Department of History and Political Science

With an intentional focus on scholarship, faith integration, diversity, and internationalization, APU provides high-quality academic programs within a tight-knit community of disciples and scholars.

Mission Statement

The Department of History and Political Science at Azusa Pacific University:

  1. Offers undergraduate degree programs in political science, history, and social science, and a single subject waiver for a teaching credential in social science.
  2. Provides General Education courses in history and political science consistent with the outcomes of a liberal arts education.
  3. Prepares students for graduate study, law school, and success in their chosen careers.

Department Overview

This department offers several majors and minors, and is home to chapters of the national political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha; the national history honor society, Phi Alpha Theta; and the international legal community honor society, Phi Delta Phi. Many courses in the department emphasize the reading of classic texts or the study of primary sources. All courses offered in the department are within the School of Humanities and Sciences in the College of Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Theology, and are designed to contribute to a Christian liberal arts education.

The department’s programs strive to:

  • Develop intellectual curiosity.
  • Equip students with the abilities to write and speak well, think critically, and judge wisely.
  • Enable students to distinguish justice from injustice.
  • Teach students the legitimate purposes and necessary limits of political power.
  • Provide students historical perspective for making judgments in the present.
  • Instruct students in human possibilities and limits.
  • Prepare students for careers calling for clear, cogent reasoning.
  • Familiarize students with other cultures and times.
  • Make available to students the knowledge that is needed by citizens and political leaders.
  • Prepare students to teach various social science disciplines.

Students who want to earn up to 9 units in their major through the American Studies Program in Washington, DC, may do so by arrangement with the Department of History and Political Science.

Faculty

Interim Chair

Nori Henk, PhD, Sociology

Associate Professors

Douglas Hume, JD, Political Science

Ethan Schrum, PhD, History

Abbylin Sellers, PhD, Political Science

Adjunct Faculty

Brian Plummer, PhD, History

Christopher Castile, MA, Political Science

Joseph Lake, PhD, Political Science

Alain Leon, MA, Political Science

Lucas Mather, PhD, Political Science

Lisa Matthews, MA, History

Lacey Romano, MA, History

Jocelyn Sorensen, MA, History

Faculty Emeriti

Bradley Hale, PhD, History

Bryan Lamkin, PhD, History

Daniel C. Palm, PhD, Political Science