School of Letters and Sciences Dean's Welcome
Dr. Alex Parker, Interim Dean of the School of Letters and Sciences
Welcome to the School of Letters and Sciences (SoLS). Comprised of three academic
departments (Culture and Communications, International Strategy and Security, and
Sciences and Mathematics), our school is home to approximately 30 faculty teaching
in diverse disciplines from literature, fine arts and foreign language to political
science, history, geography, as well as the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer
science. Unique to our school, SoLS faculty plays a foundational role in the education
of all cadets at the California State University Maritime Academy through our writing,
quantitative reasoning and critical thinking courses that comprise the CSU General
Education requirements.
The SoLS offers two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Strategy and Security and a Bachelor of Science degree in Oceanography. The BA in Internatioal Strategy and Security (ISS) is the only undergraduate program of its kind in the U.S., and prepares cadets for careers in ocean governance, with a focus on policy, security and environmental dimensions of the ocean domain. Students pursuing the BS Oceanography (OCN) degree gain theoretical understanding and practical workforce skills for exciting careers in ocean science and conservation. All Cal Maritime students, regardless of their major, can earn a minor in ISS or OCN.
In addition to their work in Cal Maritime classrooms, SoLS faculty are scholars in their fields, pursuing research and creative activities that enrich the intellectual community at Cal Maritime. By embracing the teacher-scholar model of higher education, our faculty continuously refine their teaching with the integration of new research and discovery. Our students are also engaged in the process of discovery through mentored undergraduate research projects. We are proud that SoLS faculty members are routinely recognized across campus for excellence in scholarship.
I invite you to explore our webpages and learn about our exciting academic programs and departments and get to know our dedicated faculty. If you are inspired to dive deeper, we’d love to hear from you by email or telephone or visit with us and tour our waterfront campus.
Sincerely,
Dr. Alex Parker
Interim Dean, School of Letters and Sciences