Patten is a private, coeducational, interdenominational Christian college dedicated to providing a Liberal Arts education with a strong biblical studies emphasis. Patten College is committed in all of its policies and practices to upholding the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible as the revealed Word of God, and the high moral standards found in the Judeo-Christian tradition. In 1944, Dr. Bebe Patten and her husband, C. Thomas Patten, conducted evangelistic services in the Bay Area. Thousands of people filled the Oakland Auditorium Arena (now the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center) seeking purpose and meaning for their lives. Several hundred answered a call to active Christian service. Because of this response, Dr. Patten founded the Oakland Bible Institute, which was incorporated as a California nonprofit corporation. The School was located for several years at its initial location, 1428 Alice Street. It moved moved to Telegraph Avenue in 1950, and then to the present campus on Coolidge Avenue in 1960. Later the school was renamed Patten College in response to its growth and expansion of academic programs and degree offerings.