College of the Arts

Jun

18

Juneteenth

Juneteenth – Now a Federally Recognized Holiday – is the oldest, continuous celebration of the end of Slavery in America. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, discovered President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved African Americans in rebel states 2 ½ years earlier. It is generally accepted that the slaves in Galveston were the last slaves in America to be freed. Juneteenth is recognized in California on the 3rd Saturday in June each year and was declared “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A day of observance” in July 2002. The State of California urges its citizens to “join in celebrating this day to honor and reflect on the significant role that African-Americans have played in the history of the United States and how they have enriched society through their steadfast commitment to promoting brotherhood and equality.”

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Apr

23

Stop AAPI Hate

The College of the Arts affirms solidarity with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community and recognizes the need to support and honor the equality and importance of our students, faculty, and staff who share AAPI identity, family, and heritage. Incidents of violence targeting AAPI-identifying peoples have escalated during the past year, with nearly 4,000 incidents reported nationwide. We recognize that many attacks and incidents go unreported. In COTA we are moving to provide active responses, recognizing the AAPI community is an integral part of who we are as a College of the Arts.

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Mar

22

Fine Arts Affiliates – Supporting CSULB Students in the Arts for More than Fifty Years

For nearly 60 years, the Fine Arts Affiliates (FAA) has been supporting student scholarships for CSULB College of the Arts majors. During that time, more than $600,000 has been given to the College of the Arts by FAA for scholarships and programs. Membership is open to all.

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Jan

28

CSULB Design Students Earn Two of Five Semi-Finalist Spots in Steelcase Competition

Each year, Steelcase, Inc. holds a national student design competition. This year – competing against more than 900 entries and 60 nationwide programs – CSULB Design students received 3 out of the top 10 awards.

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Jan

08

For Your Listening and Viewing Pleasure This Winter

In this most unusual of winter seasons, the CSULB College of the Arts offers a few recommendations for your enjoyment, nostalgia, inspiration, and satisfaction. Even in the midst of global shutdown beauty and community happen. We hope this roster of virtual offerings brings you a bit of joy, introspection, and peace as we begin our new year together apart.

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Aug

11

Dr. Robin Bargar - Dean of the CSULB College of the Arts

Incoming College of the Arts Dean Robin Bargar, originally from Ohio, comes to CSULB from the University of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, where he served as the university’s director of digital and creative industry collaboration, and taught in the School of Arts Media with a joint appointment in the School of Computing Sciences.

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Jun

05

College of the Arts Community Pledge and Plan in Support of Black Lives Matter

As artists/educators/scholars/colleagues within the CSU System we accept the vital responsibility entrusted to us to create educational constructs for future members of the arts community. We prepare our students not only to explore and reconceive ideologies within their chosen disciplines, but through their art to shape, impact and remold our communities and culture.

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COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

The College of the Arts (COTA) at California State University, Long Beach is one of the largest and most respected state-supported arts colleges in the country. More than 3,000 majors and minors study in the School of Art, the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, and the departments of Dance, Design, Film and Electronic Arts, and Theatre Arts. COTA has more than 100 full-time and 150 part-time faculty members allowing the College to offer nationally-recognized, accredited degree programs including:

Bachelor of Art Degree in Art, Dance, Design, Film and Electronic Arts, Music, and Theatre Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art, Dance, Interior Design, and Theatre Arts
Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Design
Bachelor of Music Degree
Master of Fine Arts Degree in Art, Dance, and Theatre Arts
Master of Arts Degree in Art, Dance, and Design
Master of Music Degree
MFA/MBA in Theatre Management.

Post-Baccalaureate Art Certificates are offered in Museum Studies and Biomedical Illustration.

Learning opportunities within the college reflect its commitment to the arts in all its forms. For students seeking a degree in the arts, COTA provides an environment designed for individual achievement in the context of a diverse, engaged community. Curriculum and classroom experiences are strategically crafted to honor and acknowledge tradition, history, and the evolution of art forms while also encouraging unique, singular voices, disruption of norms, and innovative creativity. At the core of our mission is an appreciation of all cultures and art forms, and acknowledgement of their lasting value to the quality of life.

In addition to our academic units, COTA is home to the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum and the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, important campus and community resources. The college is a regional resource for arts and cultural events, showcases, guest lectures, and accessible, innovative artistic expression.

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Advantages of an Arts Education

At the CSULB College of the Arts, we are proud of our graduates who find success and fulfillment and a living wage (or more) while practicing their chosen art form. We are equally proud of our alumni who take the creative thinking, problem solving, flexibility, and communication skills honed in our classrooms, studios, exhibition halls, screening rooms, and stages and apply those strengths to endeavors and careers they did not originally foresee. For the past twenty years, surveys and reports have demonstrated - through statistics and anecdotes - that the very skills, strategies, and strengths shaped by the continual practice of making art - be it dance, painting, sculpture, music, design, theatre, or film - are highly valued in the work place, and are a stronger guarantee of success in business than many traditional paths.

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