California Lutheran University

What is the history of California Lutheran University?

California Lutheran University is a private university in Thousand Oaks, California, founded by Lutherans in 1959. It opened to students in 1961 as California Lutheran College, with a liberal arts curriculum shaped by its religious heritage.

The institution later expanded its graduate and professional programs and adopted the name California Lutheran University in 1986. Its development from a small college into a university helps explain its current mix of traditional undergraduate study, graduate education and programs for working adults. The university retains a Lutheran affiliation while enrolling students of different faiths and backgrounds.

What are the faculties and departments at California Lutheran University?

California Lutheran organizes its academic offerings across the College of Arts and Sciences and schools focused on management, education, psychology, and professional and continuing studies. Students can pursue bachelor's degrees as well as selected master's, doctoral, credential and professional programs.

Undergraduate options span fields such as biology, computer science, communication, psychology, music, business and criminal justice. Graduate offerings include education, business and psychology. The School for Professional and Continuing Studies serves adult learners whose schedules or educational histories may differ from those of traditional undergraduates.

Applicants should check the current catalog for a specific major's courses and admission rules. Admission to the university does not necessarily mean admission to every specialized program, and credential or licensure pathways can have requirements beyond those for a degree.

What is the location of California Lutheran University?

California Lutheran's main campus is in Thousand Oaks, a suburban community in Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles. Its location offers access to employers and cultural resources across the Los Angeles and Ventura County region, although travel between destinations generally requires planning around road traffic.

The university also offers some programs at locations beyond its main campus, so applicants should confirm where their particular courses meet. Students who expect to commute should check class times, parking arrangements and the travel time from their own address rather than treating proximity to Los Angeles as a measure of daily convenience. Los Angeles International Airport is a major regional airport, but it is not adjacent to campus.

What is the mission and vision of California Lutheran University?

California Lutheran describes its educational mission in terms of academic learning, character, vocation, service and justice. Its Lutheran heritage informs that stated purpose, but the university is not limited to Lutheran students.

In practical terms, the institution presents liberal arts study and professional preparation as connected rather than separate goals. Those are statements of educational intent, not evidence that every student will have the same experience or career outcome. Prospective students can assess how that mission appears in the curriculum, campus activities and policies of the program they plan to enter.