Pepperdine University is a private Christian research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ, founded in 1937 by entrepreneur George Pepperdine in South Los Angeles, California. The institution began as a small liberal arts college with a commitment to Christian principles and business education and has expanded significantly over the decades. In 1972, it relocated its main undergraduate campus to a scenic 830-acre site in Malibu, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway, which allowed for growth in enrollment and facilities. Today, Pepperdine operates multiple campuses beyond Malibu, including graduate programs in various U.S. locations and international sites in Latin America and Europe. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees across schools such as business, law, public policy, and liberal arts. It is particularly renowned for its Caruso School of Law, which has a conservative-leaning reputation and attracts students interested in constitutional law and faith-informed legal studies. In partnership with WINEP, Pepperdine is launching the Master of Middle East Policy Studies (MMEPS) program in 2025. Pepperdine's athletic teams, the Waves, compete in the West Coast Conference, and the university maintains a strong emphasis on community service, leadership, and ethical decision-making influenced by its religious affiliation. With a student body of around 10,000, Pepperdine continues to uphold its founder's vision of providing higher education that nurtures both intellectual and moral growth. The university has faced occasional controversies related to its conservative stances on social issues, but it remains a respected institution for fostering influential alumni in fields like law, politics, and business.