About Our Departments and Programs
The College of Liberal Arts offers diverse degrees focused on humanities, social sciences, communications and performing arts. Click on each department/program below for contact info and a summary of majors, minors and grad programs offered within each area.
Art and Design
Cal Poly’s Art and Design Department prepares students to explore the world in unexpected ways, to develop a discriminating eye, and to take calculated risks through dynamic visual expression in a range of media. With 17,000 square feet dedicated to making art, students have space to pursue concentrations in graphic design, photography and studio art.
Degrees:
Major: B.F.A., Art and Design, with concentrations in:
> Graphic Design
> Photography and Video
> Studio Art
Minors: Art history, Photography, Studio art
Communication Studies
Cal Poly’s Communication Studies Department helps students to understand the process of human communication and grasp its historical context and contemporary relevance in a global society. Students learn the theory and practice of communication in a variety of contexts, developing their critical reasoning, speaking and writing skills, and appreciation of how culture influences their lives.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Communication Studies
Minor: Communication Studies
English
The Cal Poly English Department boasts one of the top programs in the nation for return on investment, and one of the best undergraduate writing programs in the West. Students study literature, language and rhetoric in an effort to understand the human condition and explore literature’s contribution to culture and society.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., English, with optional emphasis in Creative Writing or Literature
Minors: English, Linguistics
Certificates: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Technical and Professional Communication Program
Graduate: M.A., English (Literature-based)
Ethnic Studies
Ethnicity. Race. Culture. Gender. Cal Poly’s Ethnic Studies Department works at the intersection of these fundamental social forces. By exploring these issues, students are able to understand the factors that shape social and occupational identities, preparing them to work, collaborate and interact in an increasingly heterogeneous and complex world.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Comparative Ethnic Studies
Minors: Ethnic Studies, Indigenous Studies in Natural Resources and the Environment
Graphic Communication
Cal Poly boasts one the nation’s premier graphic communication departments, where students experience the history and tradition of printing, learn fundamental design principles, and use modern tools and technology. Students have access to more than 33,000 square feet of lab space and equipment largely donated by industry partners, which gives them unparalleled hands-on experience.
Degrees:
Major: B.S., Graphic Communication, with concentrations in:
> Design Reproduction Technology
> UX/UI
> Graphics for Packaging
> Graphic Communication Management
> Individualized Course of Study
Minor: Graphic Communication
History
In Cal Poly’s History Department, students explore history as a living tradition as well as a vibrant field of study. History deepens students’ understanding of different peoples and cultures, examining ideas of race, gender, class and cultural diversity. Students use research and critical tools to explore and articulate multiple perspectives on the present and future.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., History
Minors: Asian Studies, History
Graduate: M.A., History
Interdisciplinary Studies
Students are often interested in a social issue or research question that doesn't fall easily into just one discipline. This major offers students the flexibility to combine their diverse interest areas into one degree program. Emphasis areas include arts and the human experience; ethics, law and justice; global studies; health, culture and society; science, technology and society; social sustainability; and technology and human expression.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies
Minors: See Science, Technology and Society Minors Program listed below for interdisciplinary minor options.
Journalism
Cal Poly’s Journalism Department is one of California’s most innovative undergraduate journalism programs, among the first in the country to take an integrated approach to student media, mirroring developments in the industry. The department embodies a polytechnic university philosophy, offering a technology-rich, student-focused environment that fosters student curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit.
Degrees:
Major: B.S., Journalism
Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies
Offered jointly by the colleges of Liberal Arts and Engineering, the Liberal Arts & Engineering Studies (LAES) Program embraces an interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial culture. Students focus their educational paths in alignment with their career goals, blending science, technology and the liberal arts to forge their own paths.
Degrees:
Major: B.S., Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies
Music
The Cal Poly Music Department teaches students to reach beyond technical and instrumental mastery to understand the unique power of music across cultures. The music program gives students a foundation in music theory, history and performance, and provides on and off campus performance opportunities throughout the year.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Music
Minor: Music
Philosophy
The Cal Poly Philosophy Department boasts one of the largest programs in the California State University system. Graduates typically score very well on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), as the philosophy program cultivates exceptional critical thinking and communication skills.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Philosophy, with optional concentrationsE:
> Ethics and Society
> Ethics of Science and Technology
> Ethics and Society
Minors: Philosophy, Religious Studies
Political Science
Cal Poly’s Political Science Department grounds students in policy and politics in the United States and across the world to develop informed, active citizens. Majors gain critical thinking, communication and analytical skills applicable to multiple career paths, as well as the knowledge to make a difference in the world.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Political Science, with concentrations:
> American Politics
> Global Politics
> Pre-Law
> Individualized Course of Study
Minors: Global Politics, Law and Society, Political Science
Graduate: MPP, Master of Public Policy
Psychology and Child Development
Cal Poly Psychology & Child Development students explore the complex issues of human development and relationships to improve the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. The department offers students concentration options that fit their interests, ranging from child and adolescent development to a broader approach to psychological theory and research.
Degrees:
Majors: B.S., Child Development; B.S., Psychology
Minors: Psychology, Child Development, Gerontology
Graduate: M.S., Psychology
Science, Technology and Society Minors Program
The Science, Technology and Society Minors Program equips students with the skills to tackle complex global challenges like climate change, cyber-warfare, health inequalities, and the future of interactive and collaborative storytelling. Students will create a customized course path and portfolio of hands-on projects that are based on their passions and goals.
Degrees:
Minors:
> Ethics, Public Policy, Science and Technology (EPPST)
> Gender, Race, Culture, Science and Technology (GRCST)
> Media Arts, Society and Technology (MAST)
> Science and Risk Communication (SRC)
Social Sciences
The Social Sciences Department exemplifies Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing educational approach, teaching students, from day one, how to bridge their education with the real world. Anthropology/geography and sociology majors receive training in applied technical skills including social data collection and research design and are encouraged to critically investigate contemporary issues.
Degrees:
Majors: B.S., Anthropology and Geography, with concentrations:
> Cross-Cultural Studies and International Development
> Environmental Studies and Sustainability
> Human Ecology
> Individualized Course of Study
> Teaching
B.A., Sociology, with concentrations
> Criminal Justice
> Organizations
> Social Services
> Individualized Course of Study
Minors: Anthropology/Geography, Latin American Studies, Sociology
Theatre and Dance
The Theatre & Dance Department provides students with programs of study that integrate practical production work with theater and dance principles, theory and historical development. Students in the department gain experience in all aspects of production and performance from writing, lighting and design, to choreography and on-stage presence.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Theatre Arts
Minors:
Dance, Theatre Arts
Women's, Gender and Queer Studies
Women’s, Gender and Queer Studies students explore the complex intersections of gender and sexuality with race, class and other social factors, and how they shape and are influenced by politics, ethics, the economy and law.
Women’s, gender and queer studies is an inherently interdisciplinary field that promotes scholarly inquiry, education and activism focused on power and social inequalities. Faculty and students from across campus participate in projects that contribute to local, national and transnational conversations on the current and future shape of society.
Degrees:
Minors: Women's and Gender Studies, Queer Studies
World Languages and Cultures
The World Languages and Cultures Department (formerly Modern Languages and Literatures) provides students with the tools to understand different cultures and people on their own terms. Offering instruction in Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Italian, the department gives students skills and confidence to succeed in a global context.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Spanish
Minors: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish
