Occidental College

Occidental College. Founded in 1887, it is a private liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The college is known for its rigorous academic programs, commitment to undergraduate research, and a strong emphasis on global citizenship. Its scenic 120-acre campus sits in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and has been featured in numerous films and television shows.

History

The institution was established by a group of Presbyterian clergy and laymen, with its first classes held in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. The college moved to its current permanent campus in Eagle Rock in 1914, a transition overseen by its third president, John Willis Baer. Throughout the 20th century, it developed a reputation for academic excellence and progressive values, notably becoming one of the first colleges in Southern California to adopt a co-educational model from its inception. Key figures in its growth included President Remsen Bird, who expanded the campus and its programs during the 1920s and 1930s. The college gained wider national attention when future President Barack Obama transferred to and graduated from the institution in 1983.

Campus

The campus is noted for its cohesive Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style, largely designed by architect Myron Hunt. Central landmarks include the iconic Mary Norton Clapp Library, the Norris Hall of Science, and the Thorne Hall auditorium. The campus features the Moore Laboratory of Zoology, which houses one of the largest collections of Mexican bird specimens in the world. Outdoor spaces are anchored by the Academic Quad and the Swan Fountain, with the campus also encompassing the Bird Hillside Theater and the Gilman Fountain. It borders the Los Angeles River and is adjacent to the historic Colorado Boulevard.

Academics

The college follows a liberal arts curriculum centered on a Core Program that includes courses in cultural studies, scientific inquiry, and writing proficiency. It is organized into three divisions: the Division of Arts and Humanities, the Division of Natural Sciences, and the Division of Social Sciences. Notable programs include a highly regarded Diplomacy and World Affairs department, a pioneering Urban & Environmental Policy program, and a strong focus on sustainability. The college frequently ranks highly in national lists for undergraduate research and study abroad participation, with partnerships extending to global institutions like the United Nations. It also maintains a unique exchange program with Columbia University for engineering.

Student life

Student life is characterized by over 100 student-run clubs and organizations, including a long-standing student newspaper, The Occidental Weekly. The college's athletic teams, known as the Tigers, compete in the NCAA Division III as members of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. A prominent campus tradition is the annual Dance Production, one of the largest student-run productions in the nation. The campus hosts numerous cultural events through entities like the Oxy Arts initiative and the Keck Theater. A significant majority of students live on campus in residence halls such as Newcomb Hall, Stearns Hall, and Berkus Hall.

Notable alumni

Alumni have achieved prominence in diverse fields such as politics, science, entertainment, and literature. They include former U.S. President Barack Obama, theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek, and former Governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper. In the arts, notable graduates include actress and singer Jenna Elfman, filmmaker Terry Gilliam of Monty Python, and author Mary Gordon. Other distinguished alumni encompass journalist Rebecca Solnit, former United States Ambassador to Finland Earle M. Kirby, and pioneering NASA mathematician Kathryn Peddrew.

Category:Liberal arts colleges in California Category:Universities and colleges in Los Angeles Category:Educational institutions established in 1887