John Paul the Great Catholic University
Encyclopedia
John Paul the Great Catholic University is located in San Diego, California
. It currently offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Communications Media and Business, each with two or more concentrations offered. In fall 2009 the school began offering a Master of Business Administration
degree with concentrations in Entrepreneurial Business and Film Producing, and a Master of Arts
in Biblical Theology
. JP Catholic - the university's shortened nickname - emphasizes its loyalty to the Catholic Church, and lists "impacting the culture for Christ" as one of its main goals. The university was named one of North America's "21 Catholic colleges and universities which most faithfully live their Catholic identity" by the Cardinal Newman Society
and has consistently been listed in the Newman Society's "Guide to Choosing a Catholic College".
in April 2005, the Board of Trustees decided to change the name to honor the late Pope, while retaining the word "Catholic" in the official name to emphasize the priorities of the school. JP Catholic officially opened its doors with its first classes on September 21, 2006.
JP Catholic's administrative offices, classrooms, sound stage
, and chapel are located in office space in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego, California
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) north of downtown San Diego. Students live "on campus" at an apartment complex across the I-15 freeway in the Mira Mesa neighborhood, approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) away by foot and approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) by car.
per academic year and four quarters per calendar year. The school decided to move away from the traditional "agricultural model" of fall and spring studies with an extended summer break, after finding that a lengthy break caused "a major disruption to the student business creation process." Students graduate in three years, beginning the program at the start of a fall quarter and graduating at the end of their third summer quarter. Consequently, there are never more than three classes of students on campus at any given time.
, with concentrations in Entrepreneurship
and Producing
; and Communications Media, with concentrations in Screenwriting
, Video Journalism
, Production
, Directing
, Animation
& Gaming, and New Evangelization, which, according to the university website, will teach students "to bring the light of the Gospel to all nations by passionately articulating the faith using new forms of communication." Undergraduate students also take core curriculum
classes in philosophy, art, literature, and science, with a heavy emphasis on Catholic theology.
degree with concentrations in Entrepreneurial Business
and Producing
, and a Master of Arts
in Biblical Theology
.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. It currently offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Communications Media and Business, each with two or more concentrations offered. In fall 2009 the school began offering a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree with concentrations in Entrepreneurial Business and Film Producing, and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Biblical Theology
Biblical Theology
Biblical theology is a discipline within Christian theology which studies the Bible from the perspective of understanding the progressive history of God revealing Himself to humanity following the Fall and throughout the Old Testament and New Testament...
. JP Catholic - the university's shortened nickname - emphasizes its loyalty to the Catholic Church, and lists "impacting the culture for Christ" as one of its main goals. The university was named one of North America's "21 Catholic colleges and universities which most faithfully live their Catholic identity" by the Cardinal Newman Society
Cardinal Newman Society
The Cardinal Newman Society is a 501 tax-exempt, nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and dedicated to what it calls the renewal of Catholic identity on the campuses of colleges and universities in the United States...
and has consistently been listed in the Newman Society's "Guide to Choosing a Catholic College".
History
John Paul the Great Catholic University was founded in 2003 under the name "New Catholic University." After the death of Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in April 2005, the Board of Trustees decided to change the name to honor the late Pope, while retaining the word "Catholic" in the official name to emphasize the priorities of the school. JP Catholic officially opened its doors with its first classes on September 21, 2006.
Campus
Sound stage
In common usage, a sound stage is a soundproof, hangar-like structure, building, or room, used for the production of theatrical filmmaking and television production, usually located on a secure movie studio property.-Overview:...
, and chapel are located in office space in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) north of downtown San Diego. Students live "on campus" at an apartment complex across the I-15 freeway in the Mira Mesa neighborhood, approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) away by foot and approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) by car.
Academics
JP Catholic operates on a non-traditional year-round schedule, with three 10-week quartersAcademic quarter (year division)
An academic quarter refers to the division of an academic year into four parts, found in a minority of universities in the United States and in some European and Asian countries.-Background and trends:...
per academic year and four quarters per calendar year. The school decided to move away from the traditional "agricultural model" of fall and spring studies with an extended summer break, after finding that a lengthy break caused "a major disruption to the student business creation process." Students graduate in three years, beginning the program at the start of a fall quarter and graduating at the end of their third summer quarter. Consequently, there are never more than three classes of students on campus at any given time.
| Calendar Year | Fall Quarter | Winter Quarter | Spring Quarter | Summer Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Freshman, Q1 | Freshman, Q2 | Freshman, Q3 | Sophomore, Q1 |
| Year 2 | Sophomore, Q2 | Sophomore, Q3 | Junior, Q1 | Junior, Q2 |
| Year 3 | Junior, Q3 | Senior, Q1 | Senior, Q2 | Senior, Q3 |
Undergraduate Degrees
JP Catholic currently offers two Bachelors of Science degrees: BusinessBusiness
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, with concentrations in Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
and Producing
Film finance
Film finance is an aspect of film production that occurs during the development stage prior to pre-production, and is concerned with determining the potential value of a proposed film...
; and Communications Media, with concentrations in Screenwriting
Screenwriting
Screenwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is a freelance profession....
, Video Journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, Production
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
, Directing
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, Animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
& Gaming, and New Evangelization, which, according to the university website, will teach students "to bring the light of the Gospel to all nations by passionately articulating the faith using new forms of communication." Undergraduate students also take core curriculum
Core Curriculum
The Core Curriculum was originally developed as the main curriculum used by Columbia University's Columbia College. It began in 1919 with "Contemporary Civilization," about the origins of western civilization. It became the framework for many similar educational models throughout the United States...
classes in philosophy, art, literature, and science, with a heavy emphasis on Catholic theology.
Senior Business Plan
JP Catholic is noted for its focus on business entrepreneurship, and especially the unique Senior Business Plan which all graduating seniors prepare in lieu of a thesis. Seniors form groups to develop businesses that will be launched after graduation, through the help of the institution's "Launch Pad" and business-experienced faculty.Graduate Degrees
The school offers a Master of Business AdministrationMaster of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree with concentrations in Entrepreneurial Business
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
and Producing
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
, and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Biblical Theology
Biblical Theology
Biblical theology is a discipline within Christian theology which studies the Bible from the perspective of understanding the progressive history of God revealing Himself to humanity following the Fall and throughout the Old Testament and New Testament...
.