California Lutheran University

• Location: Thousand Oaks, California, USA,
• Year of foundation: 1959,
• Number of students: about 3144,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: mixed.

California Lutheran University is a small private university in one of the safest cities in the United States. It offers more than 80 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in leading modern directions: humanities, creative arts, business, technology, and others.

The main idea promoted by the leadership and teaching staff of CLU is the study, the opposition of reason and faith. It is only in an attempt to find the truth that you can reveal your personal qualities and achieve success — this is the basic principle of teaching here. Everyone is welcome here — students represent more than 67 countries. By maintaining a friendly atmosphere, the university implements the "85% Rule" — about the same amount of time students spend outside the classroom, taking part in various collective activities.

Most of the teachers at California Lutheran University have academic degrees, and international exchange programs have been established. One of the main principles here is the development of the talents of all students: teachers communicate with each of them, help them develop personal qualities and plan a career path. The University has been awarded several prestigious awards in the field of education, serves as a member of honorary commissions and unions, has four academic departments in the State of California and dozens of internationally renowned graduates who have seriously influenced international culture, history and art.

A brief history of the US University:

• 1959 – Founding of California Lutheran College
• 1961 – admission of the first students
• 1964 – the first graduates of the college
• 1972 – the first masters of the college
• 1986 – the college became a university
• 2006 – the first doctors of sciences to receive a degree from this university
• 2014 – merged with the Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Strong university majors are:

• Information technology
• Accounting
• Art
• Bioengineering
• Molecular Biology
• Business Administration
• Marketing
• Economy
• Communications
• Criminology
• Multimedia
• Music
• Theatrical art
• Chemistry
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Management.

There are many successful and famous people among the graduates of the university, among them:

• James Duke Mason is a writer.
• Jacquelyn Fontaine – winner of "Miss California 2006",
• Jason Dolly is a star of the "Disney" channel.

Additional academic support is available to all students from highly qualified instructors and staff of specialized departments: financial, career, research, and others.

California Lutheran University comprises several specialized colleges:

• Arts and Sciences,
• Management,
• Education,
• Psychology,
• Professional and Continuing Education,
• Theology.

The university also has research institutes and four satellite campuses where master's/doctoral students are trained and research is conducted.

The University is actively involved in regional and national research, supervises internal scientific work carried out by qualified employees of research institutes and students of all levels of education. Some of the areas of research institutes at California Lutheran University:

• Global interaction,
• Innovation, entrepreneurship,
• Equality, justice,
• Leadership in the non-profit sector,
• Economic research, forecasting,
• Public service, activity,
• Economics of social problems,
• Improving efficiency,
• Equality in education,
• Academic learning through community service.

In the early 1960s, students placed painted white rocks with small lanterns on Mount Clef, which were used as a beacon for airline pilots for the next ten years. The stones were laid out in the shape of the university's initials. Today, the illumination of the inscription is turned off, but the paint on the stones is regularly updated as a tribute to tradition.

The University's infrastructure includes 15 residences offering standard and apartment-type accommodation during studies in the USA. First-year undergraduate students receive a guaranteed place in standard residential buildings, where they will find double (mostly) rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchens. Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in apartments with multiple single bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen are personally accessible to residents.

All residences have laundries, common recreation areas, and self-studying classrooms.

There are six catering establishments on the school grounds, including large dining halls, coffee shops, and snack bars. Undergraduate freshmen are required to draw up a meal plan, while other students can do so at will. The meal plan consists of a certain number of meals per week, additional points for spending at university institutions and shops, and includes guest meals in case the student is visited by his relatives. The plan can be implemented in any dining room or cafeteria, the menu of which includes a wide range of dishes of national and international cuisine, vegan and vegetarian recipes, full meals, snacks.

Students spend 85% of their free time outside of classes — for comprehensive development, the realization of strengths and talents there are more than 80 thematic clubs and organizations, 22 team sports are provided. Throughout the year, 400 student events take place on the campus: from sports competitions, festive concerts to charity events, scientific conferences.

Themed clubs are divided into several areas, each of which includes dozens of communities.:

• Academic: medicine, criminal justice, history, philosophy,
• Art, entertainment: crocheting, movies and television, board games, theater,
• Business, marketing: marketing association, accounting, entrepreneurship,
• Civic activities, leadership: American Cancer Society, protection of the rights of the disabled, women in law,
• Culture: Francophones, community of languages and cultures, Latin American organization,
• Religious, spiritual: Muslim Student Alliance, community of Jewish students,
• Sports and recreation: beach volleyball, dancing, frisbee.

Sports are presented both in the form of amateur clubs and in the format of professional training with participation in interuniversity and regional competitions. The women's and men's teams stand for the honor of the university:

• Baseball,
• Football,
• Softball,
• Golf,
• Swimming, diving,
• Water polo,
• Athletics,
• Lacrosse,
• Tennis,
• Cross.

• Accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Council for Accreditation of Business Schools and Programs, Association of Theological Schools,
• Member of numerous academic organizations, including the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Council of Independent Colleges, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference NCAA Division III,
• More than 80 majors: approximately 44 primary and 48 additional (the register is updated regularly),
• Multinational student community with representatives from 40 states and more than 67 countries,
• High graduate employment rate,
• Average class size — 14 students,
• Active extracurricular life, including sports, creative, and social activities.

The main campus of California Lutheran University is located in Thousand Oaks, between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, covering 225 acres with more than 40 academic, residential and specialized buildings.

Dozens of lecture halls with interactive technologies, specialized laboratories and studios have been prepared in the educational buildings, there are computer rooms with printing equipment and access to electronic resources, a library and other facilities for group and individual academic work. CLU Sports Infrastructure involves:

• Four full-scale playing fields,
• Two stadiums for competitions,
• Tennis courts,
• 96,000 square-foot sports complex with games, gyms,
• Fitness center with cardio and strength equipment,
• An aquatic center that includes several pools, including a public one.

The university also boasts special spaces located on the campus.:

• The Barbara Collins Arboretum with its many plant species of Southern California,
• The Samuelson Chapel is a landmark, especially with historic stained glass windows and a 39-register organ,
• The Pederson House and Water Tower are a historic landmark in Ventura County and the town of Thousand Oaks, built by Norwegian settlers in the 1890s.,
• Two art galleries with exhibition halls, residences for artists.

The main campus is added with branches in Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Westlake Village, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California.

The academic year consists of two semesters and covers almost the entire calendar year, as the programs of different educational levels have different duration, number of classes and sessions.

Semester dates are:

• Autumn: August-December,
• Spring: January-August.

Classes are mostly held on weekdays, and recreation is organized on national and international holidays, weekends, and during seasonal vacations.

An approximate list of additional expenses includes:

• Registration and administrative fees,
• Accommodation, meal plan, and related housing expenses,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Part of the academic materials,
• Additional academic and career support,
• Personal expenses.

Most of the admission process is organized online. Prospective students submit a completed registration form, pay an application fee, and undergo interviews; they may be offered tests in core subjects related to their chosen specialization. Based on the results of the entrance exams, the admissions committee compiles a list of enrolled candidates, who are provided with all the necessary information about upcoming studies.

According to statistics from recent years, approximately 94% of bachelor's graduates find employment in their field or continue their academic path in a master's program almost immediately after completing their studies.

International students wishing to obtain US higher education at California Lutheran University must provide:

• Personal documents: US visa or residence permit, passport, medical insurance and health certificates,
• Academic certificates: certificate of full secondary education and certificates of preparatory courses, bachelor's/master's degree, depending on the chosen level of education,
• Language exam results: Duolingo (from 110), TOEFL (from 79), PTE (from 58) or equivalent.

The higher the level of education, the higher the level of English language proficiency should be. Some specializations and degrees will require professional experience, resumes, and letters of recommendation.

CLU supports students with dozens of scholarships and grants. Scholarships are awarded to students who excel in academics, creativity, science, and sports, while grants are awarded based on need.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision