College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Mission and Goals
The liberal and creative arts explore the identities, ethics, aspirations, arguments, and imaginations of individuals and societies through art, myth, literature, language, philosophy, religion, public and private discourse, cultural artifacts, and the symbolic systems by which ideas and feelings are communicated.
Disciplines in the liberal and creative arts address fundamental questions of existence, value, aesthetics, and expression. What is an ethical human being? How can we balance individual freedom and civic responsibility? How do different cultures define beauty, morality, truth, and other concepts? How do human beings use language and other symbolic forms to communicate and celebrate thoughts, emotions, and endeavors?
The liberal and creative arts are dedicated to exploring multiple answers to these questions, to engaging the imagination and creativity, to increasing civic and global responsibility, to cultivating moral action, and to equipping people with the artistic and communication skills needed to express the best of what it means to be human.
Today's life is complex and constantly challenging. The times need people who can think, reason, and communicate clearly; who understand moral and ethical distinctions; and who have a sense of both the continuity and the changing values of the human community.
Programs
The College of Liberal & Creative Arts consists of the departments or schools of Anthropology, Art, Broadcast and Electronic Arts, Cinema, Classics, Communication Studies, Creative Writing, Design, English, Humanities and Comparative World Literature, Jewish Studies, Journalism, Liberal Studies, Modern Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy, Theatre and Dance, and Women and Gender Studies; and programs in African Studies, American Studies, California Studies, Conflict Resolution, Critical Social Thought, Ethical Issues in Science and Technology, European Studies, Global Peace Studies, Latin American Studies, Media Literacy, Middle East and Islamic Studies, Migration and Refugee Studies, Museum Studies, Pacific Asian Studies, Persian Studies, Pre-law, Professional Writing and Rhetoric, Religious Studies, South Asian Studies and World Music and Dance.
Students in the college work closely with a world-class faculty, comprised of working professionals and acclaimed artists and scholars who provide students with access to breaking trends and new opportunities and who frequently share their expertise with the news media on society’s most important issues.
As students examine this Bulletin, they will discover that a number of courses not only relate to one another but also cut across disciplinary and departmental lines.
Arts Programs
The College of Liberal & Creative Arts has one of the largest and most comprehensive academic programs devoted to the creative arts in Northern California. Comprised of disciplines in the literary, media, performing, and visual arts, the College provides unique opportunities for specialized focus, collaboration, interdisciplinary learning, and multidisciplinary pursuits.
Academic programs encompass creative practice, theoretical and critical studies, fine arts, applied arts, and arts education. The college supports programs that stress both original and interpretive forms of the arts, as well as those emphasizing traditional and innovative pursuits. High standards of professional accomplishment are stressed while maintaining a commitment to liberal arts curricula. A major goal is the education of students who will become significant creators, scholars, educators, and facilitators in creative arts who are capable of making major contributions in our urban, national, and global environment.
The College seeks to continue its long history of relationships with varied audiences, communities, and professionals throughout San Francisco. A substantial portion of the College's programs highlights the unique roles and expressions of the arts in a multicultural and diverse society. The College strives to maintain a significant contribution to the unique ways in which the creative arts can serve as primary agents in a quality liberal arts education.
For information on productions, exhibits, and symposia refer to the Literary, Performing, Visual, and Media Arts section of this Bulletin.
Pre-law Program
No specific major is required for admission to a school of law. A usual requirement for admission is that the student must have been granted a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Some law schools, however, have alternative plans. Students should consult the catalogs of the schools of law to which they plan to apply for admission. Since law schools generally expect their students to have a broad foundation in the humanities and social sciences, selection of a major in these areas is recommended.
The College of Liberal & Creative Arts provides advising and resource materials to pre-law students majoring in one of several majors: please contact Associate Professor Carlos Montemayor, Philosophy Department; Professor M. Shelley Wilcox, Philosophy Department; or Assistant Professor Nicholas Conway, Political Science Department.
Pre-teaching Programs
Many students decide at some point during their undergraduate major that they would like to consider teaching in public schools. In most cases, the requirements for the major must be adjusted to accommodate an Approved Single Subject Matter Preparation Program, those courses in a single subject that are required for entrance into teaching credential programs at this and other universities. A list of the courses required for teacher preparation in various subjects is available in department offices, as well as in the Credential Bulletin published by the Graduate College of Education.
Students considering teaching as a career are urged to contact the department’s credential adviser early in their planning, to identify the specific courses that satisfy requirements for both the major and the Subject Matter Preparation Program, and to arrange for the assessment of subject-matter competency. The credential adviser will also inform them about other pre-teaching requirements that they may wish to fulfill before graduation.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Arts
- American Studies 03131
- Anthropology 22021
- Art 10021
- Concentration in:
- Art History and Studio Art
- Concentration in:
- Art History 10031
- Bilingual Spanish Journalism 06024
- Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts 06051
- Chinese 11071
- Concentrations in:
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Literature and Linguistics
- Flagship Chinese Language
- Concentrations in:
- Cinema 10101
- Classics 15041
- Communication Studies 06011
- Comparative and World Literature 15031
- Creative Writing 15071
- Dance 10081
- Drama 10071
- English 15011
- Concentrations in:
- English Education 15011
- Literature 15021
- Linguistics 15051
- Professional Writing and Rhetoric 15011
- Concentrations in:
- French 11021
- German 11031
- History 22051
- Concentration in Honors Program 22051
- Humanities 15991
- International Relations 22101
- Italian 11041
- Japanese 11081
- Journalism 06021
- Concentration in:
- Photojournalism - Last Admit Fall 2024
- Print and Online Journalism - Last Admit Fall 2024
- Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
- Concentration in:
- Liberal Studies 49012
- Liberal Studies Integrated Teacher Preparation 49015
- Modern Jewish Studies 15102
- Music 10051
- Philosophy 15091
- Concentration in Philosophy and Law 15091
- Philosophy and Religion 15992
- Political Science 22071
- Spanish 11051
- Studio Art 10021
- Theatre Arts 10071
- Women and Gender Studies 22990
Bachelor of Music 10041
Bachelor of Science
- Industrial Design
- Concentration in:
- Product Design and Development 10025
- Concentration in:
- Visual Communication Design 06012
Minor Programs
- African Studies
- American Studies
- Animation
- Anthropology
- Art
- Art History
- Bilingual Spanish Journalism
- California Studies
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Literature and Linguistics
- Cinema
- Classics
- Comic Studies
- Communication Studies
- Comparative and World Literature
- Creative Writing
- Critical Social Thought
- Dance
- Design
- Disability Studies
- Drama
- European Studies
- Feminist Health Justice
- French
- German
- Global Music and Dance
- Global Peace, Human Rights, and Justice Studies
- History
- Humanities
- International Relations
- Italian
- Japanese
- Jewish Studies
- Journalism
- Latin American Studies
- Linguistics
- Literature in English
- Media Literacy
- Middle East and Islamic Studies
- Museum Studies
- Music
- Pacific Asian Studies
- Persian Studies
- Philosophy
- Philosophy and Religion
- Political Science
- Professional Writing and Rhetoric
- Religious Studies
- Russian
- South Asian Studies
- Spanish
- Video Game Studies
- Women and Gender Studies
Undergraduate Certificates
- Computational Linguistics
- Conflict Resolution (offered jointly by the Colleges of Business, Ethnic Studies, Health and Social Sciences, and Liberal & Creative Arts)
- Creative Nonfiction Comics Making
- Ethnography
- Historical Research (Honors)
- Liberal and Creative Arts
- Migration and Refugee Studies
- Modern Language Learning and Teaching
- Music/Recording Industry
- Pre-Law
- Technical and Professional Writing
- Special Study in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Master of Arts
- Anthropology 22021
- Art 10021 (Temporarily Suspended)
- Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts 06051
- Chinese 11071
- Cinema Studies 10101
- Classics 15041
- Communication Studies 06011
- Comparative Literature 15031
- Design 10023
- English
- Concentrations in:
- Composition 15013
- Linguistics 15051
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 15081
- Concentrations in:
- English Literatures 15021
- French 11021
- History 22051
- Humanities 15991
- International Relations 22101
- Museum Studies 49036
- Music 10051
- Philosophy 15091
- Political Science 22071
- Spanish 11051
- Theatre Arts 10071
- Women and Gender Studies 22990
Master of Fine Arts
- Art 10022
- Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts 06051
- Cinema 10102
- Creative Writing 15071
Master of Music 10041
Graduate Certificates
- Computational Linguistics
-
Ethical Artificial Intelligence
-
History Education
- Immigrant Literacies (English Department)
- Teaching of Composition (English Department)
-
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (English Department)
- Teaching Post-secondary Reading (English Department)
College Administrative Offices
| Title | Officer | Office | Telephone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dean | Dr. Ifeoma Kiddoe Nwankwo | CA 251 | 338-1471 |
| Associate Dean | Dr. Resha Cardone | CA 251 | 338-1471 |
| Associate Dean | Dr. Gitanjali Shahani | CA 251 | 338-1471 |
| Director of Finance & Operations | Ly Chau | CA 251 | 338-7618 |
| College Personnel Officer | Alyscia Richards | CA 251 | 405-4281 |
College Directory
| Department/Program | Chair/Director | Office | Telephone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | Dr. Mark Griffin | FA 539 | 338–7519 |
| Art, School of | Victor De La Rosa | FA 253 | 338-2753 |
| Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts | Dr. Lena Zhang | MH 323 | 338-1780 |
| Cinema, School of | Dr. Arron Kerner | FA 245A | 405-3972 |
| Classics | Dr. Michael Anderson | HUM 371 | 338-7444 |
| Communication Studies | Dr. Amy Kilgard | HUM 289 | 338-1597 |
| Creative Writing | May-lee Chai | HUM 536 | 338-1118 |
| Design, School of | Mari Hulick | FA 121 | 338-2211 |
| English Language and Literature | Dr. Maricel Santos | HUM 465 | 338-7445 |
| History | Dr. Laura Lisy-Wagner | SCI 276 | 338-7537 |
| Humanities and Comparative World Literature, School of | Dr. Cristina Ruotolo | HUM 484 | 338-2068 |
| International Relations | Dr. Burcu Ellis | HUM 246 | 405-2694 |
| Jewish Studies | Dr. Kitty Millett | HUM 415 | 338-6075 |
| Journalism | Jesse Garnier | HUM 224 | 889-8895 |
| Liberal Studies, School of | Dr. Jose Acacio de Barros | HUM 410 | 338-1830 |
| Modern Languages and Literatures | Dr. Charles Egan | HUM 475 | 338-1421 |
| Music, School of | Dr. Cyrus Ginwala | CA 140 | 338-1431 |
| Philosophy | Dr. Mohammad Azadpur | HUM 361 | 338-3135 |
| Political Science | Dr. Nicole Watts | HUM 304 | 338-6212 |
| Theatre and Dance, School of | Kimberly Schwartz | CA 103 | 338-1341 |
| Women and Gender Studies | Dr. Julietta Hua | HUM 437 | 338-3065 |
Centers and Institutes
| Center/Institute | Director/Coordinator | Office | Telephone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Iranian Diaspora | Dr. Persis Karim | HUM 503 | 338-1500 |
| Dilena Takeyama Center for the Study of Japan and Japanese Culture | Dr. Christopher Weinberger | HUM 455 | 338-7403 |
| Documentary Film Institute | Soumyaa Behrens | CA 001 | 405-3753 |
| Global Museum | Dr. Edward M. Luby | FA 293 | 338-6508 |
| Media and Community | Jon Funabiki | CA 10 | 338-3162 |
| Morrison Chamber Music Center | Dr. Cyrus Ginwala | CA 140 | 338-1431 |
| Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at SF State | Kathy Bruin | DTC | 817-4243 |
| Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability | Dr. Emily Smith Beitiks | HUM 135 | 405-3528 |
| Poetry Center and American Poetry Archives | Steve Dickison | HUM 511 | 338-3401 |
| Queer Cinema Institute | Johnny Symons | FA 511 | 405-2841 |
| Veteran Documentary Corps | Dr. Daniel L. Bernardi | FA 515 | 405-3595 |
Research and Special Learning Facilities
The College houses a number of special centers, institutes, facilities, and programs. Collections include the Marvin L. Silverman Jewish Studies Reading Room, Global Museum, American Poetry Archives, and Nathan Shapira Design Archive.
Centers and institutes include: the Center for Iranian Diaspora, Center for the Integration and Improvement of Journalism, Design Gallery, Dilena Takeyama Center for the Study of Japan and Japanese Studies, Documentary Film Institute, Fine Arts Gallery, Global Museum, English Tutoring Center, Morrison Chamber Music Center, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability,The Poetry Center, Queer Cinema Institute, and the Veteran Documentary Corps.
Galleries, Labs, Theatres, and Workshops
Creative Arts facilities throughout the College are custom-designed to meet the needs of the College’s programs. There are five performing arts auditoria, including the McKenna Theatre (seats 701, with proscenium stage, orchestra pit, fly system, and 35mm projection and video system), Knuth Hall (seats 322), Little Theatre (seats 253), Studio Theatre (seats 78, with thrust stage), and the Brown Bag Theatre (seats 55, black-box design). The Coppola Theatre screening room seats 146.
The Art programs include the 3,200-square-foot Fine Arts Gallery with rear projection screen, curatorial rooms, the Martin Wong Gallery, and the Global Museum. The department houses a printmaking archive of 500 works.
Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts students have access to professional-grade production equipment, studios, and laboratories. Work completed by students in the department is distribution-ready for Federal Communications Commission broadcast guidelines and is in continuous distribution through terrestrial broadcast, cablecast (both radio and video), and internet delivery. KSFSmedia.net is the student-run distribution hub for all BECA student productions.
Production facilities include three high-definition, multi-camera television studios, a radio station, two music recording studios, two advanced sound-design-for-video studios, and an array of field production equipment ranging from large-scale audio and multi-camera video simulcast equipment to professional-quality audio and video single-camera and electronic news gathering equipment. The BECA Department also maintains more than 75 computer workstations for audio and video production and post-production activity.
The School of Cinema facilities include a 250-foot shooting stage, several editing and post-production labs, sound recording and mixing studios with digital editing workstations, a Foley stage, an animation studio with film and computer workstations, two computer labs, a media library, the Bill Nichols Reading Room, and the Cinema Studies Center.
The Poetry Center and American Poetry Archives, housed in the Creative Writing Department, holds the nation’s largest, most comprehensive and heterogeneous collection of poetry on tape that is accessible to the public.
The School of Design facilities include digital laboratories for graphic design, interactive media, computer-aided drafting (CAD), 3D surface and solid-modeling computer graphics, and computer-aided manufacturing/rapid-prototyping.
The School of Music has dedicated large and small ensemble rehearsal spaces, three piano laboratories, a large number of practice rooms, and an electronic music laboratory.
The School of Theatre Arts and Dance, in addition to four theatres, includes a scene and paint shop, costume shop, properties shop, lighting laboratory and sound design laboratory, and a dance studio.
The College supervises computer laboratories used by classes.