Mar 19, 2024  
2017-2018 University Catalog 
    
2017-2018 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

The California State University


Tree with pink flowers

 

Welcome to the California State University (CSU) - the nation’s largest comprehensive higher education system with 23 unique campuses serving more than 474,000 students with 49,000 employees statewide. Each year, the university awards more than 100,000 degrees. CSU graduates now total more than 3 million strong, and are serving as leaders in the industries that drive California’s economy, including business, agriculture, entertainment, engineering, teaching, hospitality and healthcare. Learn more at www.calstate.edu.

More Than 50-Year Tradition of Excellence

Since 1961, the CSU has provided an affordable, accessible, and high-quality education to 3 million graduates around the state of California. While each campus is unique based on its curricular specialties, location and campus culture, every CSU is distinguished for the quality of its educational programs. All campuses are fully accredited, provide a high-quality broad liberal educational program and offer opportunities for students to engage in campus life through the Associated Students, Inc., clubs and service learning. Through leading-edge programs, superior teaching and extensive workforce training opportunities, CSU students graduate with the critical thinking skills, industry knowledge and hands-on experience necessary for employment and career advancement. 

Facts
  • CSU faculty attract nearly $570 million annually in research and education grants, and contracts by federal, state and regional agencies. 

  • Today, one of every 20 Americans with a college degree is a CSU graduate. 

  • 1 in every 10 employees in California is a CSU alumnus.

  • The CSU awards 45 percent of the bachelor’s degrees earned in California. 

  • More than half of all the nurses in the state earn their degrees from the CSU. 

  • The CSU awards 95 percent of the hospitality/tourism degrees in the state. 

  • Nearly half of all of the state’s engineers earn their degrees from the CSU.

  • The CSU is the leading provider of teacher preparation programs in the state. 

  • The CSU offers more than 115 fully online and 96 hybrid degree programs and concentrations.

  • The CSU offers 3,250 online courses to provide more educational options to students who may prefer an online format to a traditional classroom setting.

  • The CSU’s growing online concurrent enrollment program gives students the ability to enroll in courses offered by other campuses in the CSU system.

  • Over the past four years, the CSU has issued nearly 50,000 professional development certificates in education, health services, business and technology, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, international trade and many other industries.

  • Nearly half of the CSU’s 474,000 students are engaged in some type of community service, totaling 32 million hours of service annually.

  • More than 13,000 students participate in STEM (science, technology engineering and mathematics) service-learning courses.

  • For every $1 that the state invests in the CSU, the university generates $5.43 for California’s Economy. 

Governance

The system is governed by the Board of Trustees, most of whom are appointed by the governor and serve with faculty and student representatives. The CSU Chancellor is the chief executive officer, reporting to the Board. The campus presidents serve as the campus-level chief executive officers. The Trustees, Chancellor and presidents develop systemwide educational policy. The presidents, in consultation with the Academic Senate and other campus stakeholder groups, render and implement local policy decisions.

CSU Historical Milestones

The individual California State Colleges were established as a system with a Board of Trustees and a Chancellor in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. In 1972, the system was designated as the California State University and Colleges, and in 1982 the system became the California State University (CSU). Today, the CSU is comprised of 23 campuses, including comprehensive and polytechnic universities and, since July 1995, the California Maritime Academy, a specialized campus. 

The oldest campus - San José State University - was founded in 1857 and became the first institution of public higher education in California. The newest - CSU Channel Islands - opened in fall 2002, with freshmen arriving in fall 2003. 

In 1963, the State Academic Senate was established to act as the official voice of CSU faculty in systemwide matters. Also, the California State College Student Presidents Association-which was later renamed the California State Students Association - was founded to represent each campus student association on issues affecting students. 

Through its many decades of existence, the CSU has continued to adapt to address societal changes, student needs and workforce trends. While the CSU’s core mission has always focused on providing high-quality, affordable bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, over time the university has added a wide range of services and programs to support student success - from adding health centers and special programs for veterans to building student residential facilities to provide a comprehensive educational experience. 

To improve degree completion and accommodate students working full- or part-time, the educational paradigm expanded to give students the ability to complete upper-division and graduate requirements through part-time, late afternoon, and evening study. The university also expanded its programs to include a variety of teaching and school service credential programs, specially designed for working professionals. 

The CSU marked another significant educational milestone when it broadened its degree offerings to include doctoral degrees. The CSU independently offers educational doctorate (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs. A limited number of other doctoral degrees are offered jointly with the University of California and private institutions in California. 

In 2010, in an effort to accommodate community college transfer students, the university, in concert with the California Community Colleges, launched the Associate Degree for Transfer, which guarantees transfer students admission to the CSU with junior status. 

Always adapting to changes in technology and societal trends to support student learning and degree completion, the CSU initiated another milestone in 2013, when it launched Cal State Online, a systemwide collection of services that support the delivery of fully online programs from campuses. Now, full-time students also have access to fully online courses offered at other CSU campuses. 

By providing an accessible, hands-on education that prepares graduates for career success, the CSU has created a network of alumni that is so extensive and renowned that it spans across the globe. In 2014-15, the CSU celebrated The Class of 3 Million, the year-round campaign celebrating the 3 million alumni from all of CSU’s campuses, including the Class of 2015. 

The CSU strives to continually develop innovative programs, services and opportunities that will give students the tools they need to meet their full potential. With 23 campuses, 474,000 students and 49,000 faculty and staff, the CSU is committed to providing a quality higher education that prepare students to become leaders in the changing workforce.

Trustees of the CSU

Ex-Officio Trustees

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Governor of California 

The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Lieutenant Governor of California 

The Honorable Anthony Rendon
Speaker of the Assembly 

The Honorable Tom Torlakson
State Superintendent of Public Instruction 

Dr. Timothy P. White
Chancellor of The California State University 

Officers of the Trustees

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr. - President
Rebecca D. Eisen - Chair
Adam Day - Vice Chair
Framroze Virjee - Secretary
Steve Relyea - Treasurer 

Appointed Trustees

Appointments are for a term of eight years, except student, alumni, and faculty trustees whose terms are for two years. Terms expire in the year in parentheses. Names are listed alphabetically. 

Silas Abrego (2021)
Jane W. Carney (2022)
Adam Day (2023)
Rebecca D. Eisen (2018)
Douglas Faigin (2017)
Debra S. Farar (2022)
Jean P. Firstenberg (2018)
Lillian Kimbell (2024)
Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana (2017)
Hugo N. Morales (2020)
John Nilon (2018)
J. Lawrence Norton (2019)
Jorge Reyes Salinas (2018)
Lateefah Simon (2019)
Steven Stepanek (2017)
Peter J. Taylor (2021)
Maggie White (2017)

Correspondence with Trustees should be sent to: c/o Trustees Secretariat, The California State University, 401 Golden Shore, Long Beach, California 90802-4210.

Office of the Chancellor

The California State University
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, California 90802-4210
(562) 951-4000 

Dr. Timothy P. White - Chancellor - CSU System
Mr. Steve Relyea - Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Loren J. Blanchard - Executive Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs
Mr. Framroze Virjee - Executive Vice Chancellor, General Counsel
Mr. Garrett P. Ashley - Vice Chancellor, University Relations and Advancement
Mr. Andrew Jones - Interim Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Mr. Larry Mandel - Vice Chancellor and Chief University Auditor

CSU Campuses

Map of the 23 CSU Campuses  

California State University, Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022
Dr. Horace Mitchell, President
(661) 654-2782
www.csub.edu

California State University, Channel Islands
One University Drive
Camarillo, CA 93012
Dr. Erika D. Beck, President
(805) 437-8400
www.csuci.edu

California State University, Chico
400 West First Street
Chico, CA 95929
Dr. Gayle E. Hutchinson, President
(530) 898-4636
www.csuchico.edu

California State University, Dominguez Hills
1000 East Victoria Street
Carson, CA 90747
Dr. Willie Hagan, President
(310) 243-3696
www.csudh.edu

California State University, East Bay
25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94542
Dr. Leroy M. Morishita, President
(510) 885-3000
www.csueastbay.edu

California State University, Fresno
5241 North Maple Avenue
Fresno, CA 93740
Dr. Joseph I. Castro, President
(559) 278-4240
www.csufresno.edu

California State University, Fullerton
800 N. State College Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831-3599
Dr. Mildred García, President
(657) 278-2011
www.fullerton.edu

Humboldt State University
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA 95521-8299
Dr. Lisa Rossbacher, President
(707) 826-3011
www.humboldt.edu

California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-0115
Dr. Jane Close Conoley, President
(562) 985-4111
www.csulb.edu

California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Dr. William A. Covino, President
(323) 343-3000
www.calstatela.edu

California State University Maritime Academy
200 Maritime Academy Drive
Vallejo, CA 94590
Rear Admiral Thomas A. Cropper, President
(707) 654-1000
www.csum.edu

California State University, Monterey Bay
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955-8001
Dr. Eduardo M. Ochoa, President
(831) 582-3000
www.csumb.edu

California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330
Dr. Dianne F. Harrison, President
(818) 677-1200
www.csun.edu

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
3801 W. Temple Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768
Dr. Soraya M. Coley, President
(909) 869-7659
www.cpp.edu

California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, President
(916) 278-6011
www.csus.edu

California State University, San Bernardino
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407-2318
Dr. Tomás D. Morales, President
(909) 537-5000
www.csusb.edu

San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182
Dr. Elliot Hirshman, President
(619) 594-5200
www.sdsu.edu

San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
Dr. Leslie E. Wong, President
(415) 338-1111
www.sfsu.edu

San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0001
Dr. Mary A. Papazian, President
(408) 924-1000
www.sjsu.edu

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
One Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Dr. Jeffrey D. Armstrong, President
(805) 756-1111
www.calpoly.edu

California State University, San Marcos
333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road
San Marcos, CA 92096-0001
Dr. Karen S. Haynes, President
(760) 750-4000
www.csusm.edu

Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Dr. Judy K. Sakaki, President
(707) 664-2880
www.sonoma.edu

California State University, Stanislaus
One University Circle
Turlock, CA 95382
Dr. Ellen N. Junn, President
(209) 667-3122
www.csustan.edu