The College of
LIBERAL ARTS
SPS Accolades
Oregon State University's online bachelor's degree in psychology has been ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
This incredible honor is based on the high-quality online learning experiences developed by the CLA's world-class faculty, as well as the CLA advisors and staff who provide unmatched support resources for students around the world. read more about the ranking >
Student Spotlight
Advocating for Oregon’s farmers and ranchers
How a fifth-generation rancher and FFA leader found her calling in agricultural communications at Oregon State
Tayleur Baker's experience as an active member of Eastern Oregon’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H organizations helped her develop tangible career skills and a deeper connection to agriculture, which informed her decision to study agricultural communications at Oregon State.
The Launchpad Scholars Program invites all First Gen, first-term, first-year Liberal Arts students to a training session for writing successful scholarship applications.
Distinguished Alumni
Psychology alumnus finds career in design
Kyle Hart turned curiosity about the human mind into a creative career, combining psychology, design, and imagination
Now a lead footwear color designer at Converse, Hart’s journey shows you’re not limited by your major, only by how boldly you apply it.
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
Rethinking hydropower’s role in the energy transition
Anthropologist Bryan Tilt co-authored a new global review published in Nature Sustainability that examines the social, environmental, and political challenges shaping the next era of large dam development
Currently, more than 3,700 hydropower dams producing over one megawatt of electricity are currently planned or under construction worldwide, primarily in emerging economies. While hydropower remains one of the world’s largest sources of low‑carbon electricity, Tilt and his co-authors emphasize that large dams continue to cause significant ecological disruption, social displacement, governance failures, and uneven distribution of benefits.
Faculty Focus
Championing student success inside and beyond the classroom
Educational psychologist and volunteer firefighter Jackie Goldman helps students learn how to learn through research, mentorship, and real‑world experience.
Goldman's teaching and research examines how students learn, what motivates them, and how institutional practices shape academic success across diverse student populations.