TMU Through The Years
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1927
Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary (LABTS) opened its doors with 24 students. It met in Calvary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, offering B.D. and B.Th. degrees.
Sept. 1928
Matthews Letter
Dr. Matthews penned a letter describing how excited he was about the first year of the seminary.
1933
LABTS began meeting at the Kasper Cohn Hospital property.
1942
Construction completed on property owned by LABTS at Sixth and St. Louis streets in Los Angeles, and the school moved in.
1943
Dr. Matthews Goes To Be with the Lord
Dr. Matthews after not taking a pay check for 16 years and leading the school, goes to be with the Lord.
1950
LABTS established a college division.
1955
Dr. Carl Sweazy assumed the role of president. LABTS enrollment was 55 day students and 35 evening students.
1959
Sweazy resigned as president to return to his ministry of evangelism. Dr. John Dunkin replaced him.
1961
School moved campus to Placerita Canyon in Newhall, Calif. College division named Los Angeles Baptist College.
1964
English and history majors first offered.
1965
Music major first offered.
1965
Hotchkiss Hall completed.
1965
School switched its athletics nickname from the Gideons to the Mustangs.
1967
Bross Gymnasium constructed with funds donated by Robert Bross, a chicken farmer from Vista, Calif.
1968
Biology major first offered.
1974
Graduate seminary relocated to Tacoma, Wash., and took on the name Northwest Baptist Seminary.
1975
LABC receives WASC accreditation.
1976
Reese Academic Center (now RCSM) completed.
1977
Business administration and physical education majors first offered.
1978
Slight dormitory completed.
1975
Communication major and teacher credential program first offered.
1985
Dr. John MacArthur named president, and the college changed its name to The Master’s College.
1986
The Master’s Seminary is established.
1987
Sweazy and Dixon dormitories completed.
1988
Waldock dormitory dedicated for use.
1989
Undergraduate enrollment reached 863 students.
1989
Political studies major first offered.
1993
Center for Professional Studies is established.
1994
The Israel Bible Extension Program (IBEX) launched.
1996
Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program first offered.
1999
Computer science major first offered.
2003
C.W. Smith dormitory dedicated.
2004
Chad Wensel (men’s golf) wins the first individual NAIA national championship in school history.
2006
Master of Arts programs in biblical studies and education first offered.
2007
Distance Education Program (DEEP) courses first offered.
2007
TMC received programmatic accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
2011
TMC hit record enrollment, with traditional students in attendance climbing to 1,017.
2011
Welcome Center and Legacy Center remodeling project completed.
2013
Expanded John R. Dunkin Student Center and dining terrace opened.
2014
Major facelift of Bross Gymnasium completed, and entire complex named The MacArthur Center.
2015
TMC Online began offering first bachelor's degrees: Christian ministries and organizational management.
2015
TMC Online adds a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and an MBA program.
2016
TMU Online offers B.A. in biblical counseling and an M.A. in biblical studies.
2016
TMC became The Master’s University.
2017
TMU Italy launched.
2017
Marketing Media major announced.
2018
Online Master of Education degree launches.
2018
TMU begins offering a trio of new majors: classical liberal arts, geoscience and audio production and communication. TMU Online adds B.S. in business administration.
2019
Dr. MacArthur transitioned to chancellor, and Dr. John Stead became interim president.
2019
New Pearl C. Schaffer School of Education building opened.
2020
Hotchkiss, Sweazy and Dixon dorms remodeled; School of Business and Communication renovated; Sand volleyball courts completed.
2021
TMU welcomed 415 new students to campus, the biggest incoming class ever.
2022
Dr. Abner Chou affirmed by the Board as full-time president.