Westmont | A Christian, Liberal Arts College in Santa Barbara, California
Liberal Arts
Westmont's rigorous liberal arts program teaches students to think critically and communicate effectively, preparing them to succeed in a quickly changing and culturally complex world. Classes that range from the sciences to the humanities provide a rich and increasingly rare education encompassing all areas of life and promoting intellectual, spiritual and personal growth.
Christian
At Westmont, Jesus Christ holds preeminence. With our commitment to historic Christianity, we encourage students to integrate their beliefs with their studies and to live out their faith in service to others. Rooting the liberal arts in Christ means that we educate the whole person and encourage students to develop biblically based, intellectually strong convictions and worldviews.
Residential
The strong, caring residential community at Westmont creates a climate conducive to intellectual inquiry, personal growth, open communication and lasting friendships. Living among supportive Christian friends and mentors, students feel free to explore the breadth of the liberal arts and examine the implications of their faith as they develop into mature, and committed men and women.
Undergraduate
Westmont devotes itself exclusively to undergraduate courses, concentrating on a critical time of life when students make decisions shaping their future. Our focused, engaging and personal program offers small classes taught by full-time faculty, close interaction with professors outside the classroom, and opportunities to participate in significant research projects.
Global
Westmont offers a global program that prepares students to live in a diverse, complex and quickly changing society so they can take their place as citizens of the world. The breadth of the liberal arts curriculum, the opportunity to study or serve overseas and an emphasis on developing an international perspective help graduates make a seamless transition to a global marketplace.

What Makes a Westmont Education Distinctive?

  • Liberal Arts
  • Christian
  • Residential
  • Undergraduate
  • Global

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Art Exhibition to Expose ‘Invisible Realms’

'Thanksgiving' by Susan SavageThirteen diverse artists from around the world will exhibit their work as part of “Invisible Realms: Encountering the Sacred” Aug. 22-Oct. 12 in the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. Most of the artists will be available at a free, public reception Thursday, Aug. 29, from 4-6 p.m. [more]

New Students to Hike, Bond in Backcountry

Westmont StudentsTwenty first-year Westmont students will meet on campus Aug. 8 before heading into the California wilderness on a unique 12-day orientation program. The Inoculum trek begins in the Eastern Sierra town of Bridgeport and winds around many 10,000-foot peaks in the Toiyabe National Forest. [more]

Westmont Ranks Among Best Colleges in the West

Artwork by Allie Trabucco ’08Westmont ranks among the best colleges in the west in Princeton Review’s “2014 Best Colleges: Region by Region.” The educational services company named 124 colleges in 15 western states, including 41 in California, in this list. Nationwide, Princeton Review included 643 institutions—25 percent of U.S. four-year colleges—in four regions. [more]

Blondell Brings ‘Tempest’ to Europe

Sara Reynolds ’11, Stanley Hoffman, Michael Bernard and Victoria Finlayson in “The Tempest” (Photo by David Bazemore)John Blondell, Westmont professor of theater arts, has returned to the Balkans to stage Lit Moon Theatre’s performance of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” Blondell is joined by Marie Ponce-DeLeon ’10, Nolan Hamlin ’12, and Sara Reynolds ’11, who play Miranda, Ferdinand, and Ariel, respectively. [more]

Exhibit Remembers Bauder’s Fiery Past

Brittany (Schultz) McInerney ’10A new photographic art display in Winter Hall combines the past and present of Westmont’s psychology department. Brittany (Schultz) McInerney ’10 combined photos of current students, historic photos and distinctive diamond-shaped windows panes salvaged from Bauder Hall, which was destroyed in the November 2008 Tea Fire. [more]

President Blogs During Alumni Trip

CorinthWestmont president Gayle D. Beebe has created a blog, chronicling the Westmont Alumni and Parent Europe Trip through June 29. Beebe, who is joined by his wife, Pam, and their three children, are traveling with about 40 Westmont parents overseas. The group is exploring and learning about the history, culture and biblical significance of three great cities in civilization: Athens, Istanbul and Rome. [more]

Local Artists Earn Awards in ‘Confluence’ Exhibition

Xarene Eskandar accepts her Best in Show awardPeter Frank, a Los Angeles-based art critic, handed cash awards to local artists at a public reception for “Confluence” on May 16 in the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. Xarene Eskandar, whose single-channel video, “Salton Sea Revisited,” won Best in Show. [more]

Students, Faculty Honored at Commencement

Westmont GraduatesLed by bagpipes, more than 300 Westmont graduates marched from Kerrwood Hall through the formal gardens to Russell Carr Field May 4 for Commencement. Cloudy skies kept families and friends cool and comfortable as they cheered the graduating students. Senior biology students decorated their mortarboard hats with cutout trees, while kinesiology students included a favorite Bible verse of the late Alex Moore on their hats: “Do the Work.” [more]

Westmont Lauds Lady Leslie

Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree with Gayle and Pam BeebeWestmont hosted a special dinner to honor Montecito resident and philanthropist Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree on Sept. 29 at the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel. More than 80 guests attended the celebration that featured an inspiring video, “The Role and Impact of Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree on Santa Barbara.” The video included testimonies from dozens of beneficiaries of Ridley-Tree’s generosity, [more]

Upcoming Events

Westmont Telescope

Observatory: Aug. 16, 8 p.m., Observatory. Weather permitting, the observatory is open for public viewing. more

Orientation

New Student Orientation: Aug. 22-25. Move-in day and new student orientation more

Volleyball

Volleyball: Aug. 27, 4 p.m., Murchison Gym. The volleyball team hosts Cornerstone more

Recent Events

Charles Farhadian

May 3 (Baccauareate): Charles Farhadian, professor of religious studies, gave the Baccalaureate address

Ronald C. White Jr.

May 4 (Commencement): Ronald C. White Jr., Visiting Professor at UCLA, gave the Commencement address

Commencement

May 4 (Commencement): View a photo slideshow from Commcencement