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
  • 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
  • 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
  • French 11021
  • German 11031
  • History 22051
    • Concentration in Honors Program 22051
  • Humanities 15991
  • International Relations 22101
  • Japanese 11081
  • Journalism 06021
    • Concentrations in:
      • Photojournalism
      • Print and Online Journalism
  • 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
  • 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
  • Drama
  • European Studies
  • French
  • German
  • 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
  • World Music and Dance

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
  • 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
  • Theatre Arts
    • Concentration in Design/Technical Production 10072 (Temporarily Suspended)

Master of Music 10041

Graduate Certificates

  • Computational Linguistics
  • Ethical Artificial Intelligence

  • History Education

  • Immigrant Literacies (English Department)
  • Teaching of Composition (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
AnthropologyDr. Mark GriffinFA 539338–7519
Art, School ofVictor De La RosaFA 253338-2753
Broadcast and Electronic Communication ArtsDr. Lena ZhangMH 323338-1780
Cinema, School ofDr. Arron KernerFA 245A405-3972
ClassicsDr. Michael AndersonHUM 371338-7444
Communication StudiesDr. Amy KilgardHUM 289338-1597
Creative WritingMay-lee ChaiHUM 536338-1118
Design, School ofMari HulickFA 121338-2211
English Language and LiteratureDr. Maricel SantosHUM 465338-7445
HistoryDr. Laura Lisy-WagnerSCI 276338-7537
Humanities and Comparative World Literature, School ofDr. Cristina RuotoloHUM 484338-2068
International RelationsDr. Burcu EllisHUM 246405-2694
Jewish StudiesDr. Kitty MillettHUM 415338-6075
JournalismJesse GarnierHUM 224889-8895
Liberal Studies, School ofDr. Jose Acacio de BarrosHUM 410338-1830
Modern Languages and LiteraturesDr. Charles EganHUM 475338-1421
Music, School ofDr. Cyrus GinwalaCA 140338-1431
PhilosophyDr. Mohammad AzadpurHUM 361338-3135
Political ScienceDr. Nicole WattsHUM 304338-6212
Theatre and Dance, School ofKimberly SchwartzCA 103338-1341
Women and Gender StudiesDr. Julietta HuaHUM 437338-3065

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.