Welcome Message
Welcome to Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School. Pacific Oaks is a unique learning community. The College and the Children’s School share expertise in working with children and families. By participating in the national conversation on early childhood education, Pacific Oaks has become known as the place to turn for wise advice on issues of children and families.
Graduates of Pacific Oaks College are leaders in professions of teaching and working with children, youth, and families. Students come to the College to earn a teaching credential or a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or human development, or to complete a bachelor’s degree through courses in human development. Most of its 1250 students are working adults seeking to further their careers though advanced degrees. Many grew up in communities of need, developing a determination to improve the situation for other children and families. Pacific Oaks is known for the enormous contributions its graduates make to their own communities and beyond. Graduates move into leadership positions such as Los Angeles Unified School Board member, president of West Valley Community College in Saratoga, director of the 7,000 student Head Start childcare program in Visalia, and director of LA’s Best, the 22,000 student after-school enrichment program in Los Angeles. Graduates of Pacific Oaks are creative, starting innovative programs such as grief counseling for very young children and horticultural therapy programs for children with special needs.
Pacific Oaks was founded in 1945 as a Children’s School with the vision of building a more peaceful world. In an era closed to diversity, Pacific Oaks broke barriers to include children of diverse backgrounds, races, cultures and physical capacities. It set the standard for inclusion that became accepted by preschools across the country over the next few decades. Today the Children’s School serves 220 students ages 6 months to 6 years and continues as a national and international model for early childhood education.
The College was established in 1954 to educate teachers to meet the demands of teaching at such an extraordinary preschool. The College developed rapidly into the leading West Coast institution specializing in graduate education for professionals working with young children and families. The fact that Pacific Oaks College has remained focused on its specialization has allowed the College to develop a reputation as the best place for the education of professionals working with children and families. Today its 1250 students take classes on the main campus in Pasadena or in Oakland, Visalia, or online. The College is growing at a rate of 12% or more each year. At the same time, all classes at the College remain small, allowing students and faculty to develop the close working relationship that is a hallmark of a Pacific Oaks education.
The Children’s School and the College share a strong commitment to quality education and respect for diversity. At Pacific Oaks diversity means more than numbers of students in categories. It means learning how to treat one another and knowing enough about one another to develop and communicate respect.
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