College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Will McConnell, PhD
Dean
Introduction
Even before they step onto campus, Woodbury University students already comprise a diverse group riven to succeed. In the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, we strive to give our students every possible advantage as they devote their energies and ambitions to educational programs designed to meet the challenges of the contemporary world. We believe this is best accomplished via an educational practice informed by a transdisciplinary approach that partners real world experiences with theoretical research. Woodbury’s long history of scholarly informed teaching practices encourage students to explore, engage, and implement changes that they wish to see in the world.
Our curriculum focuses on developing the intellectual capacity to produce diverse and varied contexts for examining the world; to seek out alternate, cutting-edge ways of living and experiencing different societies and ideas; to develop the interpersonal skills needed to work effectively within and across cultures; and to analyze, understand, and work toward the change students want to see in the world. Courses, majors, and programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences prepare students with the necessary skills for an array of careers and advanced degrees. All of our courses offer students exposure to the ever-changing body of knowledge, theories, ideas, and principles that shape society, technology, culture, and the environment. Across all of the settings within the College, the emphasis is on active, experiential learning techniques designed to enhance each student’s capacity for not only independent and rigorous thought, but also creative and applied contextual analysis leading to positive action.
Mission
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences provides an active learning environment central to the intellectual and creative life of the University. Our interdisciplinary curriculum instills a love of knowledge and critical thinking, preparing students to be compassionate, well-informed world citizens who positively impact social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
Majors, Departments & Programs
The College houses five undergraduate majors as well as numerous other departments and programs to educate all Woodbury undergraduate students. The majors—Computer Science Data Analytics, Interdisciplinary Studies, Political Science, Professional Writing, and Public Safety Administration—are all structured as challenging interdisciplinary degrees grounded in the liberal arts.
Computer Science Data Analytics is designed to help students understand data analysis methodologies, as well as appreciate, visualize, describe, and analyze data. The need for data analytics has seen exponential growth as more professions begin to recognize its value and the advantages its use can afford. Students in this exciting interdisciplinary STEM major will be well- prepared to apply data analysis strategies in a variety of professional fields, including business, finance, architecture, engineering, medical research, and many others. Graduates of the program are well-equipped to pursue successful careers in industry or government, or to take on graduate studies in related fields.
Interdisciplinary Studies allows students to build their own majors. Students collaborate on the design of their own learning— an exclusive academic experience in which the University becomes an open-source platform students can use to help define who and what they want to become. As part of a community of self-directed learners, students work one-on-one with relevant faculty members from across the campus to integrate two different disciplines among those offered at Woodbury, resulting in a senior thesis project that sets the course for a wholly unique career.
Political Science offers an interdisciplinary approach with a global perspective and insights from historical study. Core seminars in international relations, comparative politics, political theory, and American politics are complemented by the study of topics such as globalization and terrorism. Opportunities for practical internships and a year-long pair of seminars resulting in a senior thesis cap the program.
Professional Writing emphasizes the principles of clarity, ethics, relevance, creativity, and global scope as students learn to integrate the diverse endeavors of creative and professional writing while focusing on their own unique passions and expressive goals. Students become the authors, information architects, document designers, and cross-cultural communicators sought by creative industries, businesses, governments, and non-profit organizations.
Public Safety Administration evaluates, researches, and serves criminal justice professions through a unique interdisciplinary approach to the study of criminal justice and human behavior. Our curriculum provides substantive and practical knowledge to link multidisciplinary social science theories and methods with effective, responsible public policy and the ethical practice of justice professions within a multicultural, constitutional democracy.
Our other departments and programs all provide essential elements of a university education, initiate efforts in transdisciplinary collaboration with other parts of the University. The College offers minors in Computer Science Data Analytics, Art History, Philosophy, Professional Writing, Urban Studies, and History, and oversees several programs to enrich and diversify our students’ experiences in such general education fields as art history, economics, library science, literature, mathematics, philosophy, personal and professional development, and sciences. In addition, the College houses the University- wide Honors Program and the Pathways to Student Success Program. Finally, we provide tutoring services, including the Writing Center and the Math, Science, and Subject Tutoring Center. We are committed to the success of students in our degree programs and to all students across Woodbury’s two campuses.
Faculty
The faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is incredibly diverse, not only in educational and personal backgrounds, but in approaches to student learning and academic scholarship. As the principal stewards of the College’s degrees and programs, they are responsible for creating and improving the educational experiences of all the University’s students. They serve as mentors and advisors, providing personal and ongoing direction to students in majors, minors, or simply taking individual courses.
Faculty members also work collegially and collaboratively with each other, as well as with educators across and outside the University, to establish opportunities for inter- and transdisciplinary research and course development.
COMPUTER SCIENCES DATA ANALYTICS
Full-Time Faculty
Samuel E. Sambasivam, Professor
PhD, Moscow State University, Russia
HONORS
Participating Faculty
Linda Dove, Honors Coordinator
PhD, University of Maryland, College Park
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Full-Time Faculty
Douglas J. Cremer, Professor
PhD, University of California, San Diego
Rossen Ventzislavov, Professor, Philosophy
PhD, City University of New York
Emertia Faculty
Reuben J. Ellis, Professor
PhD, University of Colorado at Boulder
Elisabeth Sandberg, Professor
PhD, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Phil Pack
PhD, Claremont Graduate University
PATHWAYS TO STUDENT SUCCESS
Full-Time Faculty
Richard N. Matzen Jr., Professor
PhD, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Participating Faculty
Michael Sonksen, Coordinator
MA, California State University, Los Angeles
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY
Full-Time Faculty
Douglas J. Cremer, Professor
PhD, University of California, San Diego
H. Eric Schockman, Professor
PhD, University of California, Riverside
PROFESSIONAL WRITING
Full-Time Faculty
Matthew A. Bridgewater, Associate Professor
PhD, Bowling Green State University
Richard N. Matzen Jr., Professor
PhD, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Participating Faculty
Linda Dove
PhD, University of Maryland, College Park
PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
Full-Time Faculty
H. Eric Schockman, Professor
PhD, University of California, Riverside
GENERAL EDUCATION
Full-Time Faculty
Nageswar Rao Chekuri, Professor, Physics
EdD, University of Cincinnati
Annie Chu, Associate Professor, Mathematics
PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
Amy Marie Converse, Professor, Art History
PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
Rossen Ventzislavov, Professor, Philosophy
PhD, City University of New York
Instructional Staff
Victor Casas, Learning Specialist–Instructional Designer
MFA, California State University, Los Angeles
Laurel DiGangi, Tutoring Services Coordinator
MA, University of Illinois, Chicago
LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCES FACULTY
Karla Bluestone, Assistant Professor
MLIS, San Jose State University
Linda Cooks
MLIS, Valdosta State University
Ayanna Gaines, Associate Professor
MLIS, Dominican University
Eric Garcia
MLIS, San Jose State University
Barret Havens, Associate Professor
MLIS, University of Texas at Austin