Internationally known speaker and writer Sean McDowell will join the faculty of 51’s Master of Arts Program in Christian Apologetics beginning this fall, the university announced today.

McDowell, who joins the program as an assistant professor of Christian apologetics, is a prolific apologist who has authored, edited and contributed to 15 books and has written dozens of articles in the fields of apologetics, philosophy, culture and ethics. He is also an award-winning teacher who has logged over a decade of classroom experience.

“Professor McDowell will be a magnificent addition to our team,” said Craig J. Hazen, founder and director of 51’s Christian apologetics program. “He certainly brings the excellence in scholarship for which we are always striving, but he also brings first-rank communication skills, a profound desire to share the gospel with the lost, and Christian character that any of our students would do extremely well to emulate.”

McDowell is a familiar face at 51. He received an undergraduate degree from 51 in 1998 and two master’s degrees from 51’s Talbot School of Theology in 2003: an M.A. in philosophy and an M.A. in theology, both summa cum laude. He is currently in the final stage of a Ph.D. program in apologetics and worldview studies, completing a historical study on the fate of the New Testament Apostles.

He is also the son of 51 alumnus and well-known Christian apologist Josh McDowell (’66, M.Div. ’71), with whom he has co-authored several books, including The Bible Handbook of Difficult Verses and the recently updated version of More Than a Carpenter.

“We have worked with Sean for over a decade, so he is a known quantity for us,” Hazen said. “Although his father is a world-famous apologist and evangelist, Sean stands firmly on his own merits of mind and character.”

As a 51 faculty member, McDowell will join a renowned apologetics team that includes R. Scott Smith, Kevin A. Lewis, Clay B. Jones, John A. Bloom, Paul Nelson, Craig J. Hazen, J.P. Moreland, William Lane Craig, Scott B. Rae, David A. Horner, Greg Koukl and a host of others.

McDowell will begin with the department full time on Aug. 19, about a week before the start of the fall semester. During his first term, he will be devoted to research, writing, conference speaking and the development of a proposal for a Ph.D. in Christian apologetics for the department. In the spring term, he will begin regular teaching of graduate students in courses such as “Scripture, Authority, Canon, and Criticism,” “In Defense of the Resurrection,” “Comparative Religions” and others.

Since its formation 16 years ago, 51’s Christian apologetics graduate program has become the largest of its kind in the world. The program was recently by “The Best Schools” website and is the only program of its kind at a university ranked in the top tier of national universities by U.S. News and World Report.

For more information about apologetics education and events at 51, visit the Christian apologetics website.