College of Arts & Letters

The Cal State LA College of Arts & Letters transforms lives and sustains thriving communities and cultures. We develop and amplify our students’ unique talents, diverse life experiences, and intellects through the study and practice of the Arts and Humanities so that they can tell meaningful stories, forge their professional pathways, and inspire their communities.

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Dean's Welcome

Portrait of Stephen Trzaskoma seated on a bench inside a modern campus building at Cal State LA, with tiled walls and a hallway in the background.

Dean Stephen Trzaskoma

Welcome to the College of Arts & Letters at Cal State LA, an engaged, diverse, and creative community committed to nurturing the next generation of humanists and artists and to providing a distinctive liberal arts education to all students.

Presenter standing at a Cal State LA podium in a dark auditorium with a large screen reading “Supercharge Your Visuals with Gen AI with DGA Director AJ Bleyer.

Cal State LA hosts AI in Filmmaking Symposium to prepare students for the future of visual storytelling

DGA Director and Advent Films Executive Producer AJ Bleyer presents a session titled “Supercharge Your Visuals with GenAI” during the AI in Filmmaking Symposium at Cal State LA.

Black-and-white portrait of a man standing beside a wooden gate and stucco wall, surrounded by foliage.

Cal State LA professor wins 2025 New American Fiction Prize

Cal State LA Professor Pablo Baler has been awarded the 2025 New American Fiction Prize for his novel Gilroy’s Gloryhole. The novel will be published in fall 2026 by New American Press.

Two presenters stand at the front of a classroom speaking to a seated audience, with students raising their hands during a discussion.

Cal State LA partners with DramaBox to launch a groundbreaking microdrama academic course

Cal State LA has announced an innovative academic partnership with DramaBox, a leading global vertical microdrama platform, to launch a groundbreaking course focused on mobile-first storytelling.

Cal State LA receives two Golden Globe Foundation grants for its television, film, and journalism programs

The Golden Globe Foundation has awarded two grants to Cal State LA, reaffirming its longstanding partnership with the institution and providing vital support for the university’s television, film, and journalism programs in the 2025-26 academic year.

Edward James Olmos returns to Cal State LA for Prism Award, celebration of culture, activism, and storytelling

Actor-director-producer Edward James Olmos accepts the Prism Award from Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. The award is given to creators for their outstanding contributions to diversity in speculative media.

Jaime Diaz shares his inspiration in creating the From A to Gen Z game show.

Cal State LA TVFM students create game show pilot in groundbreaking course sequence, earning praise from industry legends

Cal State LA and Hollywood industry experts celebrated about 30 students from TVFM— the Department of Television, Film, and Media Studies—following a special screening of their pilot for the game show From A to Gen Z at the TVFM Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

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A Glance Into the College of Arts & Letters

Faculty Spotlight

Outstanding Professor Award 2023 – 2024, Dr. Alejandra Marchevsky

Chair and Professor in the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Dr. Alejandra Marchevsky speaks on her bicultural background, family impact on education, centering working class communities of color and students, as well as political activism and scholarship.

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