might invite you over for dinner. Academics at Pepperdine are nothing one shouldn't be able to handle, an adaquate amount of work.

Hillary

The professors are amazing; even in a lecture class the professor got to know the names of all 250-ish students in that section and, so I was told, his others sections as well. Professors make an effort to know you on a personal level. They want you to succeed.

Kyle

Class sizes are relatively small, except for Elkins Auditorium classes. I'd say that while there are hard classes, the load isn't usually overbearing (except science majors sometimes). Professors are usually nice and sometimes funny, like Professor Soper and Professor Sexton. Most of them are more than willing to help students outside of the class and/or have tutors. A lot of them have party's at their houses and you can eat with them at the Caf. I'd rate academics high, with criteria being amount learned, enjoyment level, available help, etc. If you aren't religious, convocation gets to be annoying. However, the grade for convo hardly affects your GPA and only counts for Pepperdine GPA, not for grad school or anything... so if you want an easy A, go for it, if not, dont worry about it.

Jess

I was looking at my classes for next year, and even in my GE there are only 30 people. While it's great for when you need a letter of rec, it's not so good when your looking and they only offer ten classes for your major, and three of them are for the same time, and four of them you've already taken. You always have to be flexable with classes, even when your a senior, you have to take whet they give you. That's how I ended up in a Latin America class even though my intrest is in Europe. The classes are a fair balance. Some Prof.'s think that they are the only class you are taking and provive you a book and a paper a week, and some really don't even seem to care if you show up. That's where asking people on campus comes in to play. And students will be very honest about who's good, and who you'll just be wasting your time with.

Brittany

Professors always know your name at Pepperdine. It is not easy to get lost in the crowd. The standards are set high but you are definitely supported to reach those goals. Outside of class you will find debates within the cafeteria over issues such as politics, religion, etc. Intercultural Communication was the best class I have ever taken and gave me a different perspective of the world.

Darren

A lot of the professors live close or on campus so they are very personal. Some might invite you for dinner and study sessions at their houses. They want to see you succeed and will help you reach your goals.

Jamie

Academics at Pepperdine are very challenging. But the good thing is that the professors are always there offering help. Most professors will know your name by the end of the semester, unless you are in a lecture class. My favorite class at Pepperdine so far was my freshman year seminar, human relations. I have taken other classes that I enjoyed as well, but that was by far my favorite. Students study a lot at Pepperdine, but somehow everyone manages to balance everything pretty well. Some students are very competitive, but it doesn't really affect you unless you are. Many professors will invite the class over for dinner at their house to just get outside the classroom which is really nice. Pepperdine has a lot of GE requirements, but most of them are pretty useful. It gives you a well rounded education. I think the education at Pepperdine is geared to build character as well as gain the education to find a great job out of college.

Brooke

I'm really satisfied with Pepperdine academics. Like I said before, the professors are all really great and seem to genuinely care about the students, spending time with them even outside the class. Like any college, there are a number of students who skip a lot of classes, especially in large auditorium classes. Some professors try to curb this by giving a brief daily quiz at the beginning of each class. However, as you get through the GEs and into upper-division classes, students get a lot more interested and involved in discussions. Students do sometimes have intellectual discussions outside of classes, but it sort of depends on who you are friends with. Since Pepperdine has a large communications and business department, many of those classes are oriented toward success in jobs, but the Humanities and International Studies & Languages divisions are also emphasized, and these seem to focus on knowledge for its own sake and for widening individual horizons.

taylor

about 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my teachers were good TEACHERS. about 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of them were very interesting people who were easy to communicate with. the rest were horrible teachers and and people. pepperdine doesn't offer very many specific classes as i suppose it's focus is liberal arts. however, when they say they offer an engineering program they should offer at least ONE engineering course. some of the courses are rigorous and have stimulated me academically. some of the GEs are very easy and some are very hard and are weighed similarly.

Natalie

Professors are great. Always know names unless in Elkins. Students study a lot around finals -- and that is the only time the Lib is full.

Caitlin

most of the classes are fairly challenging, the teachers are very personable for the most part and they are willing to help, lots of in-class discussion in some classes, SAAJ is an absolute must- best class ever, you learn about so many things while helping others, Pepperdine prepares one for the job market well and the classes are rigorous but do-able

Alex

Classes are generally small. More professors will know your name than not. If you don't want to do much, its very doable to pick a joke major and fuck around (might be the best way to get the max out of pepp...). The GE's are like half your classes, and are craptastic. Also, you ought to know you're required to take 3 semesters of religion. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN: Take Great Books (and specifically, Dr. Gose) Strong Majors: Philosophy Pre-med (but seriously...) Religion The Music Dept: The GE's will really get in the way of your musical learning. The department is generally pretty weak (many are geniuses in their own right, but terrible teachers). Private instructors range from good to the shit (see: Christopher Parkening, Henry Price) ---- If you want to hang out with professors, it very doable, they often invite classes to their house, etc. Some students are interested in learning, but they are in the minority. Again, if learning is your thing, take Great Books and Philosophy classes. If not, find out who's easy and stroll along.

Zach

The small classes are excellent in the sense that you get to know your professors pretty well, well enough to get extensions on papers sometimes. Take the Great Books program. It's a LOT of work, and I'm a real slacker, but I got a lot out of it. Most upperclass students regret not taking it, so give it a shot.

John

As mentioned above, professors definitely know your name. School is a big part of school at Pepperdine. If you're in a lot of units, you may have to spend a couple of Friday nights in the library. Intellectual conversation definitely abounds at Pepperdine - if you seek it out. Students are very willing to talk about intellectual things outside of class, given the opportunity. On the other hand, Pepperdine is no Harvard. When class is out, class is out - for the most part. Most students would prefer to think about other things outside of class. I think this especially depends on the major - of course business majors are focused on getting a job and becoming successful - that's why they're business majors. Philosophy majors, though, as expected, might be more willing to engage in a conversation for conversation's sake. There are a lot of General Education courses that are required, but for the most part they are stimulating and worthwhile.

Charlotte

Pepperdine is more academically challenging than I expected to be, but a lot of what you get out of a class is what you put into it. There are classes, especially GE's that you can get by with just cramming for the tests and still get an A, but a lot of classes have strict attendance policies that make it impossible to skip if you want a grade above a C. I love my freshman seminar so take advantage of that and make sure that you choose one that you love. Also the Add/drop period for classes is only a week so if you're doubting that you'll be able to wake up for an 8am all semester drop it while you have the chance without having to have a Withdrawl on your transcript. Students are typically smart, whether they go to class or not, and people do have intellectual conversations outside of class regularly, but Pepperdine isn't all about academics. There are A LOT of GE's though.

Brandon

As would be expected from a prestigious liberal arts school, general education requirements are rigorous. Every student must take, among other things, about 20 units of GE history and about 10 units of religion. A lot of these can be dull, but there are several that you have an option of a few different classes, and most people can usually find one that is interesting to them. Overall, you have a lot of control over how hard your academics are. Humanities or English majors that take 14 units every semester have it pretty easy (they are easily recognizable by their extreme suntans), while science, theater and music have to dedicate a lot of time outside of class. And of course, you can always hop on the five-year bus and ride it all the way to Zuma beach. Small class sizes can be a big plus. Most of my classes this year have been under 50 students, and some fewer than 20. This means lots of personal attention from some of the nicest and most personable professors there are. Most of them will bend over backwards to help you if you're having a problem in the class or need a rec letter. Plus, most students have at least one class per semester where the professor has the entire class to their house for dinner. You think you'll find that at State U?

Lily

The classes really are small here, which is nice. The biggest GE classes are usually not more than around 250 people. In most classes, and generally all upper division classes the professor will know your name. Most of my classes here have had around 15 people. That said, academics isn't huge here. People study and participate in class but real intellectualism just isn't that important. It's a California beachside school after all. You can definetely get to know your professors. Some professors, especially your freshman seminar professor, will have the whole class over for dinner. They are very available if you need help outside of class. The English department is pretty small here. Most people are business/communication majors. There aren't a whole lot of options as far as classes go. The major centers around British and American literature, without much emphasis on world literature. Every semester some English classes have to be cancelled because not enough people sign up. Honestly, most of the required classes aren't very interesting. The general education requirements are pretty extensive, but if you're smart you can get through them pretty quickly. The school accepts most AP credits, and its pretty easy to place out of the three semester foreign language requirement if you took 4 years of a language in high school. Also, if you like philosophy or literature at all, definetely take the Great Books colloquium. It is the best thing I've done here at Pepperdine.

kendra

While each professor varies in their teaching style they are all very kind, understanding, and will most likely no more about you than just your name. You can have intellectually stimulating conversations inside and out of the classroom. While it does get competetive (we all want good grades) the students are more supportive than cut throat. There are usual and unique classes here-trust me! Writing through the Environment was my favorite class thus far.

Amy

Pepperdine is a school that is competitive to get into, but once you are here is absolutely wonderful!!! The Professors here are absolutely AMAZING!!! The professors at this school are here to help and teach you! Their whole goal is to make sure you understand and are there outside of class to help you. In my one year here I have come to be friends with my professors. The students are smart, but not excessively competitive. most of the classes are not curved, so the learning atmosphere is in my opinion a great one.

Harper

challenging! lots of studying, small classes, professors get to know you pretty well. all about connections!

Peter

Academics at Pepperdine are really challenging and satisfying. Class sizes are small, you can easily find professors who are engaging and care about students. Pepperdine has a long list of General Education requirements that every student must complete before graduation. Another "class" that will go on your transcript is Convocation, which is graded based on attendance to weekly services. Students are expected to attend 14 convocations per semester (equates to 1 per week) to get an A, and the grade is lowered if you make fewer than 14 convocations. Pepperdine doesn't tell you though that the Convo grade is factored into your GPA only while you are attending Pepperdine. That is to say, if you decide to transfer or when you graduate, they adjust your GPA to not include Convo.

Sierra

All of my professors know my name except for the three big lecture hall classes I have taken. It varies on how much people study and how academic-focused they are, but I feel like I am studying all of the time. My load is unusual, however, because of my major. Pepperdine is definately geared towards getting a job and, even beyond that, on making a difference and changing through academics. The motto of Pepperdine is "Freely we receive, freely we give." Meaning that our education is a gift which allows us to give back to the society and the world as we have been equipped. I feel like this social justice focus is unique to Pepperdine.

Aly

From my experience, students study a fair amount. I normally study a lot, and the girls in my suite are also that way. There are definitely people who live up the party life, and don't really study, however there is definitely a strong academic group of students on campus.

Chris

Most classes are small and you have the opportunity to have a close relationship with every professor. Some students never study and others are book worms- you will find this at any university. For the most part, I believe students freely discuss intellectual topics both inside and outside of class. Pepperdine is an excellent school if you are looking into business or law, however, all other majors are also strong. The Malibu campus includes the Seaver undergraduate college, the School of Law, the School of Public Policy, the Graziadio School of Business and Management, and the Graduate School of Education and Psychology. All graduate schools make excellent options for post-undergrad studies.

Mike

The biggest class I have taken so far had 200 or so students and the smallest class had about 20, which is pretty remarkable for freshman year. A lot of universities have you in giant lecture classes until about junior year. The professors will know your name pretty quickly. Students study quite a bit, but they don't overdo it. Class participation is common with the small class sizes. Students are less concerned with beating other people's scores as getting the grade that they want. This past semester I took a one unit Advanced Tennis class that met once a week and was a great way to unwind. I'm a Psychology major, since there is technically no Pre-Med major (you just take a bunch of science classes in addition to your major classes). That's kind of a bummer, since it would be nice to have some recognition on my diploma that I took all of these really tough science classes. Speaking of which, Pepperdine is a pretty rigorous school as far as academics are concerned. This is especially true about the science classes here, which are definitely challenging but not impossible to get through. Education at Pepperdine is about turning you into a well-rounded and well-equipped person who will be more attractive to employers, many of whom will be actively seeking such qualities in an employee in the coming years.

Becky

I do not know how to compare the academics to other schools. However, I believe that the academics at Pepperdine University are what you make them to be. They can be very easy if you want them to be, but if you want to overachieve yourself they can be very difficult. The professors are paid very well, and they may be some of the best in reputation. Who knows? At most universities, attendance is not very important. However, at Pepperdine they make it VERY important in most classes.

Alexis

Professors and students at Pepperdine work as a team. They know your name, where you are from, other info about you and truly care about you. I am a psychology major and have loved it. The faculty is so welcoming and they are truly there for you! Most classes are discussions rather than simple lectures and participation is a vital part of the class. I have been over for dinner at teachers houses, and sometimes for my sports medicine classes we all go out to dinner. Academic achievement is incredibly important at Pepperdine, and everyone knows that you are here first and foremost to excel in the classroom. I feel that when it comes time for me to leave Pepperdine I will be prepared for my next job and for the rest of my life.

Terry

One of the biggest advantages of Pepperdine is its small class sizes. A couple of my general education classes have been large lecture classes, but for the most part the are 20 people classes. They are all taught by professors, and only in the few large classes do students interact with TA's. Professors are VERY accessible, answering email and having easy to access office hours. Many professors live on or near campus, and some will have classes over to dinner. As for difficulty I would say it depends on your strengths and what classes you take. I have not found anything particularly difficult besides for subjects I know I am naturally weak in. As in economics major I am in what is considered the hardest major (lowest average GPA), but because I had much more trouble in Englsih 101 than I did in Econ 431. Most professors are very constructive and work on improvement and understanding, which is a huge positive. Recently Pepperdine's academic dean has been undergoing an effort ot make academics more rigorous at the University because of inflated GPA's, so things have gotten a little tougher. Overall Pepperdine offers very close interactions with professor who are very willing to spend extra time with students. If your are looking for smaller college with close interaction with professors than Pepperdine is your place.

lauren

I was told that Pepperdine would be academically grueling. I am happy/a bit disappointed to say that I did not find that statement to be entirely true. While I acknowledge that my major does lack the intensity of others, on the whole, I thought the academic level required of me was completely maintainable. My professors have run the gamut from brilliant to bumbling but are typically prepared for the class and always available for outside help or guidance.

Carter

Least favorite class REL 101. Best class INTS 592. The international studies department is wonderful, and the administration there extremely helpful. I find the usual Pepperdine student to be shallow and unintelligent in conversation outside of class. The difficulty of the university is negligible - I had a harder time keeping up in high school. Pepperdine is geared toward Christian education, which is largely not based in reality, and does a pitiful job of equipping students for future employment.