| Antioch University Los Angeles | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1972 [1] |
| Type | Private |
| President | Neal King, Ph. D. |
| Students | 1000 approx |
| Location | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Website | www.antiochla.edu |
Antioch University Los Angeles (AULA) is a small private liberal arts school currently located in Culver City, California. The school is a campus of Antioch University.
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Antioch College was founded in 1852 in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Horace Mann, Antioch College’s first president, was a renowned educator, architect of the American public school system, social reformer and abolitionist. His goal was to create an educational environment that was stimulating and unconventional in its approach to learning.
As early as 1863, Antioch embraced a policy abolishing race as a criterion for acceptance. Since then, Antioch has been a dedicated advocate for social equity. Antioch College was also the first college in America to educate women on equal terms with men. In addition, Antioch was the first American college to hire female faculty on an equal basis with male colleagues and the first co-educational college to have a woman on its Board of Trustees.
The Antioch University of today is the legacy of Horace Mann’s original vision, and an example of the success of educational experimentation, innovation and diversity of thought. Antioch University continues to break down educational barriers and rebuild them as educational opportunities. Since its creation in 1852 Antioch has evolved from a small liberal arts college to a multi-campus university system with five campuses located across the nation in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Keene, New Hampshire, Seattle, Washington, Santa Barbara, California and Los Angeles, California. Throughout its history, Antioch University has reinvented itself to meet the needs of its students within an ever-changing world.
Established in 1972, Antioch University Los Angeles offers degree programs designed specifically for the mature adult learner desiring to complete a degree and pursue personal and professional goals.
The campus is centrally located within Los Angeles, approximately where the 405 and 90 freeways cross. AULA is nestled between beach communities like Marina del Rey and Venice, as well as the communities of Culver City and Palms. Just 10 minutes from LAX and 20 minutes from Hollywood, the campus is ideal for working adults who commute to campus for classes.
The current student body consists of approximately 1000 learners, and supports an impressive stable of faculty who are arguably in the top echelon of their fields. Students enjoy the intimacy and interchange of small classes and usually undertake service-learning projects that engage them in valuable work within their communities.
Antioch University Los Angeles is currently home to a number of undergraduate and graduate programs: BA in Liberal Studies, which includes the Bridge Program; MA in Clinical Psychology; MA in Education; MA in Organizational Management; a low-residency MFA in Creative Writing and the new MA in Urban Sustainability program (also a low-residency program). AULA also offers a teaching credentialing program, as well as several non-degree certificate programs.
Antioch University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
The B.A. in Liberal Arts Program [1] at Antioch University uses multiple learning formats and develops independent studies with the support of faculty mentors. Students can obtain academic credit for prior learning. The program promotes the values of academic excellence, experiential learning, and social justice. The program developed six structured areas of concentration based on the most popular student choices: Business and Social Entrepreneurship, Child Studies, Creative Writing, Liberal Studies, Psychology and Urban Community and Environment. In addition to the six concentrations students can create programs to stretch existing careers in new directions or fuel individual enthusiasm for specialized academic focus.
Program Chair: Kirsten Grimstad, Ph.D. Core Faculty: MeHee Hyun, Ph.D., Andrea Richards, Ph.D., David L. Tripp, Ph.D., Diana Pei Wu, Ph.D.
The Bridge Program [2] at Antioch University Los Angeles offers BA credit to students. It provides free university classes for low income adults, including tuition, textbooks, instruction, tutoring, transportation, and meals during class for all Bridge students. The program, formerly called the CHE Program (Community Humanities Education), has been in existence since 1999, when it was founded by David Tripp and Shari Foos. Students in the Bridge Program are encouraged to think critically, participating in discussions and writing about philosophy, literature, and art history over nine months. Students are introduced to a variety of voices in these disciplines, from classical figures to contemporary authors. Students are also encouraged to examine the social and cultural constructs of our society. The Bridge Program was inspired by the Clemente Course at Bard College, which similarly provided free classes to economically disadvantaged students who might not otherwise be able to attend college.
The Master of Arts in Organizational Management [3] program at AULA is an established values-centered education for leaders, managers, consultants, entrepreneurs, that informs students in effectively working with and through people to accomplish organizational goals. The program tries to promote skilled leadership, team work, and a comprehensive systems understanding of organizations and their relationship to a larger environment. A combination of classroom and field-based activities are utilized by faculty to educate students. Graduates can apply skills learned in business, government and not-for-profit settings.
Program Chair: Susan Nero, Ph.D., Core Faculty: Bob Lazzarini, M.B.A.
The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology [4] program educates students for careers in the helping professions. Many students go on to take and pass the MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist) licensure examinations. The curriculum is rigorous and eclectic and emphasizes the role of psychology in empowering people of all backgrounds, cultures, economic standing, sexual orientations and identities. AULA's coursework focuses on a wide range of theories and techniques for today's increasingly diverse society. Beyond the classroom walls, students implement their learning by practicing therapy under professional supervision at one of over 150 affiliated counseling centers.
Program Chair: Joy Turek, Ph.D. Core Faculty: George Bermudez, Ph.D., Andrew Jen, Ph.D., Truyen Nguyen, Ph.D., Claudia Owens Shields, Ph. D., Douglas Sadownick, Ph.D., Gregor V. Sarkisian, Ph.D., Sylvie Taylor, Ph.D.
The Urban Sustainability [5] program requires two years of full-time coursework that integrates theoretical learning with field-based practice. This 36 semester-credit degree program uses a low-residency format with on-campus residencies, off-site residencies, and structured project periods between those residencies. During their first year, students engage in two six-credit interdisciplinary seminar courses as well as two three-credit research-oriented courses. They also attend four residencies and begin their field work during this first year. The second year of the program requires students to continue their fieldwork and launch a capstone project while taking elective courses related to their individual disciplinary interests. Students attend two residencies during this second year and a final one at the end of their program.
Interim Chair and Core Faculty: Donald Strauss, M.F.A.
Antioch University Los Angeles’ MFA program [6] was founded in 1997 as the nation’s first low-residency creative writing program on the West Coast. At two 10-day residencies each year, students gather discuss literature and the pursuit of social justice. The MFA Program educates students in the various roles of the Writer in Society, how to make a difference on the page and in the communities where writers work and live.
MFA students are admitted in a single genre: fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction. The Core Faculty consists of Chair Steve Heller (fiction), Jenny Factor (poetry), and Bernadette Murphy. Associate Faculty includes Dodie Bellamy, Molly Bendall, Gayle Brandeis, Leonard Chang, Susan Taylor Chehak, Richard Garcia, Sharman Apt Russell, Alma Luz Villanueva and Terry Wolverton. Each MFA Residency includes distinguished guest writers, as well as literary agents and editors. Some recent guests include Steve Almond, Charles Baxter, Aimee Bender, Amy Bloom, Ron Carlson, Marilyn Chin, Bernard Cooper, Percival Everett, B. H. Fairchild, Thomas French, Diana Hume George, Jack Gilbert, Kate Haake, Donald Hall, Sam Hamill, Jonathan Hirsch, Michelle Huneven, Tyehimba Jess, Judith Kitchen, David Kipen, Dale Maharidge, Valerie Miner, Nila NorthSun, Josip Novakovich, Achy Obejas, Scott Russell Sanders, Mona Simpson, Kazuko Sugisaki, Alexis Smith, David St. John, and Sandra Tsing Loh.
Antioch University Los Angeles [7] offers a Master of Arts in Education or Teacher Credentialing program. The curriculum prepares teachers and provides the skills and knowledge in leadership for education reform. The program is a half time, 6 quarter Master of Arts in Education that utilizes small classes and narrative grading.
Program Chair J. Cynthia McDermott, Ed.D. Core Faculty: Fred Chapel, Ed.D.; Richard Kahn, Ph.D.