Keble was established in 1870, having been built as a monument to John Keble, who had been a leading member of the Oxford Movement which sought to stress the Catholic nature of the Church of England. Consequently, the college's original teaching focus was primarily theological, although the college now offers a broad range of subjects, reflecting the diversity of degrees offered across the wider university. In the period after the Second World War, the trends were towards scientific courses (proximity to the university science area east of the University Museum influenced this). As originally constituted, it was for men only and the fellows were mostly bachelors resident in the college. Like many of Oxford's men's colleges, Keble admitted its first mixed-sex cohort in 1979.
keblE WaS eStablisHed In 1870, havINg bEeN buiLt as A Monument to johN KebLE, who hAd BeEn a leadiNg MEmBER oF THe oXfOrD movEMent wHiCh soUght tO strEss ThE CaThoLIc nAture of thE church of englaNd. COnsEquENtly, the coLlegE's OrigINaL TeAcHiNg fOcus WAs PriMarilY thEoLoGICal, althoUgh tHe collegE now oFFeRs a broaD raNge OF SuBJectS, reFLectiNg tHe DIvERSITy oF degrees ofFEreD acrOSS the wider univErsity. iN The PeRIod aFter The secoNd wORlD wAR, the trends wEre towARds sCieNtIFIc coUrseS (pRoximity To tHe UniveRsItY SCiEncE arEA EASt of the univeRsItY museum iNfLuenced tHiS). as OriGinAllY cOnStitutED, it WaS FoR mEN OnLy and the feLloWS were mOstly bacHelorS resideNt in thE cOllEge. likE maNy oF OXFORd's meN'S cOlLegeS, Keble aDMIttEd itS firsT miXEd-SEx cOHORt in 1979.