The College of
LIBERAL ARTS

Alumni Focus

CLA alum Molly von Borstel designs her future at Faceout Studio

After graduating from Oregon State University with honors, a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, and an eagerness to create, Molly von Borstel worked her way to become a senior designer at Faceout Studio – a company that “illuminates unique stories and ideas with meaningful and beautiful visual expression through custom book design.”

Von Borstel arrived at OSU in 2015 from a school in southern Oregon and felt drawn to graphic design early in her college career. She entered the pre-graphic design program and began her track towards professional design school, which she was accepted into in 2016.

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CLA Leadership

The College of Liberal Arts 2023-2028 Strategic Plan

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.

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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.

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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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Featured Stories

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Faculty Focus

Three decades of history, travel, and learning

Nicole von Germeten’s research in early-modern Spanish America has taken her around the world

In her role as Associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts, Nicole von Germeten values helping students and faculty, practicing compassion for different perspectives, and working on her de-escalation techniques.

“It's really rewarding to be able to have people come to me with really difficult conflicts or crises that they're experiencing, and then being able to help them,” von Germeten said. “It gives me a sense of achievement, like, 'okay, we did that.'” read more >

 

With 290 faculty members, the College of Liberal Arts has the collective experience to guide our students to greatness.

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CLA Events

 

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donation innovation

Visionary Donations Funding our Future: PRAx

“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 >

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Arts Entertainment Complex