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Welcome to the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS) at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ — a community grounded in inquiry, creativity, and a deep commitment to the public good.

CLASS brings together 17 departments: 14 in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, and 3 in the Graduate School of Education. Together, we explore the cultural, historical, artistic, social, and political forces that shape our world — and we prepare educators and leaders who will shape its future.

In our classrooms, studios, performance spaces, research labs, and community partnerships, students are challenged to think critically, communicate thoughtfully, and engage across difference. They study human behavior and social institutions. They interpret texts and histories. They create art and performance. They examine systems of power and possibility. And through the Graduate School of Education, they prepare to teach, counsel, and lead in schools and communities throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

At a time when public discourse is polarized and social challenges are complex, the work of the liberal arts and education is not peripheral — it is essential. Our disciplines cultivate informed citizens, ethical leaders, creative thinkers, and engaged community members. We believe that understanding people, cultures, and institutions is foundational to building a more just and vibrant society.

Our faculty are dedicated teacher-scholars and creative practitioners who mentor students closely and model intellectual rigor, artistic excellence, and civic engagement. In CLASS, students are not only prepared for professional paths; they are invited into a lifelong practice of learning, reflection, and contribution.

I invite you to explore our programs and join a college that values both intellectual depth and public purpose.

Keri O’Neal, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences