Cal Lutheran grad students number 1,220

Overall enrollment stays steady despite pandemic

Stephanie Tarle, whose research interests are in clinical child psychology and developmental psychopathology, is joining the clinical psychology doctoral program as an assistant professor.

The pandemic and the temporary move to virtual classes have had no impact on overall interest in California Lutheran University’s graduate programs, with enrollment remaining the same as last year at about 1,225 students at the start of the fall term.

Students number about 540 in the Graduate School of Education, 440 in the School of Management, 200 in the Graduate School of Psychology and 45 at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) in Berkeley. In a challenging year for people from other countries planning to begin educational programs in the United States, Cal Lutheran added 22 international graduate students from 11 countries, including Brazil, Kazakhstan and Russia.

As the last of the Cal Lutheran fall programs to start, PLTS begins classes this week with its new Center for Climate Justice and Faith and online Master of Divinity degree — a program in the works for two years before the pandemic. All Cal Lutheran graduate classes except one information technology course in the School of Management are offered virtually. Management and education programs may add face-to-face classes later in the term.

Generally, graduate students working toward a career goal while balancing other responsibilities are less likely than traditional undergraduates to hit pause because of a temporary move to virtual classes in a program with a strong reputation, said Rick Holigrocki, dean of the Graduate School of Psychology.

The number of Cal Lutheran graduate students studying psychology actually increased about 6% over last year, and the number pursuing education degrees grew about 8%.

Education programs have experienced similar growth for a few years, with enrollment increasing 25% since 2017. The strongest growth has been in counselor preparation programs. Fall enrollment in counselor education is up 40% over last year.

Five new faculty members are joining Cal Lutheran’s graduate schools this semester. PLTS alumna Katy Grindberg returns to the seminary as the director of contextual education. Kyle McIntosh, a former executive with Amgen and Patagonia, will teach MBA courses. Cal Lutheran doctoral alumnus Nicolas Mize brings more than 17 years of experience as a teacher and administrator to the Graduate School of Education as a visiting lecturer. Joining the clinical psychology doctoral program as assistant professors are Benjamin Rolon-Arroyo, an expert on disruptive behavior disorders and the impact of traumatic stress, and Stephanie Tarle, whose research interests are in clinical child psychology and developmental psychopathology.

More

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  • Seminary starts programs for change agents
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  • Executives to discuss social responsibility
    May 14, 2021

    Company executives will discuss employee-driven corporate social responsibility at the final event in California Lutheran University’s 2020-2021 Corporate Leaders Breakfast Series.

  • Cal Lutheran grad students number 1,220
    September 9, 2020

    The pandemic and the temporary move to virtual classes have had no impact on overall interest in California Lutheran University’s graduate programs, with enrollment remaining the same as last year at about 1,225 students at the start of the fall term.

  • Speaker to address dealing with eco-grief
    March 3, 2020

    An expert on ecological grief, also known as eco-grief or climate grief, will give a free public talk at California Lutheran University on building the emotional resilience needed to deal with environmental loss and work toward a sustainable future.

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    From Cal Lutheran's seminary in Berkeley, Cynthia Moe-Lobeda helps people in faith communities and secular society to be agents of justice.

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    A Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) executive who oversaw a four-county energy innovation initiative will speak at the next California Lutheran University Corporate Leaders Breakfast.

  • Clothing swap highlights exhibit message
    February 14, 2019

    California Lutheran University is hosting a free clothing swap in conjunction with an art exhibit that examines the harmful effects of fast fashion.

  • Drought documentary to be screened
    April 10, 2018

    A documentary on California’s historic drought produced by a California Lutheran University professor and his students will be screened on April 18 as part of Thousand Oaks’ Arbor/Earth Month celebration.

  • Cal Lutheran research in Shark Week
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    Research conducted by a California Lutheran University marine biologist into the DNA of great white sharks will be featured in Shark Week’s kickoff episode this summer.

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