The programs within the College of Arts and Letters include a diverse
array of disciplines, from Art and Music to History and Communication
Studies, yet they share a common mission of preparing graduates to become
effective citizens and enlightened community members, one which includes
a commitment to:
enhancing students' awareness and aesthetic sensitivity through the
study of literary and/or symbolic texts and through an appreciation
of the fine and applied arts;
using literature and the arts in order to promote understanding of
a given genre, culture or historical movement; and
fostering critical thinking and effective oral and written communication
skills.
The College includes the Departments of Art, Communication Studies, Design,
English, Foreign Languages, History, Humanities and Religious Studies,
Music, Philosophy, Theatre and Dance, as well as the Graduate Liberal
Arts and Learning Skills programs. The departments and programs within
the College of Arts and Letters collectively offer 16 baccalaureate degrees,
20 minors, and 9 master’s degrees and one joint doctorate.
Students in the College of Arts and Letters are expected to develop skills
in reasoning, problem solving, finding information, communicating in both
oral and written form, and developing a sensitivity to and understanding
of creative accomplishment in many cultures, past and present. Students
also have access to a variety of opportunities to perfect their skills
outside of the classroom, including classroom service connections to the
community; internships; participating on a nationally-acclaimed debate
team or the State Hornet newspaper staff; producing or performing in plays,
concerts, and recitals; and exhibiting their art and design works on and
off campus.
Arts and Letters contributes many courses to the University's General
Education program. Additionally, of the nine approved single-subject pre-credential
preparation programs on campus for students interested in the teaching
profession, six are offered in disciplines in the College of Arts and
Letters: Art, English, French, German, Spanish, and Music.
Faculty in the College are dedicated to creating a learning environment
that is student-centered and that encourages inquiry into the development
of concepts and the exploration of ideas. Many of the faculty in the College
are nationally known scholars and researchers, offering students opportunities
to co-author and co-present papers and projects to a national audience.
The programs within the College are of exceptional merit offering advanced
curriculum, excellent facilities, and highly qualified faculty with a
commitment to teaching. The following are a few examples:
School of the Arts: The School of the Arts unifies the
arts departments within the College. Its mission is to enhance and foster
arts activities within the campus as well as to strengthen linkages with
the Greater Sacramento arts community. As part of the School of the Arts
within the College of Arts and Letters, the Departments of Art, Design,
Music, and Theatre and Dance work together to create a stimulating environment
which encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and experimentation,
thus promoting arts appreciation and participation within the community.
The University Gallery, under the leadership of the School of the Arts,
features exhibitions of significant works of art by international, national
and regional artists. In addition, the Library Gallery is a featured campus
venue for many artistic gatherings, such as poetry readings sponsored
by the English Department, recitals and performances by the Music Department
and film showings associated with the College of Arts and Letters’
Film Studies Program. Special guided tours for current students and community
groups are offered on a regular basis.
Art: The Department of Art has a long-standing reputation
for the quality and diversity of its fine arts program. Courses in art
education, art history, and art studio promote creativity, visual literacy,
and critical thinking. Graduate and undergraduate art students have the
opportunity to exhibit their work at the Else and Witt Galleries. Exhibitions
of work by nationally and internationally significant artists are shown
in the University Library Gallery. Lectures and symposia sponsored by
the Art Department feature presentations by renowned art educators, art
historians, and artists. Visiting artists also are brought to campus for
an extended period during the annual Festival of the Arts.
Design: The Department of Design prepares its students
for a wide range of career opportunities in the fields of Graphic Design,
Interior Design and Photography. Graduates learn to work creatively and
to explore new possibilities in their respective media while at the same
time providing the highest quality of professional services to their clients.
By offering degree programs in three interrelated fields, the Department
is well positioned to train its students in the wide range of art and
design practices that play a part in creating our visual environment.
Music: The Department of Music has a long and impressive
history of presenting quality performances to the city and region. By
offering over twenty -five years of outstanding performances at the Festival
of New American Music and by presenting concerts and recitals by a distinguished
faculty and excellent performing groups, the Department has assumed a
leadership role in the musical life of California. In recognition of its
important place in the nation, the Department is a fully accredited member
of the National Association of Schools of Music.
Theatre and Dance: The Department of Theatre and Dance
is committed to the intensive training of performance artists, designers,
technicians, directors, and choreographers as well as individuals with
an interest in the history, theory, and criticism of theatre and dance.
In addition, the Department maintains a strong commitment to professional
education programs with emphasis on creative dramatics, dance, and puppetry.
An ambitious production program complements its academic component in
state-of-the-art facilities. The Department is fully accredited by the
National Association of Schools of Theatre, and works closely with the
College of Arts and Letters’ Film Minor and Special Major in Film
Studies.
Communication Studies: One of the largest departments
in the University, the Department of Communication Studies offers degrees
in both Journalism and Communication Studies. With recent additions and
renovations to its physical facilities, Communication Studies now enjoys
a television studio, two dedicated computer labs, an audio-editing suite,
and a high-end video editing lab. The Department supports a variety of
student activities including a nationally respected debate program and
the University's weekly newspaper, the State Hornet. Outstanding faculty
and staff take pride in their sensitivity and service to students.
English: The Department of English offers a wide variety
of courses in composition, creative writing, film studies, language arts,
literature, teacher preparation, and Teaching English as a Second Language
(TESOL), It is dedicated to classroom excellence, and five of its faculty
have won the College Outstanding Teacher Award in the past eight years.
It also offers student assistantships, graduate teaching associateships,
internships with companies like Intel, and a variety of well endowed scholarships
and writing contests. Its MA graduates have been accepted into many of
the country's top Ph.D. programs. Every spring the Department hosts a
Careers Day to help English majors "link" with prospective employers.
Foreign Languages: The Foreign Language faculty provide course
work in both traditional Western languages and those of the Far East along
with classical Latin and Greek. The Department encourages its students
to participate in the CSU International Programs as well as the various
CSUS exchange opportunities overseas.
History: The Department of History, with over 400 undergraduate
majors and 80 active graduate students, is a growing program within the
College of Arts and Letters. The Department, which has an active master's
program with three different concentrations, recently added a Ph.D. in
Public History in cooperation with the University of California, Santa
Barbara. This is the first Ph.D. program at CSUS and the first in History
in the California State University system.
Humanities and Religious Studies: The Humanities and
Religious Studies program at CSUS provides a unique synthesis of disciplines,
combining the global study of religion with an interdisciplinary program
in the arts and intellectual history. For those interested in pursuing
graduate-level studies, the Humanities and Religious Studies Department
offers an eclectic MA program in Liberal Arts, stressing multidisciplinary
learning and student-centered programming.
Learning Skills: Learning Skills offers preparatory courses
for students fulfilling the EO 665 requirement and provides academic support
through courses and tutoring in math, reading, writing and study skills.
Philosophy: The Department of Philosophy is offering
two new concentrations within its Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. The
concentration in Applied Ethics and Law is a pre-law program designed
to develop analytic and argumentative abilities as well as skill in applying
principles to cases, which will be needed by those preparing for a career
in law. The concentration in Logic and Philosophy of Science offers preparation
for graduate study.
Nancy M. Tooker, Acting Dean
Jackie Kernen, Administrative Analyst/Specialist
Patti Robertson, Administrative Support Coordinator
Lilia de la Merced, Administrative Support Assistant
Arianne Pancallo, Administrative Support Assistant
Mariposa Hall 5000, (916) 278-6502
