History & Milestones
1911
Arthur G. Wahlberg, a respected teacher of Music in the public schools was invited by his friend, President McLane, to help establish Fresno State Normal School which was located on the present site of Fresno City College. Art, English, Foreign Languages, Music, and Philosophy were among the original disciplines.
Under the direction of Arthur G. Wahlberg, the first musical organization of the School was formed - a Glee Club of young women preparing to be school teachers.
1912
The Dramatic Club of the Fresno State Normal School produced its first play.
G. W. Hunting, Chair of the Department of English, offered the first class in “The Modern Drama” and helped develop other drama courses.
1921
Fresno State Normal School becomes Fresno State Teachers College.
1924
Art and Foreign Languages gain department status.
1926
Music gains department status.
1927
English gains department status.
1928
Drama Program became a
recognized component of the Department of English.
The first
children’s theatre production “A Little Pilgrim’s Progress” was
produced.
1929
John W. Wright, a Yale graduate, was hired to head the Drama Program in the Department of English.
1930
The Department of Journalism was formed from an option in the Department of English.
Radio speaking and radio production courses were developed in the Department of English, within Speech Arts.
1931
Speech-Drama major was approved by the State Board of Education.
1932
The Department of English was re-organized into three subdivisions: Composition, Literature, and Speech Arts.
Dr. Arthur
C. Berdahl, accomplished composer and conductor joined the music faculty
of the then Fresno State Teachers College and became the head of the
Department
of Music following Wahlberg’s retirement.
1935
Fresno State Teachers College becomes Fresno State College.
Purchase and conversion of the Trinity Methodist Church into The University
Street Playhouse Theatre, hailed as the “first plant of its kind possessed
by any
college or university on the West Coast.
First
Bachelor of Arts degree in Music awarded, after the state legislature
removed the word “Teachers” from the school’s name and
authorized degree
programs other than those related to the teaching credential.
1949
One of the first graduate programs offered by Fresno State College is English, the other is in Education.
1952
Journalism gains department status.
1953
The Department of Speech Arts was formed, chaired by John W. Wright.
First MA in Speech Arts was granted in June.
1954
The 70-member Fresno State College Orchestra became the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra.
Music Building was among the first buildings to open on the new campus at Cedar and Shaw.
Philosophy major established under Humanities.
1956
Introduction of the first course in Linguistics at Fresno State College, English 130: Language and Culture—a collaborative effort between the heads of the Departments of Anthropology and English.
1957
Fred Brengelman, the first Linguistics faculty member, joined the Department of English and began to teach courses in this discipline.
1958
Division of Speech Arts gained independent division status.
1960
Separate heading for Linguistics within the Department of English section in the catalog.
The Speech Arts building on the Cedar Shaw campus was completed.
1961
California State University Fresno becomes a charter institution of the California State University System.
1964
Fine Arts gained independent division status.
1965
Speech and Drama separated into two programs.
Re-organization
of Divisions into Schools under President Frederick Ness
resulted in the formation of: The School of Arts and Sciences:
Anthropology-Sociology, Art, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English,
Foreign Languages, Geography, Geology, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physical Education, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Speech Arts
(which
reverted to a department).
1967
Department of Linguistics formed from English.
1968
MA in Linguistics established (F. Brengelman).
1969
Chinese and Japanese language courses introduced.
John W. Wright retires after 40 years. Philip Walker replaced him as chair, and G.O. “Gus” Graham became coordinator of the Drama Program.
1970
The School of Humanities was established following a split from the School of Arts and Sciences. Dean Rea was appointed Acting Dean.
Walker became Acting Dean of Arts and Sciences and Graham Acting Chair of Speech Arts.
1971
James Light was appointed Dean for the School of Humanities.
1972
Fresno State College becomes California State University Fresno.
Lillian Faderman was appointed Acting Dean for the School of Humanities.
Division of Speech and Music was formed. Walker appointed Head of the Division of Speech and Music.
1973
Division of Speech and Music divided in two: Music
sent to the School of Arts
and Sciences. Speech separated into four departments: Speech
Communication,
chaired by Ralph Hennings, joined the School of Social Sciences. Theatre
Arts,
chaired by Graham, joined the School of Professional Studies, along with
Radio-Television and Communicative Disorders.
Joseph Satin was appointed Dean for the School of Humanities.
Religious Studies option established (W.B. Uphold).
BA major in Linguistics with options in Spanish-English Bilingualism and English as a Second Language.
1975
Ronald Johnson appointed chair of the Department of Drama.
1977
Theatre Arts, Radio-Television, and Speech merged into a single Department of Communication Arts and Sciences. It was chaired by Ron Johnson and joined the School of Humanities. David Quadro coordinated the Speech Communication Program, Philip J. Lane the Radio-Television Program.
Armenian Studies Program established.
1979
The Dance Program was separated from Physical Education and became an option in Theatre Arts.
1980
Dean Satin establishes the Arts and Humanities Advisory Board.
1981
The School of Arts and Humanities formed under President Haak in yet another re-organization; the School included the Departments of Art, Communication Arts and Sciences, English, Foreign Languages, Journalism, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, and the Women’s Studies Program.
1986
The Program in Classics began to develop formally with the appointment of Victor Hanson.
1988
Pre-law Option established in the Dept. of Philosophy (Warren Kessler).
1989
Department of Communication Arts and Sciences split
into three separate
departments: Department of Speech Communication, chaired by John Cagle;
the Department of Theatre Arts, chaired by Ron Johnson; and the Department
of
Telecommunications chaired by R.C. Adams.
1990
Luis Costa was appointed Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities.
1991
President John D. Welty opens a new addition to the Music Building, known as the New Music Building. The Office of the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities relocates to the newly remodeled old Music Building.
1993
Departments of Journalism and Telecommunications merged to from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism.
Advanced Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages approved.
1994
School of Arts and Humanities hosted the California State Summer School for the Arts.
1995
Graphic and Interior Design merged with the Department of Art, from which it had split in the late 1960’s. The new department became the Department of Art and Design.
The MFA in Creative Writing was approved.
1999
The School of Arts and Humanities changes its name to the College of Arts and Humanities.
CSU Summer Arts makes its home at Fresno State.
2000
University High School, a college preparatory charter
high school with music as
its common core arts curriculum, opens its doors to the first class of
100 freshman.
2005
Vida Samiian appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.
The Department of Foreign Languages changes its name to the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures.
2006
The College of Arts and Humanities Honors Program established.
2007
BFA in Graphic Design approved for offering by Chancellor's Office.