The College of
LIBERAL ARTS

Student Spotlight
Navigating identity: Sajjad Kalanaky’s journey from Tehran to OSU
Graduate student Sajjad Kalanaky in the School of Language, Culture, and Society talks about his academic growth from philosophy to women, gender, and sexuality studies
From growing up in the bustling streets of Tehran, Iran, to becoming a master’s student in the College of Liberal Arts, Sajjad Kalanaky’s quest for personal and academic freedom in the face of social constraints is fervent. Kalanaky's research within the women, gender, and sexuality studies program explores the intersections of family, religion, immigration, and their combined effects on the mental health of queer individuals. "I am hoping to propose a radical re-envisioning of mental health care that focuses on and centers the person, their identity, and their needs," he explained.
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.
CLA BY THE NUMBERS
5,026
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.
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.
336
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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.
Research Highlights
Surveillance and AI in the technical writing classroom
A new methods paper by faculty in the School of Writing, Literature, and Film and the School of Communication provides guidance to instructors of technical writing on how to appropriately incorporate AI in the curriculum
The purpose of technical writing is to convey complex information in a clear, concise, and accessible manner. A trained technical writer is traditionally more concerned about structure and accuracy to enhance understanding. The use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) large language models (LLMs) has increased in both professional and classroom technical writing settings, requiring instructors and administrators to address how much or little GAI should appropriately be utilized by students.


Faculty Focus
The philosophy of anything
Dr. Stephanie Jenkins, associate professor of philosophy, talks freedom of philosophy, work in disability studies, and more
Before Dr. Stephanie C. Jenkins had a Ph.D., she was introduced to philosophy via competitive debate in high school. While majoring in philosophy at Emory University, Jenkins found favorite philosophers like Simone de Beauvoir, Judith Butler, and Michel Foucault, among others.
Across her broad field of interests, Jenkins uses disability studies to explore why hierarchies exist between abled and disabled people thanks to ableism, the “moral other” of non-human animals through critical animal studies; and examines gendered moral others through feminist philosophy. Read more >
With 290 faculty members, the College of Liberal Arts has the collective experience to guide our students to greatness.
Meet our Facultydonation 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.
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