Our Heritage and Community Ethos

Bethel University, founded in 1947 as a Christian liberal arts university by the Missionary Church, a denomination with roots in both the Mennonite and Methodist traditions, is a study of God’s blessing coupled with visionary leadership and effective management. Throughout its early history Bethel was a relatively small residential university with enrollment between 400 and 500 hundred students. In the 1990’s, Bethel University experienced a period of rapid enrollment growth, development of new academic programs and expansion of the university’s physical campus.

At the undergraduate level, Bethel offers majors in the liberal arts and sciences as well as professional programs in the fields of education, business, nursing and pastoral ministry. In addition, Bethel offers the following degrees at the Master’s level: Business Administration (M.B.A.), Education (M.A.T., M.Ed.), Ministry (M.Min.), Theological Studies (M.A.T.S.), Nursing (M.S.N.), and Counseling (M.A.C.).

Bethel is a university of deep Christian commitment. We believe that Christian education is more than teaching theology based on biblical truths; it is teaching students how to apply those truths and values in their day-to-day lives. Consistent with the university’s strong evangelical emphasis, co-curricular programming includes a broad variety of international ministry trips and local community service opportunities. In addition, Bethel offers study abroad programs within the formal curriculum.