I have attended online (with occasional weekend intensives on campus) for the past five years. This learning experience is truly transformational in my formation as an adult Catholic who "seeks understanding through faith and reason". The learning process at JPII "promotes such intellectual virtues as discernment, testing, and reflection (Acts 17:11; Col. 2:8; 1 Thess. 5:21). "
I originally came to the University to study film but after two or so years, I ended up feeling very disgruntled with myself and where I saw my life going. It was not the University's fault at all, in fact, the school helped redeem the situation by allowing me to add some custom elements to my degree and focusing in on something I profoundly enjoy.
The faculty here is incredible and most of the film professors commute from L.A. once a week just to teach. The film students get access to great equipment compared to some other film schools. It's not the very top of the line, but it's certainly not terrible equipment. There are also many film-making opportunities for the students in the area and internships in L.A. to help them hone their craft.
I would not be who I am today without this University. The school is very small, about 220 when I was there. That being said, the student teacher relationship is amazing. The classes are small and intimate and allow for incredible focus and assistance. It's really a very personal experience. The education is well rounded and the philosophy and theology is incredibly helpful. It has helped me define who I am, what I believe, and most importantly why I believe it.
Graduate: I'm currently in the Master's program for biblical theology, and I never cease to be impressed by my humble, but incredible, professors. They have a real command of the subjects, and they do actual work in their field. They're not just professors, they're professional academics impacting the professional culture for Christ and his Church. I was blessed with the opportunities (two years in a row) to observe the professors interact with academia at the annual Society of Biblical Literature conference.
Do Not Attend. People are so close minded and unwelcoming if you don't fit into their standards. Shouldn't be Catholic or even a film school. If you want film go to LA.
In each course, they guide us through Scripture and Theology from a Catholic perspective. We learn to critique, interact with, and contribute to modern biblical scholarship. We also learn to be able to expertly teach the faith at the parish level. My favorite aspect of the program here at JPCatholic is that I'm learning how all branches of theology (e.g. trinitarian, sacramental, moral, etc.) are at their heart, Biblical Theology. As far as I am aware, there isn't another institution in the world which marries Biblical Studies and Theology in the unique way that JPCatholic does. For this I am immensely grateful.
Undergrad: I completed the Bachelor's Degree with an emphasis in New Evangelization. It included theology, philosophy, business, and media classes. I came for the theology and philosophy, and dreaded the business and media portion of the degree. My experiences in the business and media classes was most unexpected. The professors had the ability to draw my interest in such a way that I don't regret any of those courses. They taught me about entrepreneurial business and made me really start to like it! I had no interest in film/media, but I acquired the skills to create media from the excellent professors at JPCatholic. And I had a lot of fun doing it! I really came for the philosophy and theology, and I was not disappointed. In the course of my studies, I read the Bible and Catechism in their entirety (how many Catholics can say that nowadays?)! I'm so grateful for the undergraduate preparation I received; it has prepared me to dive into real academic work at the graduate level.
If I could give it zero stars I would. This a school that is charging you so much for so little. The building itself is so small it doesn't count as a university. It's in a strip mall, which Escondido itself is by far from a good town. The students are so close-minded and cliches result in this. Meaning no opportunity to network make friends if you're new. You have students working on films but you have to have your own equipment. The school does not have equipment for students and yet its a film school? For a school in communication the irony is how bad the school communicates with students. There is no communication. If your not a staff favorite or teacher favorite your not welcomed or treated nicely. Other than that you need to have a "supervised visit" if you wish to have friends of the opposite gender come over to hangout. I'm sorry but we are all adults here if that is an issue then students shouldn't leave from this school. You have to be 25 to live off campus. There is no alcohol, nothing nice nearby. You need a car to leave this awful town to get away. Stay far from this school it is not what they claim to be, its all in the marketing. DO NOT ATTEND DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.
The real highlight of my education here, though, is that my relationship with Christ has flourished. The professors encourage us to do our studying "on our knees." Prayer is so important for the Catholic life, and we learn to do it in an intimate way here at JPCatholic. I'm so glad I came here, and would recommend it to absolutely anyone and everyone.
All in all, this is an incredible University that is growing rapidly. I have seen many great things come from their senior classes for the last several years and without the culture, faculty, and spiritual formation, my life would be on a very different track. (Probably a much less enjoyable one.) This is simply a place where students can have an educational college experience that is also constructive and builds true young professionals well formed in virtue.
After spending some time in community college, I transferred to JPCatholic looking for an educational foundation which would ultimately end in getting advanced degrees in biblical studies and theology. I'm so indescribably grateful for my experience here.
In terms of the other programs, the business education is great. There is a series of classes for the business students during their senior year in which they actually build a business and if they so wish, could launch it and have a running business by the time they graduate. The gaming program is also very well designed and covers a great many important skills for young professionals to have. Lastly, the graduate programs have the same amazing access to awesome faculty and if I'm not mistaken, the MA in Biblical Theology is one of the largest in the nation.
John Paul The Great Catholic University is a US University based in Escondido, California. John Paul The Great Catholic University is located at 155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025, USA.
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