North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School’s global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we’ve learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don’t see what you’re looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university’s mission and alumni needs.
ABC Chicago featured Sidney Francois-Friis BS ’19 and his Yogaletics practice for its “Our Chicago: History & Heritage” series for Black History Month.
ABC Chicago featured Sidney Francois-Friis BS ’19 and his Yogaletics practice for its “Our Chicago: History & Heritage” series for Black History Month.
Francois-Friis played football at North Park University but suffered injuries, resulting in doctors instructing him to stretch daily to avoid surgery. He began attending yoga classes at Helwig Recreation Center, sparking a passion for the practice.
Discovering its mental health benefits, Francois-Friis started teaching yoga primarily on Chicago’s South Side to share the benefits with more of the Black community. Last year, he founded Yogaletics to combine sports performance training with yoga, making it more appealing to those who may otherwise not try it. Francois-Friis hopes Yogaletics attendees experience a lasting sense of unity and neighborly love.
North Park University students and Professor of Biology Drew A. Rholl collaborated on a service-learning project promoting bone marrow donor registration to enhance healthcare equity.
North Park University students and Professor of Biology Drew A. Rholl collaborated on a service-learning project promoting bone marrow donor registration to enhance healthcare equity. Recognizing the critical need for more donors, especially among BIPOC communities, they conducted drives on campus. Their efforts resulted in 252 registrations, with 57% from non-European backgrounds, aligning with campus demographics.
Through active learning and engagement, students dispelled myths and demonstrated an increased willingness to donate. The project underscores North Park’s commitment to social responsibility and healthcare accessibility. Its success highlights the power of community-driven initiatives in addressing critical healthcare needs and fostering inclusivity.
Read their study published in the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education.
North Park University is introducing an interdisciplinary public policy major that will incorporate social sciences, physical sciences, and the humanities.
To create graduates who become changemakers in their communities, North Park University is introducing an interdisciplinary public policy major that will incorporate social sciences, physical sciences, and the humanities.
Public policy programs equip students to create laws, regulations, civic budgets, and other programs that affect average citizens. Longtime North Park professor Dr. Jon Peterson is spearheading the program. The professor of politics and government said the major is perfect for students who want to improve their communities.
“Wherever you want to make a difference, you’re going to run into a government,” Peterson said. “Even if you want to change something through a community organization, you can’t do it without dealing with the government, so it’s vital to learn how the system works.”
The new major will require 36 semester hours of major coursework and 120 total credits for graduation. Course offerings will include American government, an introduction to public policy, and principles of microeconomics, among others. Students will also be strongly encouraged to intern during their studies.
Together, North Park’s Center for Civic Engagement and Politics and Government Department have developed internship partnerships with many organizations, including the offices of U.S. Senators Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, the State of Illinois Governor’s Office, and the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office.
Public policy majors can further tailor their area of study to suit their interests by adding a minor. For instance, students focusing on environmental issues can combine the public policy major with a biology minor. Peterson said the major is flexible and comprehensive in scope, allowing students to work in various fields.
Public policy graduates tend to secure jobs in civil service at all levels of government, from federal to local. Other options include private sector careers at nonprofits and institutions that engage with government agencies and pursuing advanced degrees in public administration, public policy, or law school.
Congratulations to all the students who made the fall 2023 Dean’s List.
Congratulations to all the students who made the fall 2023 Dean’s List. Degree-seeking students with at least 12 semester credit hours at North Park University and a GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible for this honor.
Dr. Boaz Johnson was recently interviewed by a prominent Christian scholar about his work in making Bible translations more gender accurate to improve the depiction of women in the Bible.
Dr. Boaz Johnson, professor of biblical and theological studies, was recently interviewed by a prominent Christian scholar about his work in making Bible translations more gender accurate to improve the depiction of women in the Bible.
Dr. Mimi Hadad, president of Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE), spoke with Johnson about his work for the Mutuality Matters podcast in November 2023.
Hada lauded Johnson for highlighting the work of several women throughout history who have translated the Bible into their native language. One of those was Pandita Ramabai, an Indian woman who became a Christian as a young adult and was the first person to translate the Bible into her native dialect, Marathi. She inspired another woman, Dr. Katharine Bushnell, to join her cause to improve biblical translations that repeatedly depicted women as inferior to men.
Their pioneering work significantly helped in reducing sex trafficking and domestic abuse across India, Johnson said. The podcast is available on CBE’s website.
Grand Rapids Magazine featured Michael L. Gutierrez, a distinguished alumnus of North Park University, as one of the top lawyers in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, region.
Grand Rapids Magazine featured Michael L. Gutierrez, a distinguished alumnus of North Park University, as one of the top lawyers in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, region. Gutierrez BA ’08 was recognized for his prominence in commercial business litigation, representing legal firm Butzel Long as the managing shareholder of their Grand Rapids office.
Gutierrez graduated from North Park University with a bachelor of arts in history and continued to the University of Illinois College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor. Read more on Butzel Long’s website.
North Park University gave away clothing, blankets, and supplies to more than 225 newly arrived migrants from Mexico and Venezuela who are currently housed in a former military base nearby.
Students, faculty, and staff at North Park University last month gave away clothing, blankets, and supplies to more than 225 newly arrived migrants from Mexico and Venezuela who are currently housed in a former military base nearby.
The 60 volunteers, comprising North Parkers and representatives from the North Park Community Association, Alderman Samantha Nugent’s office, Aramark, and other community groups, collected and distributed the items. They also hosted a lunch for the new arrivals—which included men, women, and children—featuring traditional Latin American food.
North Park held the event in Hamming Hall, and items distributed included coats, shoes, gloves, hats, undergarments, and blankets. Once news of the event spread through the community, people stepped forward to contribute. One local woman, a knitter, heard about the effort on social media and sent a message to her fellow knitters across the country. They responded by providing 500 hand-knit hats for the migrants. A group from Highland Park heard of the event and brought 10 carloads of donated clothing.
The event was an apt reflection of North Park’s mission, according to Tony Zamble, director of University Ministries.
“We are preparing students for lives of significance and service,” Zamble said. “Part of our mission is giving students the opportunity to experience the idea of God’s glory for neighbor’s good. These people are our neighbors; it’s a no-brainer that we would be involved.”
So many people donated, Zamble said, that the group hosted a second, smaller-scale event at Peterson Elementary School several days later. Zamble and Vice President for Student Engagement Frank Gaytan said they hope this event is a spark for similar efforts. One idea in discussion is developing student-led English language classes for the migrants.
“We do these things intentionally because it really is who we are,” Gaytan said. “And not just this single event with the migrants, but we want our students to serve all our neighbors, Chicago, and the world. This is who we are.”
In September, the City of Chicago approved the $1.5 million purchase of the former U.S. Marine Corps facility at 3034 W. Foster Ave. to house 500 migrants for up to 60 days each.
North Park University was awarded second place in the fifth division at the National Opera Association’s annual production competition.
North Park University was awarded second place in the fifth division at the National Opera Association’s annual production competition. Students from the Master of Music in Vocal Performance program performed Buried Alive along with Director George Cederquist and Vocal Coach and Pianist Jennifer McCabe. The performance took place March 21 and 22. Read more about the competition here.
Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards has released his much-anticipated book Humility Illuminated: The Biblical Path Back to Christian Character.
Renowned speaker and writer Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards, dean of North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS), has released his much-anticipated book Humility Illuminated: The Biblical Path Back to Christian Character, which examines the importance of being humble while practicing the Christian faith.
At a book signing hosted by North Park’s Seminary, Edwards met with students, staff, and local pastors and engaged in a question-and-answer session with audience members. He was introduced by Jon Boyd, associate publisher and academic editorial director at InterVarsity Press, which published the book.
“I want to talk about how rare Dennis is,” Boyd said. “He’s a scholar in biblical studies who wants to bring that scholarship to fruition for the church, and that is a beautiful thing. For it to come in book form is a gift.”
In the book, released November 7, Edwards examines America’s obsession with competition and how the drive to be the best creates a society of haves and have-nots that favors the elite. And yet, he writes, some of our greatest innovations have humble roots in immigrant and underserved communities.
“From a biblical perspective, the most remarkable models of godliness emerge from among the lowly. This view from the bottom reveals that humility includes a submissive posture before God as well as a peacemaking posture with other people,” he wrote.
An in-demand speaker and ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), Edwards spent October addressing ECC pastor and spouse retreats in four conferences, the Pacific Northwest, Midsouth, Great Lakes, and Southeast. He spoke about the value of humility, arguing it is perhaps the single most distinctive identity marker of followers of Jesus.
In addition to serving as dean of NPTS, Edwards is vice president for church relations and an associate professor of the New Testament. He earned his PhD and Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Catholic University and holds degrees from Cornell University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His recent publications include Do Black Lives Matter: How Christian Scriptures Speak to Black Empowerment, co-edited with Lisa Bowens, and Might from the Margins: The Gospel’s Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice.
North Park University has secured the 20th position in three significant categories in Intelligent.com’s 2024 rankings.
North Park University has secured the 20th position in three significant categories in Intelligent.com‘s 2024 rankings. The site is an editorially independent source of unbiased research that aids students in their higher education decisions.
North Park University earned notable recognition in the following categories:
These achievements affirm North Park University’s dedication to providing students with outstanding educational opportunities and preparing them for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.
Author Kennedy MurphyPosted on Categories Stories
The event was an apt reflection of North Park’s mission, according to Tony Zamble, director of University Ministries.
