College of the Arts (COTA) at Cal State Fullerton. If you are searching for a ready source of well-trained, enthusiastic, and creative individuals, you'll find no better place then the College of the Arts. No matter their area of study, every COTA student has completed a rigorous program comprising: training in the fundamentals of their respective craft; countless hours of in-class development and refinement of those fundamentals; the principles and application of critique; extensive performance or otherwise presentation of artistic works; and experience working in their target industry. College faculty pride themselves on their success at graduating students who can "hit the road running" and who can make a significant and immediate contribution to the success of your company or organization. I invite you to explore what we have to offer in the College and to add one or more of our alumni to your team.

The College of the Arts trains students in four general areas: music, dance, theatre, and the visual arts. Concentrations in the visual arts include: graphic design, entertainment arts/animation, sculpture, ceramics, creative photography, illustration, crafts, drawing & paining, printmaking, art history, and art education. Theatre offers concentrations in acting, directing, design/technical production, playwriting, education, and musical theatre. Music concentrations include education, history, voice, instrumental performance, keyboard performance, composition, and accompanying. Our programs are highly competitive and generate alumni that can compete with those from any institution in the country, as demonstrated by the following:

• Several graphic design students over the years have had their submissions recognized (placed or earned an honorable mention) in Print Magazine's Annual International Student Cover Competition.
• Our entertainment arts/animation alumni are currently working and flourishing at animation studios of all sizes, including 3DO, Electronic Arts, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks SKG.
• Over the past three years visual arts students have won or placed in both the film poster and film trailer categories in Hollywood Reporter's Key Art competition.
• Opera diva Deborah Voigt and tenors Rod Gilfry and Charles Castronovo are the Music Department's most illustrious alumna, though the department has alums who are working in orchestras from Redlands to Toronto, and performing nationally and internationally.
• The Music Department's Jazz Ensembles, Wind Ensembles, Orchestra, and University Singers regularly perform, by invitation, throughout the world.
• Numerous music alumni hold teaching positions at the elementary and secondary level throughout southern California, especially in Orange County.
• Theatre graduates have capitalized on their training in the nationally-ranked CSUF program by snagging roles in such productions as Miss Saigon, 42nd Street, Les Miserables, and Ragtime, to name just a few.
• Accolades for theatre students arrive early: over the past 15 years, student actors, playwrights, and technicians regularly place well or take highest honors in the annual American College Theatre Festival, the premier showcase for college theatre.
• Two dance students were honored at the southwest regional competition of the 2004 American College Dance Festival for their work in performance and choreography. One student was honored with the Best Performance award; the other's dance was selected to represent the region at the national showcase festival.

Having been the Dean of the College of the Arts for nearly three decades, I've watched the various creative industries our students serve become more and more competitive. I am pleased to say, however, that every time it has become clear that industry standards are rising, our faculty has been at the forefront ensuring that our students exceed those standards. Today's workplace realities demand employees who are skilled, disciplined, hard working, team-focused, creative, and linked into current cultural trends. These are also the marks of a College of the Arts graduate.

I invite you to contact Laura Neal, the Career Center representative for the College, or myself, to discuss your human resource needs.

 

Jerry Samuelson
Dean