Since our founding more than 60 years ago, Pacific Oaks has become known for its pioneering approach to training educators, counselors, and human development professionals who have both the knowledge and the practical skills they need to help people with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and experiences achieve their highest human potentials.

Experiential learning (i.e. learning by doing), is at the heart of Pacific Oaks’ curriculum. In most colleges, a teacher lectures, students take notes, and learning is evaluated by examination. At Pacific Oaks, however, we teach and measure learning not just through academic/theoretical classroom work, but through extensive hands-on research, clinical training, and community service experience in real-world settings. We believe that both theory and practice are learned through action and interaction, and we encourage students to value doing as well as talking, reading and writing.

In recognition of our unique teaching/learning pedagogy, Pacific Oaks has received a Special Commendation for Distinguished Achievement in Undergraduate Education from the American Association of Colleges and Universities.