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Daisaku Ikeda College

Liberal Arts at Soka

Designed to fully develop students for global citizenship, Soka University of America’s Daisaku Ikeda College offers an undergraduate liberal arts curriculum that draws upon the cultures and experiences of peoples from across the globe.

While pursuing a BA in liberal arts, students choose a concentration in Environmental Studies, Humanities, International Studies, Life Sciences, or Social and Behavioral Sciences.

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Study Abroad

In order to improve your target language skills and enhance intercultural understanding and awareness, SUA requires that you spend a semester abroad during your third year for academic credit.

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Special Programs

SUA offers special academic programs including Fulbright advising, a partnership with the Claremont Graduate University, and graduate school advising.

Soka's Marie and Pierre Curie Hall

Life Sciences

The Life Sciences concentration will prepare students to engage in the dynamic fields of biology, biomedical research, and biotechnology, as well as providing a pathway toward careers in medicine or public health.

BA In Liberal Arts

One Degree, Many Angles

Ikeda College offers education that is both broad and deep, incorporating the outlook of many different cultures and modes of thought. We believe student involvement with interdisciplinary and multi-cultural perspectives best prepares them for fulfilling and successful careers upon completing their undergraduate degree.

General Education

General Education will provide you with a wide range of knowledge and the skills and abilities to transform that knowledge into responsible and effective participation in society. 

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Core: Enduring Questions

Core is a two-course sequence that uses classic texts to explore enduring questions that humanity has asked itself over time and across cultures, encouraging you to engage in critical thinking and discussion.

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Health and Wellness

In this course, you will explore physical, mental-emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental dimensions of health, as well as strategies for enhancing your personal well-being.

Learn More

Writing and Communication

The Writing Program will introduce you to a broad array of principles and strategies of effective communication and argumentation, providing you with an extensive writerly toolkit useful both in your classes at Soka and beyond.

Learn More

Science and Mathematics

Through courses in Biological Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics, you will learn to understand the nature and relevance of mathematical and scientific inquiry and to effectively communicate these principles as methods of problem-solving.

Learn More

Study Abroad

In order to improve your target language skills and enhance intercultural understanding and awareness, Soka requires that you spend a semester abroad during your third year for academic credit.

Learn More

Creative Arts

The Creative Arts Program is focused on the hands-on creation of artistic works in a range of media. Through the direct experience of the artistic process, you will engage in a universal mode of human behavior, fostering the empathy necessary for global citizenship.

Learn More

Modes of Inquiry

Modes of Inquiry will introduce you to diverse ways of understanding information and the human experience through interdisciplinary thinking.

Learn More

Learning Clusters

In these brief intensive courses, you will launch local or global explorations to understand problems and develop solutions. This is an opportunity to journey across cultures, explore a wide swath of ideas, and embody global citizenship.

Learn More

Language and Culture

The Language and Culture Program fosters the development of linguistic proficiency and cross-cultural awareness. This programs prepare you for the required study abroad semester in a destination of your target language.

Learn More

American Experience

You will seek to describe how some voices are heard–or not–and how the development of human rights, consolidation of power, and the rise of social movements are embodied in a public discourse enabled by free speech.

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Pacific Basin

Designed to expand perspective and encourage global engagement, this course compares regions, cultures, societies, and economies within the Pacific Basin.

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Creativity Forum

Creativity Forum is a unique course that provides the opportunity to reflect upon the creative process in the abstract and bring new perspectives to any discipline.

Learn More

Capstone

In your final year at SUA, you will acquire in-depth knowledge about a topic within your field of concentration by drawing upon the skills and knowledge acquired from your Soka liberal arts education.

Learn More

Concentrations

Each of our concentrations allows you to have an interdisciplinary and rigorous approach to your education while supporting the Pacific Basin focus of SUA and its emphasis on leadership and contributive citizenship.

Learn More

Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies will provide you with a foundation in the scientific understanding of the environment, as well as the social, cultural, economic, and technological forces that shape human relations with the environment.

Learn More

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Social and Behavioral Sciences fosters the understanding of human lives, behaviors, and institutions in social, historical, and cultural environments.

Learn More

Life Sciences

Life Sciences will prepare you to engage in the dynamic fields of biology, biomedical research, and biotechnology while creating a pathway toward careers in medicine or public health.

Learn More

International Studies

International Studies will provide you with the analytical tools necessary for a critical appreciation and contextualized understanding of the diverse forces that shape the contemporary world, preparing you to meet the challenges of global citizenship in the 21st century.

Learn More

Humanities

Humanities will offer you the chance to pursue essential questions about what it means to be human, to become familiar with perspectives from around the globe, to develop informed and humanistic goals and concerns, and to sharpen analytical, critical thinking, and research skills.

Learn More
  • General Education

    General Education will provide you with a wide range of knowledge and the skills and abilities to transform that knowledge into responsible and effective participation in society. 

    Learn More
    • Core: Enduring Questions

      Core is a two-course sequence that uses classic texts to explore enduring questions that humanity has asked itself over time and across cultures, encouraging you to engage in critical thinking and discussion.

      Learn More
    • Health and Wellness

      In this course, you will explore physical, mental-emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental dimensions of health, as well as strategies for enhancing your personal well-being.

      Learn More
    • Writing and Communication

      The Writing Program will introduce you to a broad array of principles and strategies of effective communication and argumentation, providing you with an extensive writerly toolkit useful both in your classes at Soka and beyond.

      Learn More
    • Science and Mathematics

      Through courses in Biological Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics, you will learn to understand the nature and relevance of mathematical and scientific inquiry and to effectively communicate these principles as methods of problem-solving.

      Learn More
    • Study Abroad

      In order to improve your target language skills and enhance intercultural understanding and awareness, Soka requires that you spend a semester abroad during your third year for academic credit.

      Learn More
    • Creative Arts

      The Creative Arts Program is focused on the hands-on creation of artistic works in a range of media. Through the direct experience of the artistic process, you will engage in a universal mode of human behavior, fostering the empathy necessary for global citizenship.

      Learn More
    • Modes of Inquiry

      Modes of Inquiry will introduce you to diverse ways of understanding information and the human experience through interdisciplinary thinking.

      Learn More
    • Learning Clusters

      In these brief intensive courses, you will launch local or global explorations to understand problems and develop solutions. This is an opportunity to journey across cultures, explore a wide swath of ideas, and embody global citizenship.

      Learn More
    • Language and Culture

      The Language and Culture Program fosters the development of linguistic proficiency and cross-cultural awareness. This programs prepare you for the required study abroad semester in a destination of your target language.

      Learn More
    • American Experience

      You will seek to describe how some voices are heard–or not–and how the development of human rights, consolidation of power, and the rise of social movements are embodied in a public discourse enabled by free speech.

      Learn More
    • Pacific Basin

      Designed to expand perspective and encourage global engagement, this course compares regions, cultures, societies, and economies within the Pacific Basin.

      Learn More
    • Creativity Forum

      Creativity Forum is a unique course that provides the opportunity to reflect upon the creative process in the abstract and bring new perspectives to any discipline.

      Learn More
  • Capstone

    In your final year at SUA, you will acquire in-depth knowledge about a topic within your field of concentration by drawing upon the skills and knowledge acquired from your Soka liberal arts education.

    Learn More
  • Concentrations

    Each of our concentrations allows you to have an interdisciplinary and rigorous approach to your education while supporting the Pacific Basin focus of SUA and its emphasis on leadership and contributive citizenship.

    Learn More
    • Environmental Studies

      Environmental Studies will provide you with a foundation in the scientific understanding of the environment, as well as the social, cultural, economic, and technological forces that shape human relations with the environment.

      Learn More
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences

      Social and Behavioral Sciences fosters the understanding of human lives, behaviors, and institutions in social, historical, and cultural environments.

      Learn More
    • Life Sciences

      Life Sciences will prepare you to engage in the dynamic fields of biology, biomedical research, and biotechnology while creating a pathway toward careers in medicine or public health.

      Learn More
    • International Studies

      International Studies will provide you with the analytical tools necessary for a critical appreciation and contextualized understanding of the diverse forces that shape the contemporary world, preparing you to meet the challenges of global citizenship in the 21st century.

      Learn More
    • Humanities

      Humanities will offer you the chance to pursue essential questions about what it means to be human, to become familiar with perspectives from around the globe, to develop informed and humanistic goals and concerns, and to sharpen analytical, critical thinking, and research skills.

      Learn More

Meet Our Faculty

Our faculty are here to interact with you in challenging and meaningful ways. Find your future mentor today by exploring their areas of expertise and research.

Close up of test tubes

Undergraduate Faculty

Meet the undergraduate faculty of SUA’s Ikeda College.

A collection of books published by Soka faculty.

Faculty Research

Learn more about research conducted by SUA faculty.

Your Liberal Arts Degree

At Soka you can pursue your academic passions without being confined to the borders of your discipline. We practice an interdisciplinary approach to learning that is reflective of global thinking.

  • To foster an awareness of the needs of our changing world through developing a sense of history and an understanding of the nature of reality
  • To think and investigate critically and creatively
  • To be effective at various modes of expression and communication
  • To acquire knowledge and appreciation of multiple cultures and traditions
  • To become, through integrative learning, active and informed global citizens
  • Complete a minimum total of 120 units
  • Cumulative GPA of at least 2.0