President's Message

Whether you are a first-year student or a graduating senior, welcome to a new academic year at California Lutheran University! Your time here is a path of self-discovery and transformation, offering you the chance to forge new friendships, question or reinforce your beliefs, and pursue passions both old and new. This academic catalog is your next step on this winding road.

As you peruse through the myriad of courses offered — if you’re searching for a degree requirement or a satisfying elective — I encourage you to keep an open mind and explore subject areas beyond your major. Embrace the full breadth of our liberal arts education! By choosing a smaller liberal arts college, you are committed to getting to know your classmates as peers and colleagues, as well as your professors as mentors guiding you through your academic and vocational journey. A journey that does not stop once you’ve reached a credit limit or even shaken my hand at Commencement.

As a Cal Lutheran student, you will be held to high academic standards, provided opportunities for experiential learning experiences, and given guidance to achieve success in your scholarly pursuits. No matter how or where you are learning — in-person, remotely, or through a hybrid blend — know that our commitment to your education remains steadfast. Let this catalog be your guide as you plan your studies and navigate your path to success.

Education at Cal Lutheran is about more than acquiring knowledge; it is about igniting a lifelong love of learning. As a famous saying goes, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Paint a picture in your mind of who you want to become. Humans possess this rare capability to imagine forward, to think in the hypothetical, to dream creative thoughts, to use the past to think in the present in order to take action for a preferred future.

Thank you for being part of the Cal Lutheran community. Together, we will embark on a journey of growth, learning, and achievement.

John A. Nunes, PhD
Interim President

California Lutheran University is a diverse scholarly community dedicated to excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies. Rooted in the Lutheran tradition of Christian faith, the university encourages critical inquiry into matters of both faith and reason. The mission of the university is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice.