California Lutheran University will stop accepting applications for some of its programs beginning fall 2025. 

Leanne Neilson, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said the university will be cutting the bachelor’s degree programs in German and Ethnic and Racial studies. Additionally, minors in German, art history, applied scientific computing and the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics will no longer be offered. 

Neilson said that the program cuts were determined by an academic program analysis, in which departments had to each fill out a form providing details about their related programs. Within the form they determined how they could be more efficient, if they have a lot of low enrolled classes, if they could offer the classes less frequently, or offer fewer sections. 

“It will not affect anybody currently enrolled, because we will continue the program until anybody who’s enrolled in it now graduates,” Nielson said. 

Nielson said that the program cuts are going to be a positive asset to the university’s current situation. 

“In general I just think it will be more efficient because when we have majors that have just a couple of students in them it’s hard to offer the classes that are needed and it’s not a good efficient use of classroom space,” Nielson said. 

According to Brian Fahnestock, interim vice president for administration and finance, the programs with low enrollment are costing the university.

“Over the past few years, the programs the university offers to students have cost more than the revenue it has collected through tuition and fees,” Fahnestock said. 

Gerhard Apfelthaler, dean of the school of management, said that the programs getting cut were not benefiting students because of their low enrollment, as well as the university not having the resources to give enrolled students the proper attention.

“By adapting to the programs, to the market, we are actually adapting to a growing need in the marketplace, and so for future students signing up for the program, I feel are actually going to improve their chances in the job market and definitely acquire a better skill set,” Apfelthaler said. 

Nielson said that all faculty were involved in the process of choosing which programs to cut and they got to vote anonymously. The faculty voted based on the numbers of students enrolled in the programs and on their experience of what programs are engaging to students and which were not. 

“I feel like we had an inclusive process where we got faculty input and I feel like we made the right decisions,” Nielson said. 

Apfelthaler said he thinks this will be a positive change for Cal Lutheran, and will allow the school to offer new programs that will encourage students to attend the university. 

“I am actually excited that we are becoming more outward-focused. We’re looking more at what the market wants and ultimately that’s going to benefit the graduates of the programs, Apfelthaler said.