In San José, Costa Rica, the heart of the Americas, a new university has just been authorized by the National Council for Private Higher Education (CONESUP) under the nation’s Ministry of Public Education. It is the Universidad Nazarena del Continente Americano, which will be known as UNINAZ and will become the only Nazarene university in the Spanish-speaking world.
Previously recognized as Seminario Nazareno de las Américas (SENDAS), the institution has served the Church of the Nazarene since 1970, preparing pastors, missionaries, and leaders of the denomination in the Spanish language. General Superintendent Christian Sarmiento is a former SENDAS student.
Without neglecting its original purpose as a seminary, UNINAZ will expand its sphere of service by training not only dedicated pastors for congregations but also responsible leaders for society.
The benefit of this initiative is twofold. On the one hand, SENDAS’s theological studies will receive official recognition by the government of Costa Rica in this new stage. At the same time, as a liberal arts university, it plans to expand its academic offerings across multiple areas of knowledge, permeating society with Christian values.
The process began in 2020 with a formal status-change request to the International Board of Education (IBOE), which appointed several working committees; the final committee recommended approval of the project, and IBOE unanimously approved the transition.
Finally, a business plan presented to the Board of General Superintendents received approval, and the transition of the seminary to a university was ratified on 26 August 2025.
UNINAZ believes in everyone’s potential to grow, aim higher, and achieve greater success. UNINAZ also believes that all people deserve access to a first-rate higher education. Through the transformation of individuals, UNINAZ seeks to change entire communities in the Hispanic world. With this in mind, UNINAZ offers a high-quality education that is accessible to all.
Over the years, SENDAS partnered with many accredited Nazarene schools throughout the United States. UNINAZ will continue to work with them for educational agreements. In addition, many districts of the Church of the Nazarene in the USA/Canada Region have existing educational agreements with SENDAS, and UNINAZ will continue to work with them as well.
Through UNINAZ, in just three years, a Spanish-speaking student anywhere in the world will be able to fulfill two purposes: complete their educational requirements for ordination and, simultaneously, graduate with a bachelor’s degree from an officially recognized university.
UNINAZ will begin with two schools, offering two degrees in each school: [List format]
The School of Theology will offer a Bachelor of Theology and a Master of Theology in Bible and Theology, respectively.
The School of Social Sciences will offer a bachelor’s degree in administration and leadership at the undergraduate level and a professional master’s degree in family counseling at the master’s level.
In the near future, UNINAZ plans to establish new schools and majors as needed.
For more information, please visit our website: www.uninaz.com.