Cincinnati Christian University

Heritage and History

Cincinnati Christian University was formed in 1924 by the merger of two institutions — McGarvey Bible College in Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati Bible Institute — to form the Cincinnati Bible Seminary.

CCU has offered both undergraduate and graduate studies since its inception in 1924. Since then, the graduate program has grown and expanded, having enjoyed its own identity since 1956 and a separate faculty since 1965. In 1987, the corporate name of the institution was changed to Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary. In 2004, the Center of Adult Learning and Leadership began offering adults an evening accelerated format to complete undergraduate degrees; that same year the corporate name became Cincinnati Christian University. Today CCU’s academics are governed by the Foster School of Biblical Studies, Arts & Sciences; Russell School of Ministry; School of Education & Behavioral Sciences; School of Business; Center of Adult Learning and Leadership; and Cincinnati Bible Seminary.

According to their founding charter, the purpose of CBS was "to prepare men and women for Christian service." At that time, the university’s founders wanted to meet the pressing leadership needs of independent local churches that were associated with the Restoration Movement fellowship and they wanted to provide students with an education that was well-grounded in the Word of God.

1924: Price Hill campus consisted of two large residences and a rented church building
1939: Campus moved to present location after purchase of 27 acres with 5 buildings
1941: University purchased a Presbyterian church building for use for chapel services until 1983
1968: Edwin G. Crouch Memorial Building was erected to house the library and the graduate school.
1968: Adjoining properties were added to campus.
1983: Presidents Hall, a multi-purpose facility, was dedicated..
2004: Worship and Ministry Center was dedicated
2007: Presidents Hall entry pavilion and outdoor plaza added and dedicated
2017: The Price Hill campus now includes fifty-four acres, and CCU has established extension sites in Springdale, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Campus

The university's main campus is located in Cincinnati's western neighborhood of just a few miles west of downtown Cincinnati, but classes are also offered at extension sites in Sharonville, Ohio, and in Indianapolis. In 2009, CCU began offering classes in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and in the Greater Louisville area.

Academics

The university is structured into five schools: Biblical Studies, Arts, and Sciences; Ministry; Education and Behavioral Sciences; Business; and Adult Learning. Bachelor's degrees or minors are offered in Biblical Studies, English, Communication Arts, Public Theology, Signing/Interpretation (ASL), Preaching Ministry, Youth Ministry, Urban & Intercultural Ministry, Music, Early Childhood Education, Adolescent/Young Adult English, Psychology, and Business Management with concentrations in Accounting, Sports Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology. Graduate degrees are offered in Counseling (MAC), Religion (MAR), and Divinity (MDiv).

Cincinnati Christian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. Cincinnati Bible Seminary is also accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. CCU is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities, an organization including all of the accredited colleges and universities in the area. This consortium relationship gives students access to course offerings of the other institutions through a cross-registration arrangement as well as access to library resources of the other schools in the consortium.

CCU is a member of the Association of Schools of Jerusalem University College (formerly known as the Institute of Holy Land Studies) and is approved to offer the Master of Arts in Counseling program by the Ohio Counseling and Social Worker Board. The Master of Arts in Counseling degree is pre-approved as a qualifying degree for licensure as a professional counselor by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. The Department of Behavioral Sciences has been approved under The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Athletics

Cincinnati Christian's athletic teams, nicknamed the Eagles, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the River States Conference (RSC). The Eagles also compete as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I level. Men's sports include Baseball, Basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball. CCU is also creating a coed Cheerleading program beginning in the Fall of 2017.

Notable alumni

Presidents

On November 11, 2015, the Board of Trustees of Cincinnati Christian University announced the appointment of Dr. David Ray as the university’s interim president. The Board selected Dr. Ray to ensure a smooth leadership transition to the next full-time president of CCU.