Student Focus
Alex Johnson, ‘04, M.P.P. ‘06, is deputy director of U.S. foreign policy for Open Society Foundations, a global grantmaking, research, and aid organization that supports inclusive democracies. As deputy director, Johnson manages a global advocacy team that supports initiatives by regional and local nonprofit organizations working to improve civil society, ultimately, enhancing U.S. foreign policy.
“If you’ve seen the television show House of Cards, one way I explain my job to my family is to say, ‘I’m the Remy Danton for Justice,’” Johnson joked.
CLA Leadership
The College of Liberal Arts builds a richer, more creative tomorrow through the rigorous study of human history, human expression, and the human mind. In the next five years, we will pivot towards the knowledge economies of the future.
In the next five years, we will pivot towards the knowledge economies of the future. Today's students will chart their professional paths in a wider variety of fields than ever before, including many that don't yet exist. They seek an education that universities of the past could not have envisioned. We must meet their aspirations. CLA will be a bridge-builder, elevating collaborative opportunities and amplifying the visibility of innovative research and creative work.
We will integrate the arts in research disciplines across the University. We will create globally-relevant opportunities for all students, including those who cannot physically travel abroad. We will prioritize new technologies and pathways for student learning. The College of Liberal Arts will lead Oregon State University as a model of higher education for the public good.
The right size for your education
The College of Liberal Arts is the proud academic home of 5,026 students. With 1 faculty member for every 15 undergraduate students, you'll receive a personalized education paired with a robust liberal arts college experience.
5,026
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World Class Instruction
Our dynamic, intellectual community of 336 expert faculty tackle the world’s biggest issues from social justice to food insecurity. They conduct symphonies and design in virtual reality. They study the past to forge solutions for the future.
4-Year Graduation Guarantee
CLA is the only college at Oregon State that guarantees you'll graduate in 4 years. Our graduates go on to successful careers in medicine, technology, the arts, media, law, policy, education, business and more. Your path is wide open.
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Faculty Focus
For many students, studying abroad can be a great opportunity to travel and explore different cultures around the globe, while at the same time still receiving the college credits needed to help complete their degrees. Although there are many different programs available to students who are looking to study abroad, a new philosophy-related program in Nepal uniquely stands out. Geoff Barstow, an associate professor in the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion, leads the annual study abroad program to Kathmandu, Nepal, each winter quarter. read more >
With 290 faculty members, the College of Liberal Arts has the collective experience to guide our students to greatness.
donation innovation
“The Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts will serve as a unique and dynamic education and performance center and will be a showcase destination for the visual, musical, theater and cultural arts for students, faculty, campus visitors and Oregonians,” said Larry Rodgers, dean of OSU’s College of Liberal Arts.
A lead gift of $25 million for the complex has been provided by Patricia Reser. Additional gifts include a $2 million commitment from the family of the late Lynne Detrick of West Linn to build a new 500-seat concert hall to offer a high-caliber venue for both listeners and performers, Rodgers said. The OSU Foundation continues to seek philanthropic support for the center, and OSU will also seek state bonding from the 2020 Oregon Legislature to help support the project. read more >