Program Overview

The California Lutheran University art curriculum provides a foundation in the studio arts and art history which encourages students to develop their own vision as creative artists and voices for its history and contemporary critique. With an emphasis on individualized attention and creative motivation, faculty members combine a broad range of academic and art disciplines with real-world experiences, philosophies and attitudes.

Interested students have a chance to participate in Cal Lutheran-sponsored travel to a variety of international locations. Each student is also given the option to take art and/or art history classes one or two semesters in a Study Abroad program in countries such as Italy or England. Likewise, Cal Lutheran’s diverse art collections give students access to a variety of art objects from various countries. These collections include the La Boyteaux Collection of New Guinea Art, the Lou Grubb Collection of American Indian Art and Paintings, the Rev. Patty Hundley Photographic Archive and a collection of Philippine Island ethnic artwork.

Art majors may opt for the standard art major curricula or designate their preference with a concentration in design. The design specialty requires an advanced computer graphics course. Sophisticated graphics programs utilizing up-to-date software are available to Cal Lutheran students to increase their creative skills and prepare them for the professional work of design. In addition, other design courses are cross-listed with the Theatre Arts Department, and digital arts classes are available in the Multimedia Department.

The majority of students choosing the design emphasis move into careers associated with advertising agencies, computer graphics, freelance photography, design studios and book design. Students can also prepare for careers in the motion picture and television industries, theater and animation by creating work especially targeted for their desired goals.

Art history students find Cal Lutheran a perfect area to explore museums and architectural works. Nearby are the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, the Pacific-Asia Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (L.A.), Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Armand Hammer Museum, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and others.

Students interested in a fine arts studio practice are provided a foundation of techniques and interaction with various materials which involve traditional and contemporary studio methods. The ultimate goal is for students to develop their own individual style and body of work while having an awareness of related historical and contemporary art concepts.

All art major seniors are required to take a Capstone course which focuses on the practical and philosophical aspects of being an artist or working in a field related to the arts. This class is designed to assist students in “real world” participation in the arts following graduation. A working knowledge of archival matting/framing, writing an artist statement and preparing a portfolio are included. All of the steps to curate and install an art exhibition are covered, culminating in a collaboratively produced retrospective of the senior art majors’ best work displayed in the Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture.

The Art Department works with the School of Education to serve the needs of students planning careers in teaching. Credential programs, as well as opportunities to practice art instruction, are available. A multi-media major is also available.