Description
The collection contains materials produced by and about Pepperdine University's School of Professional Studies (SPS) on the
Los Angeles campus. The bulk of the material dates from 1972 to 1981. Materials include general files about the School of
Professional Studies, photographs of the Los Angeles campus prior to its sale, and files about the SPS's Division of Human
Resources (HRM) programs.
Background
After George Pepperdine College made the transition to Pepperdine University on January 1, 1971, the campus in Malibu opened
in the fall of 1972. The main undergraduate college of letters, arts, and sciences moved to Malibu and eventually was named
Seaver College. A second college of letters, arts, and sciences continued on the Los Angeles campus, but eventually was discontinued.
The academic programs were reorganized as the School of Professional Studies (SPS) and was designed to provide classes in
the liberal arts and professional fields (such as nursing or business). One division of the SPS was the Division of Human
Resources Management (HRM), which offered Master of Arts degrees. The HRM program was originally managed by Pepperdine's
Center for Innovative Education (CIE) in conjunction with the Rockport Management Company. The CIE eventually was dissolved,
and the HRM program and its faculty and staff were made a division of the SPS. While students could take classes on the Los
Angeles campus, many HRM programs were set up on military bases around the United States and overseas to provide classes to
members of the military. HRM classes began in the fall of 1974, and by 1977 were held at 50 locations around the United States
and the Pacific. In 1979, Pepperdine decided to phase out the HRM programs on military bases. The popularity of the Los
Angeles campus declined, and the SPS was closed down in 1981 and the programs were incorporated into existing departments
at the Malibu campus. Approximately 4,000 students graduated from SPS programs. The Los Angeles campus was closed and eventually
sold in 1981 to the Crenshaw Christian Center.
Restrictions
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.