Advantages of Location

Point Loma Nazarene University enjoys many advantages from its location in beautiful, culturally rich Southern California. San Diego itself is an area of unequaled climate and spectacular scenery. Neighboring institutions affording advantages in library, culture, and nature study resources include the University of California-San Diego, San Diego State University, San Diego Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Opera Company, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Palomar Observatory, and many others.

The university enjoys a quiet, natural setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean only ten minutes from the center of metropolitan San Diego. With Los Angeles two and one-half hours driving time to the north, Mexico 30 minutes to the south, the ocean immediately to the west, and San Diego Bay and the Laguna Mountains to the east, the Point Loma peninsula is a most desirable location.

The economy of the greater San Diego area is also advantageous in affording opportunities for part-time employment for students who desire work to help support themselves.

The Point

The campus, located on San Diego’s picturesque Point Loma peninsula, is a 93-acre plot first established as an educational site by the Theosophical Society of America and has been occupied since by Balboa University, California Western College, and United States International University. The early occupants of this site erected a number of wooden buildings, some of which have been renovated and are still in use as designated historical sites. Since 1995, many new classrooms and offices have been added to the historic buildings to provide a unique campus setting. Newer facilities include an expanded athletic complex, the Fermanian School of Business and Business Center, the Cooper Music Center with its 400-seat Crill Performance Hall, Ryan Library & Learning Center, Colt Hall, Nicholson Commons, Draper Hall, Smee Hall - Reuben Welch School of Theology and Christian Ministry, Bond Academic Center, Sator Hall, Latter Hall, and the Prescott Prayer Chapel. Buildings of historical interest include the Greek Amphitheatre, first of its type to be built in the United States; Mieras Hall, built in 1901 by the Spalding family; and Cabrillo Hall, originally the home of Madame Katherine Tingley, leader of the Theosophical Society.

Special Collections

Point Loma Nazarene University’s scenic San Diego campus is home to a number of distinctive collections and public artworks.

Ryan Library houses notable materials including California Plein Air paintings from the Spiros John Karras Collection, the Pasadena/Point Loma Authors Collection, writings by and about Jacobus Arminius and John Wesley, and the William C. and Frances Vaughters Collection of pre-Columbian artifacts. Visitors can also view original sculptures by Scott Stearman and Peter Mitten, a marble cross attributed to Salvador Dalí, and a 1931 Saturday Evening Post cover painting by Norman Rockwell. The Fischer Collection, a matched set of handcrafted string instruments, is housed in Cooper Music Center and featured  in public recitals.

Three monumental sculptures grace the Point Loma campus: The Calling (1997), a bronze sculpture by Scott Stearman presented by the Women’s Auxiliary, depicts Jesus’ calling of Peter and stands along the Campus Mall as a symbol of divine calling, companionship, and mission. Centenary Passage by Peter Mitten, located on the south lawn of Cooper Music Center, commemorates the university’s 2002  Centennial, while The Hand of God by Victor Riesau was dedicated in 1992 in memory of James A. Gabriel and stands outside the Fermanian Business Center.

The PLNU Archives and Special Collections, located at the Mission Valley campus, preserve the university’s institutional history through presidential papers, student publications, rare books, and photographs. Notable holdings include the T. Richard Willis – P. F. Bresee Collection documenting the Church of the Nazarene’s founding years, and an extensive visual archive of campus life at Pasadena and Point Loma. The Dwayne Little Theosophical Society Collection preserves photographs, diaries, and research documenting the history of Lomaland and the influence of the Point Loma Theosophical Society under Katherine Tingley. Access is available by appointment.

Ryan Library

Ryan Library supports student learning in an environment that combines the traditional values of the liberal arts university with the digital infrastructure of the 21st century. Library faculty and staff are dedicated to serving the research and information literacy needs of the PLNU community. Students can engage with library resources in a variety of formats and can communicate with librarians via chat, email, phone, or in person. In classroom settings and one-on-one consultations, librarians teach students how to formulate meaningful questions, create effective research strategies, and evaluate the quality and relevance of various information sources. The work of the library faculty and staff fosters the pursuit of knowledge, excellence in teaching and learning, and respect for inquiry and diverse points of view. The library is home to a variety of comfortable learning spaces: rooms for group work and projects, clusters of soft seating, areas for quiet study, and more. In addition, Ryan Library is home to approximately 148,000 physical items, including books, periodicals, media materials, and specialized collections, as well as nearly 360,000 e-books. The library also subscribes to numerous online research databases, many of which provide full-text access. For items not held by the library, interlibrary loan services provide access to resources located throughout the region and the world. Online access to library resources and services is available through the Ryan Library webpage.

Department of Public Safety

The Department of Public Safety exists to provide a safe living, learning, and working environment for university students and employees. The department operates 24 hours a day on the Point Loma Campus and staffs the Liberty Station Conference Center, Mission Valley Regional Center, and Balboa Regional Center during business hours. All Public Safety Officers are licensed by the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services and are trained in first aid, CPR, and AED use.

The university encourages students to report campus crimes and suspicious activity to Public Safety or other campus officials as well as to the San Diego Police Department. In addition to overseeing campus security and emergency preparedness, Public Safety also enforces the University Vehicle Code (UVC) and Freshman Vehicle Policy. Students should refer to the Traditional Undergraduate Student Handbook and the UVC for complete rules and regulations concerning parking and driving on campus.

Additional resources regarding campus safety are available at the website maintained by the Department of Public Safety. Students may contact Public Safety at (619) 849-2525 for assistance 24 hours a day.

Information Technology Resources

Computer Labs

At the Point Loma campus, students in an undergraduate program will find a robust network of computers in the Ryan Learning Center computer labs and in a number of school and department computer labs. These computer labs provide students, faculty, and staff with resources for education, research, and communication. These labs make available common applications platforms like Microsoft Office or the Adobe Creative Suite as well as many discipline-specific software titles. The Windows computer lab environment can also be accessed from your own computer through Omnissa Horizon.

In the Ryan Library Computer Labs, students are able to print for a fee. All students are provided up to $5.00 in free print credits per semester. Any additional printing can be paid for out of a student's SeaLion$ balance. Visit the Student Printing Options page for more information.

Software

Students have the opportunity to purchase third-party hardware and software at a discounted rate through PLNU partnerships that can be viewed on the Hardware and Software Discounts page.

Internet Services (Email and Web)

Students can conduct research and communication using the campus wireless network as well as the computer labs, library, and residence hall rooms. Students are given a PLNU login account which provides access to a Google Workspace account (which includes email and Google Drive access), as well as login privileges to online applications, PLNU computer labs, and the university wireless network. Students are also able to go online to register for classes, check grades, and view their class schedule and other student information in Workday Student.

Commonly needed online resources for students:

• Workday Student
• PLNU Email
• Learning management system
• Library research materials
• Virtual lab environment
• ITS self-service knowledge base

Residential Computing

PLNU has extensive wireless coverage across our campuses including the residence halls. There is 24/7 access to the network across PLNU's campuses, as well as from the convenience of the student's residence hall room. It is highly recommended that students bring a modern, current computer, preferably a laptop, to campus as these offer the most flexibility. During Welcome Week, students will receive information regarding connecting to the PLNU network.

Solution Center

The PLNU Solution Center is available for students who have technology questions related to accessing PLNU provided resources (i.e. troubleshooting connectivity and account access issues). Students may also visit the Solution Center, located on the third floor of Ryan Learning Center. Assistance for PLNU-related technology is also available by phone (619-849-2222) and email.

Centers and Institutes

The university sponsors several centers and institutes that are directly linked to the academic enterprise and extend the institutional mission in practical ways that assist both students and the broader community.

The Center for International Development

The Center for International Development (CID) exists to support holistic, community-centered approaches to the complex realities of global poverty through research, partnership, and applied engagement. Located within the Fermanian School of Business, the CID integrates economic principles with sociocultural perspectives to prepare students for professional pathways in international development, humanitarian work, missions, and service that supports the global church. The Center for International Development was established following an exploratory visit to Armenia by PLNU faculty and George Fermanian, which explored how the university could more intentionally prepare students to address the humanitarian and economic challenges and opportunities associated with globalization. Since its formation, students have been able to engage with real-world challenges while contributing to practical, community-informed solutions. A current major focus of the CID is to advance empirical research and community initiatives related to menstrual equity, recognizing its importance within broader efforts to support people's health, dignity, economic participation, and overall livelihoods.

The Center for Justice and Reconciliation

The Center for Justice and Reconciliation (CJR) leverages education, research, and service to proactively address the injustices in our world and pursue the flourishing of our community. Our work is rooted in collaboration with community leaders and campus partners, made rigorous by its connection to academics, and prioritizes practical application to help students engage in the world through the lens of their faith.

Throughout the academic year, students have opportunities to connect around the issues of human trafficking, poverty, immigration, unethical consumption, and other social issues. Through on-campus events, community activities, internships, and co-curricular learning, the CJR integrates community issues into campus learning. The CJR oversees the Beauty for Ashes Scholarship Fund for survivors of human trafficking, the kNOw MORE Human Trafficking Prevention Education program for middle school and high school youth, and the Human Trafficking Research and Data Roundtable (HT-RADAR), which brings together researchers, practitioners, and community members engaged in local anti-trafficking work. The CJR also partners with other on and off-campus partners to examine supply chains, race, and immigration.

The Center for Teaching and Learning

Established in 2000, PLNU’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) exists to provide leadership, encouragement, advocacy, and resources to enhance teaching, learning, and scholarship for all faculty, including full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty. The Center is committed to cultivating a culture at PLNU that values and facilitates ongoing professional development and growth. CTL supports faculty as they design coursework, improve classroom techniques, contemplate and adapt new techniques and technologies into their classrooms, and assess the effectiveness of their teaching methods.

The Center supports professors in a wide variety of ways as they further their scholarship and seek effective strategies to engage students in learning. CTL houses a substantial library, offering books on loan on a wide range of topics relevant to teaching, learning, scholarship, writing and research. CTL also runs workshops on pertinent topics, using our own faculty experts and bringing in outside experts to share new ideas and strategies amongst faculty that can facilitate lasting change across our campus.

The CTL office is located in the Center for Faculty Development on the west side of lower Bond Academic Center. It is open during normal business hours as a resource for all faculty.

The Early Childhood Learning Center

The Early Childhood Learning Center has the unique opportunity of serving the PLNU campus and Point Loma community as an interactive Christ-centered laboratory school. The mission of the Early Childhood Learning Center is to provide a high quality educational experience for university students through observations, demonstration teaching, and individualized experiences with young children. The Center is designed to encourage the social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual growth of children and to give guidance and support to parents in achieving a more effective and fulfilled parenthood.

Although the Early Childhood Learning Center functions as a laboratory school in the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Family Sciences, it is open to all academic disciplines of the university in a variety of ways. The Center is an open environment where teachers, children, and students interact, play, work, and learn together. The Center gives guidance to the university student in modeling the practice of alternative philosophies of early childhood education.

The Health Promotion Center (School of Nursing)

The School of Nursing’s Health Promotion Center (HPC) provides needed health care services, referrals and advocacy for individuals and families in the San Diego community in order to promote optimal health in underserved communities. The free clinic is located at Mid-City Church of the Nazarene in the City Heights neighborhood. Using a service learner model, the HPC offers preventative health assessments, management of chronic health conditions, and assessment of acute illnesses. It also offers TB skin tests, vaccinations, laboratory services, individual health teaching, and health education classes.

The Margaret Stevenson Center for Women’s Studies

The Center for Women’s Studies was created as a result of the university’s historic affirmation of the value and dignity of women. The Women’s Studies minor is a sequence of interdisciplinary courses of interest to both women and men that examine important gender issues. Cross-campus engagement offers the opportunity for dialogue about a transformational Christian praxis in these areas.

The Wesleyan Center

Point Loma Nazarene University’s Wesleyan Center seeks to inspire a new generation of Wesleyan scholars who will influence the broader church and society. The Center promotes a deep understanding of Wesleyan theology and practices and their application to higher education, the church, and society. The Center’s mission rests on the conviction that Wesleyan beliefs and practices may be fruitfully embodied in every academic discipline.