Giving to the College of Arts & Letters

Dean Paul Wong

Our College
The College of Arts and Letters (CAL) is the heart of liberal arts education at SDSU. Our programs in the humanities and social sciences encompass 19 academic departments and a number of interdisciplinary programs, each designed to help students understand their role in society and develop aesthetic sensibilities. With 250 faculty members and many associated lecturers, CAL is the largest of the seven colleges at San Diego State; we are responsible for one third of the instruction at the university. Our courses explore the experiences of men and women in society and their cultural expressions and practices, languages and philosophical concepts. In our college, students are encouraged to develop observational and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to articulately and diplomatically express their thoughts and opinions as leaders in their communities and workplaces.

Our Vision
Our college strives to help students understand and appreciate their cultural and intellectual heritages, as well as those of others. Our intent in doing so is to foster an appreciation for life-long learning, enable students to be better prepared for changing work environments and encourage students to contribute to society by shaping their local and global communities. In keeping with SDSU's orientation as an internationally-minded institution, we encourage our faculty and students to participate in a multi-cultural world through internship and study abroad programs. In sum, we provide our students with the basis for informed citizenship in a democracy, including the appreciation of diversity and social justice.

Our Fundraising Focus

• Democratic Pluralism: It is imperative that our students are prepared to live and work in a diverse, pluralistic society. Many departments and centers in the College of Arts and Letters are concerned with teaching and research that strengthens the democratic foundations and values found in the United States and throughout the world.

• International Initiatives: Internationalization is an important, strategic orientation of SDSU. Through our courses, degree programs, research and community outreach, CAL plays an indispensable role in enabling our university to fulfill this objective.

• Endowments: Donations and incomes generated from endowments are a critical source of funding which assists us in recruiting and retaining high caliber faculty as well as meritorious undergraduate and graduate students.

• Emerging Priorities: Our college is responsive to the changing educational needs of our students and the community that we serve. By supporting CAL through an unrestricted gift, we are able to make strategic investments which take advantage of emerging possibilities to enhance academic excellence.