California Lutheran University California Lutheran University ( also CLU or Cal Lutheran ) is a private , liberal arts university located in Thousand Oaks , a small southern California n city . It was founded in 1959 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , but is nonsectarian . Their mission is " to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment , confident in their identity and vocation , and committed to service and justice . " History . In 1954 , a committee was first formed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church to plan a Lutheran college in California . Five churches served on the committee , dubbed the California Lutheran Education Foundation , which still owns the university . Richard Pederson , son of Scandinavian immigrants , donated 130 acres of farmland for the university in 1957 . In 1959 , the college was officially incorporated , with Orville Dahl , Ed . D . instituted as the first president . The college opened to its first incoming class in September 1961 , and was accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in March 1962 . Dahl served as president until 1962 , bringing the university ' s first football coach , Robert Shoup , to the campus in his final year . CLU grew in size , and in debt , steadily through the 60s . In 1970 , the college was $ 3 , 600 , 000 in debt and predicted to go bankrupt . However , belt tightening by the school and enrollment increases pushed finances into the black by the end of the year . Fates turned around further when the school won its first , and only , NAIA football championship , in 1971 . In the 1980s , the school began expanding at a rapid pace ; with major construction of new buildings and renovations underway . In 1986 , the school was renamed California Lutheran University to reflect the addition of graduate programs . In 1994 , KCLU was created and housed on the Cal Lutheran campus . Several notable teams have trained on the campus . The Dallas Cowboys , a NFL team , trained there from 1963 to 1989 . After the Samuelson Aquatic Center was completed in 2007 , it served as the official training site of the 2008 and 2012 US Olympic Men ' s Water Polo teams . Other notable visitors to CLU events include Ronald Reagan in 1979 ; Bob Hope in 1984 ; and the President of Nicaragua Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in 1991 . Rankings . In 2010 , California Lutheran University was ranked 18th among Regional Universities in the West by U . S . News & World Report , moving up to 14th in 2013 . Forbes ranked CLU 276 out of 650 " Top Colleges " in the US . The student - faculty ratio is 15 : 1 , and 98 . 4 % of its classes have 49 students or fewer . Accreditations and Affiliations . CLU is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities , a commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges . The School of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education . The Financial Planning Program has been registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc . CLU is one of 28 colleges and universities affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is a member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities , Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities , and Council of Independent Colleges . CLU ’ s intercollegiate athletic programs compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference , NCAA Division III . Campus . The main campus is located in Thousand Oaks , a city in southern Ventura County , including 41 buildings , 4 fields , 2 stadiums , 2 pools , a tennis court , a botanic gardens , as well as undeveloped chaparral hillsides . The university has a 96 , 000 - square - foot athletics complex , the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center . Adjacent to the complex is the 50 meter Samuelson Aquatic Center and a 4 , 800 - square foot community pool . Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture . The Kwan Fong Gallery in the Soiland Humanities Center was established by the Kwan Fong Charitable Foundation , co - founded by Maria Lee and Katie Yang , with the participation of Dr . Ed Tseng , Professor Emeritus of Political Science of California Lutheran University and Dean of International Education . The foundation , which supported hospitals , schools , and homes for the elderly and mentally challenged , dissolved in 2006 . Since its establishment the gallery has exhibited works by Jeremy Lipking , Dan Welden Teresa Oaxaca , Tony Pro , Alexey Steele , Cyn McCurry , Gary Palmer , Christophe Cassidy , Morgan Alexander , and Christopher Marshall , among others . The gallery has residencies by artists , the first in 2007 by Dallas / Fort Worth based figurative painter Cyn McCurry . The William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art . The William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art was established by philanthropist William Rolland on the University ’ s campus in 2011 . The gallery provides free public programming including lectures , foreign language tours , and concerts and serves the Los Angeles , Ventura , and Santa Barbara counties . Exhibitions rotate approximately five times per year , and have featured works from artists such as Andy Warhol , Chuck Close , David Hockney , Fernando Botero , and Picasso . The Barbara Collins Arboretum . The grounds of the campus is dubbed the Barbara Collins Arboretum . It ' s named after Dr . Collins , who taught microbiology and botany at CLU for 50 years , and selected and cataloged much of the campus flora . Many of the trees flank a natural creek that bisects the campus . Campus Layout . The campus of CLU is primarily organized by the four cardinal directions , with the North side , located across Olsen Road and backed up against Mt . Clef Ridge , serving as the primary center for athletics . Some North side facilities include : Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center , Samuelson Aquatic Center , Ullman Baseball Stadium and George Sparky Anderson Baseball Field , Hutton Softball Field , William Rolland Stadium ( opened Fall 2011 ) , Facilities Building and Yard , and a community pool for the City of Thousand Oaks . The East side is the primary location for freshmen residence halls and some administrative offices . Some East side facilities include : Mt . Clef Residence Hall , Thompson Residence Hall , Pederson Residence Hall , University Dining Commons , Alumni Hall , Study Abroad Office , Centrum Cafe , Hanson Business Center and Pederson Administration Building . The South side , also known as the Academic Core , is the primary location for the academic buildings on campus . Southside facilities include Soiland Humanities Building , Ahmanson Science Center , Spies - Bornemann Center for Education and Technology , Jamba Juice , Nygreen Hall , Peters Hall ( School of Business ) , and Swenson Center for the Social and Behavioral Sciences ( opened Fall 2010 ) . The West side is the primary location for upperclassmen housing . Some West side facilities include : Grace Hall Apartments , Mogen Hall Apartments ( with the Mogen Market facility ) , Old West Complex ( Afton , Janss , Rasmussen , and Conejo Residence Halls ) , New West Complex ( North , South , West and Potenberg residence halls ) , and Trinity Hall ( completed in 2009 ) . The former chicken coops of the Pederson Ranch were converted into classrooms by Jefferson A . Elmendorf , the same architect who worked with Dr . Dahl in planning the campus and designed The Centrum and other campus buildings . CLU ' s first LEED Certified building , the Swenson Center for the Social and Behavioral Sciences , opened in Fall 2010 . The 50th Anniversary Year . The 2009 – 2010 academic year at CLU represented the school ' s 50th anniversary as an established university . New facilities include a new building for the KCLU radio station and an Early Childhood Center , located on the North Campus . Trinity Hall , a new 220 - bed residence hall , is located on the west side of campus near all the other upperclassmen residence halls . Also in honor of the anniversary , the Enormous Luther statue was painted gold . Academics . California Lutheran University has four academic divisions ; the College of Arts and Sciences , the School of Management , the Graduate School of Education , and the Adult Evening program . Across all divisions , class sizes are kept small ; 16 students on average . CLU offers undergraduates either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science , depending on their field of study , in 36 academic majors and 31 minors , with the ability to double - major . There are 30 graduate programs offering credentials and certifications to doctorate degrees . College of Arts and Sciences . The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is Dr . Joan Griffin . A vast majority of the school ' s academic departments are in the College of Arts and Sciences , with 33 Arts and Sciences majors . Graduate Programs . For graduate students , the College of Arts and Sciences contains Master ' s degree programs in Psychology , Computer Science , Marriage and Family Therapy , and Public Policy and Administration . Some undergraduate students who intend to enter one of these programs upon completion of their undergraduate studies can choose to enroll in some graduate courses as an undergraduate , and obtain graduate - level course credits . Graduate Programs in Computer Science . Under the School of Management , California Lutheran University offers a Masters of Science in Computer Science . School of Management . Containing all of CLU ' s business - related programs , the California Lutheran University School of Management employs many distinguished professors who have earned respect in their chosen fields prior to becoming professors . In addition , some professors have come from senior executive backgrounds and offer real - world experiences . The School of Management is based in Peters Hall . Students in the School of Management can major in Business Administration , Economics , or Accounting . The School of Management is headed by its dean , Dr . Gerhard Apfelthaler . Graduate Programs in the School of Management . The School of Management at CLU offers a range of graduate programs including a traditional ( part - time ) Master of Business Administration ( MBA ) degree , a 12 - month International Master of Business Administration ( IMBA ) degree ( full - time , accelerated ) , a fully Online MBA , an MBA in Certified Financial Planning , a Master of Public Policy and Administration ( MPPA ) , an MS in Quantitative Economics , an MS in Information Systems and Technology , and an MS in Computer Sciences . The MBA program offers professional tracks in Entrepreneurship , Finance , Information Technology , International Business , Management and Organizational Behavior , Marketing , and Non - Profit and Social Enterprise . The School of Management also offers a Post - MBA Certificate program . All programs are accredited by WASC and enjoy a solid reputation in the regional economy . Many graduate students come to CLU from around the world to study in the IMBA Program and to work in the United States . California Lutheran University School of Management ' s MBA program was ranked 66th in North America by The 2010 QS World University Rankings . School of Education . California Lutheran University ' s School of Education is an integrated scholarly community of educators , administrators , and like - minded learners who all desire to cultivate teachers for the betterment of all children ' s schooling , either at the elementary , secondary , or post - secondary levels . It is based out of the Spies - Bornemann Center for Education and Technology in the Academic Quarter . While primarily a graduate school , CLU undergraduate students can major in Liberal Studies , which qualifies them to teach elementary school and prepares them for the multiple - subject examinations ( the CBEST and CSET ) required by the State of California . While in this major , students take a Career Decisions in Education course that expose them to various facets of the education world , and allows them to participate in field studies at local elementary schools . The School of Education is headed by its dean , Dr . George Petersen . Graduate Programs in the School of Education . There are multiple Master ' s degree programs within the School of Education , as well as the Teacher Preparation program for California teachers . Students are able to obtain a Teaching Credential while at the same time earning credit toward their Master ' s of Education ( M . Ed ) degree . In addition to the Teacher Preparation program , students can obtain a Master ' s of Science in Counseling and Guidance or Educational Psychology , and a Master ' s of Arts in a wide variety of education - related administrative career fields , including Educational Technology , Educational Leadership , or School Site Leadership . New to the California Lutheran University accredited curriculum is its first - ever doctoral program , introduced in 2006 . Graduate students can obtain a Doctor of Education ( Ed . D ) degree in Educational Leadership from the School of Education . This program requires extensive field work and a dissertation defense . Bachelors Degree for Professionals . Formally named the Adult Evening Degree Program ( ADEP ) , the Bachelors Degree for Professionals is aimed at working professionals who want to earn a bachelor ' s degree in a compressed timeline . Residence Life . California Lutheran University maintains a policy of guaranteeing on - campus housing for all four years if students elect to do so . On - campus housing or living at home is required for freshmen and sophomores ; however , juniors and seniors may elect to live off campus with friends . Upperclassmen Housing . Once students move on to their sophomore , junior and senior years at CLU , they are allowed to choose which residence hall to live in on the " upperclassmen side " of campus , which is the West end of campus . This area contains the New West Complex ( comprising four buildings : North , South , West , and Potenberg Halls ) , the Old West Complex ( comprising four buildings : Afton , Janss , Rasmussen , and Conejo Halls ) , the Mogen Hall Apartments , Grace Hall , and Trinity Hall . Traditionally , New West attracts much of the sophomore housing , Old West the juniors , and Mogen and Grace the seniors . However , in recent years there has been a virtual complete mixing of sophomores , juniors and seniors all throughout Old West , New West , Mogen , Grace , and Trinity . Special Housing Options and Graduate Housing . Kramer Court is a special housing option for undergraduate students . They are on the East side of campus and come fully furnished with a living room , two bedrooms , a backyard , and many other features not common to other on - campus housing . These units are application - based , and usually juniors and seniors occupy them . Recently , the third floor of Grace Hall has been converted to graduate student housing . Student body . The current student body consists of approximately 3 , 931 students , originating from 39 states and 56 countries . About 56 percent of students are female , and about 60 percent of students live on campus . The average class size is 16 students . ASCLU - G Student Government . The student government of California Lutheran University is , as of the 2009 – 2010 academic year , divided into three branches , all which possess different responsibilities . The ASCLU - G ( Associated Students of California Lutheran University Government ) comprises the Senate , Programs Board , and Executive Cabinet . For Senate and Programs Board , there are four elected positions available per class level as well as a transfer student , recorder , and commuter student position . The Executive Cabinet is made up largely of students who have served on ASCLU - G for one or more years , and contains the offices of the ASCLU President , Programs Board Director , Senate Director , Executive Recorder , and ASCLU Controller . Meetings are held Monday nights , and the entire student body is welcome to attend . Elections are held in Spring ( for all positions for the next academic year ) , and in Fall ( to elect the four freshmen positions and any unfilled spots from Spring ) . Senate . The ASCLU Senate is primarily responsible for the financial needs of the students . Some of their duties include ( but are not limited to ) : approving and allocating funds to new campus clubs , purchasing equipment for residence halls , and discussing and / or changing campus dining policies . The Senate is usually divided into three or four committees , headed by a committee chair ( who has usually served on Senate for one or more years ) , and each has a specific jurisdiction regarding campus policies . Programs Board . The ASCLU - G Programs Board is primarily responsible for planning , organizing , financing , and running many of the on - and off - campus events that go on throughout each academic year . The principle event that Programs Board is responsible for is known as Club Lu , a free event for traditional undergraduate students every Friday night . Each Club Lu is different ; in the past , some Club Lu events have included rollerskating , on - campus dances , iceskating , bowling , movie nights , the Homecoming carnival , Christmas festivals , and talent shows . Programs Board is also responsible for planning larger off - campus events such as the Homecoming Dance and Spring Formal . Like Senate , Programs Board is divided into three or four committees , each headed by a committee chair ( who has usually served on Programs Board for one or more years ) , and each is assigned specific events to plan throughout the academic year . Scholarships and Financial Assistance . The Financial Aid Office offers helpful resources on how to bridge the gap between the cost of education and a family ’ s ability to pay . Awards of financial assistance to CLU students may include institutional scholarships , university grants , Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants , State Cal Grants , Federal Pell Grants , Academic Competitiveness Grants , SMART Grants , low interest Federal Stafford and Federal Perkins loans , and Federal Work - Study . Scandinavian Roots . The Pederson family , who donated the farmland in Thousand Oaks , were among many Scandinavian immigrants populating the hills of Thousand Oaks . The Scandinavian influence can continue to be seen in the spring Scandinavian cultural festival and in the names of buildings on campus and local streets , which named for prominent Scandinavians who helped establish CLU . See also . Norwegian Grade Student Research and Publications . CLU houses two annual undergraduate research events , the Festival of Scholars and the Student Research Symposium . Athletics . CLU is a member of the NCAA at the Division III level , playing as part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference . The following sports are offered for intercollegiate play on campus : The Cal Lutheran athletics website is www . clusports . com . Kingsmen Football . Robert Shoup lead the Kingsmen to 13 NAIA District 3 Championships and the 5 playoffs in his 17 years as coach . He was named NAIA Coach of the Year in 1971 , the same year they won the NAIA National Championship in 1971 . Tom Bonds , quarterback for the Kingsmen from 1984 to 1987 , holds the NCAA Division II record for most completions in a single game , 44 . KCLU - FM . KCLU - FM Radio , an award - winning National Public Radio station located on California Lutheran University ' s campus . The station serves Ventura County , California , at a radio frequency of 88 . 3 MHz and Santa Barbara , California , at a frequency of 102 . 3 MHz .