Student and Alumni Profiles.

Monica Ortiz
M.A., Interdisciplinary Studies: Political Arts, 2007

* Graduate Assistant in Pan-African Studies
* Choreographer

Cal State L.A. experience:

* "After looking through various graduate school programs I chose Cal State L.A. because it had the only master's in Afro-Latin music. I did not know then that this would lead me into an Interdisciplinary Studies program involving all of the arts."
* "I had access to incredible teachers in the English Department, the Pan-African Studies Department, the Music Department and the Theater Arts and Dance Department."
* "It was possible for me to incorporate all of the departments in a unified field, Political Arts."
* "Cal State L.A. allowed me the freedom to create my own master's degree program and create a place for me to branch out to other departments."

Why Cal State L.A.?

* "There is one reason I am extremely grateful for choosing Cal State L.A., and that is the faculty."
* "Faculty members know you by name, by interest and as a person."

On Earning a Master's Degree:

* "My master's degree gave me time to focus my studies and my discipline. It also gave me time to understand the academic research process."
* "What is incredible about the master's degree is it is the first time you can really begin inquiring and testing your own theories and ideas."

Future plans:

* "I plan to be a Professor/Choreographer in Performance Studies."
* "After doing an Interdisciplinary Studies master's program at Cal State L.A., I see that we can cross boundaries and make our experiences multi-dimensional."
* "I envision teaching classes and coordinating performances for the campus as well as for the surrounding community, so we can extend the borders of our academic institution."