About Our Departments and Programs
Departments
Our 17 departments offer a diverse range of major and minor programs, summarized below.
Art & Design
Cal Poly’s Art & 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
Fun fact:
Upper-division art and design students regularly contribute to nation-wide and multi-campus projects, most recently designing posters for Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign to end childhood obesity in America and collaborating with the Rochester Institute of Technology to promote tourism in San Luis Obispo and Rochester, N.Y.
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
Fun fact:
Professor Richard Besel and undergraduate student, Brittani Hidahl, embarked on a class project exploring the significance of Katy Perry’s song, “I Kissed A Girl,” that resulted in an opportunity to publish a book chapter and present at the National Communication Association Convention.
English
The Cal Poly English Department boasts one of the top programs in the nation for return on investment, as well as one of the best undergraduate writing programs in the West. English majors 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 as a Second Language, Technical Communications
Graduate: M.A., English (Literature-based)
Fun fact:
Students in the Technical and Professional Communications program are gaining real-world experience in producing technical documents. These students are writing and editing for Cybersecurity Case Library, an undergraduate research journal that is associated with the Cybersecurity Center at Cal Poly.
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
Fun fact:
Professor Grace Yeh and her students are capturing the diverse — yet under-documented — ethnic communities of the region. The multiple projects, titled “Re/Collecting,” digitize family materials and interviews into searchable databases. In one project, Yeh draws from interviews and archives to explore the first Filipino migrants to the Central Coast.
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
> Web and Digital Media
> Graphics for Packaging
> Graphic Communication Management
> Individualized Course of Study
Minor: Graphic Communication
Graduate: Professional Certificate in Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging
Fun fact:
A team of graphic communication and art and design students won first place at the university’s “Hackathon” event, sponsored by Evernote. The event was designed to give students the opportunity to build mobile apps and websites in a competitive setting. After graduation, two students on the winning team were hired by Evernote.
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
Fun fact:
The History Department’s student research journal, The Forum, is managed and produced by department undergraduate and graduate students. Since 2010, the journal has garnered three national awards for excellence in electronic and print categories.
Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts
The Interdisciplinary Studies in the Liberal Arts Department offers interdisciplinary and international classes in a wide variety of subject areas, from applied practice in media arts and technologies, to the study of ethical issues involved in technology, to courses that examine various cultures such as China, Japan, and South Africa.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies
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).
Fun fact:
In spring 2013, media arts and technology students took top prizes in the Kennedy Library and Orfalea College of Business Fifth Annual Pitch Perfect Video Competition.
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
Fun fact:
Students in journalism and across campus gain hands-on experience working for one of the first converged college media centers — the Mustang Media Group — which combines mobile and social media with online and print news, campus radio and television stations, and a public relations agency.
Liberal Arts & Engineering Studies Program
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.A., Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies
Fun fact:
Students and faculty collaborated to create PolyXpress, an app that allows users to interact with their environment while a curated, multimedia story unfolds on their smartphone. The app is developed for the Cal Poly campus, but will soon be used on campuses in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Brisbane, Australia.
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
Fun fact:
The department’s multiple instrumental and choir ensembles perform in a variety of local, regional, national and international concerts. Ensembles have gone on international performance tours to many countries including Brazil, the British Isles, Central Europe and China; groups have performed in some of the finest concert halls in the U.S., including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
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 concentration:
> Ethics and Society
Minors: Philosophy, Religious Studies
Fun fact:
The department’s Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group is a non-partisan organization focused on risk, ethical and social concerns related to new sciences and technologies. The group conducts research and education, connecting subject-matter experts from across the nation with Cal Poly.
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
Fun fact:
Political science students have the opportunity to intern at government agencies such as the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Congress. The department also offers more than 80 internships that range from working in law offices and community organizations to political offices and campaigns.
Psychology & 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
Fun fact:
In a single year, students across both psychology or child development programs provide approximately 20,000 service hours during internships.
Science, Technology & 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)and 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
Fun fact:
Each summer, students in anthropology/geography and sociology have the opportunity to travel to Peru with faculty: living with local families, immersing themselves in the Spanish language, touring Incan ruins, and engaging in service activities that directly benefit local communities.
Theatre & 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
Fun fact:
Students in theatre arts are involved in all aspects of technical theatre, and perform and participate in three annual main stage performances at Cal Poly. All productions are responded to by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
Western Intellectual Tradition Minor
The Western Intellectual Tradition Minor is synonymous with intellectual ability and breadth of knowledge. Tracing the development of philosophical and scientific thought of literary expression and historical understanding from the beginnings of Western civilization up to contemporary times, students come to grasp the crucial ideas that shaped the Western Tradition, and promotes debate about the value and role of those ideas in an increasingly diverse cultural world.
Degrees:
Minor: Western Intellectual Tradition
Women's, Gender & Queer Studies
Women’s, Gender & 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 and gender 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:
Minor: Women's and Gender Studies, Queer Studies
Fun fact:
Students in women’s and gender studies, ethnic studies, and liberal arts and engineering studies are collaborating on a Wikipedia editing project. Students review, research and update Wikipedia entries to better present the contributions of women and other underrepresented groups in science and engineering.
World Languages and Cultures
The World Languages and Cultures (WLC) Department provides students with the tools to understand different cultures and people on their own terms. Offering instruction in French, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Italian, the department gives students skills and confidence to succeed in a global context.
Degrees:
Major: B.A., Modern Languages & Literatures
Minors: French, German, Italian, Spanish
Fun fact:
An incredible number of WLC students – 50-60% – enhance their language skills by studying abroad in France, Germany, Spain and beyond! Those interested in teaching can pursue a Single Subject Teaching Credential in World Languages, which allows graduates to teach one or more languages at the K-12 level in California public schools.