The University

California State University, Los Angeles, founded in 1947 by the California State Legislature, is a comprehensive University that offers programs of higher education in an array of academic and professional fields. The University’s six Colleges, along with the Honors College and College of Professional and Global Education, offer more than 60 academic schools, divisions and departments that draw students from all areas of the United States and the world. About one quarter of the campus’ more than 27,000 students are engaged in postbaccalaureate study in programs leading to master’s and doctoral degrees; teaching, service, and specialist credentials; certificates; and programs that lead to professional and academic advancement.

The Campus Reflecting L.A.

At the heart of Los Angeles, Cal State LA sits upon just over 175 acres with views of Pasadena and the mountains to the north, the San Gabriel Valley to the east, downtown Los Angeles to the west, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina Island to the south. The Cal State LA Transit Center makes the University highly accessible by trains and buses serving all regional communities.

The campus site was once one of California’s 36 original adobes, built in 1776 by Franciscan missionaries and destroyed by fire in 1908. Around the 1850s, it was settled as part of a Spanish land grant by the family of Juan Batista Batz, a Basque rancher from northern Spain. Known as the Rancho Rosa Castilla, it was named, according to local historians, for the wild rose that grew near the home. The name of the main drive through the campus harkens back to this historic heritage.

The Faculty

Members of the Cal State LA faculty are well recognized for their academic and teaching excellence, through high levels of scholarship, research, mentoring, and creative accomplishments. Virtually all of Cal State LA’s faculty members have earned the highest degrees in their field, most often a Ph.D., from leading universities. Cal State LA professors have been acknowledged as outstanding professors within the CSU system and at the state and national levels and have received numerous grants and awards, including several Fulbright grants.

The greatest commitment of Cal State LA faculty is to teaching. Faculty members regularly involve students, including undergraduates, in research and creative activities, mentoring them through academic and career advisement. Various campus programs and University committees, on which students also serve, further develop supportive ties between faculty and students.

The Academic Year/Semester System

California State University, Los Angeles operates on a semester system, which is supplemented by fee-supported summer (10 weeks), winter (3 weeks), and May (3 weeks) intersessions. Normally, fall semester classes begin in early August and end in early December. Spring semester classes normally begin in late January and end in mid-May. Both the summer and May terms begin in late May. Students may maintain normal academic progress by full-time attendance during any two semesters of each year. Classes are scheduled weekdays from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. and on Saturdays to serve the needs of both full-time and part-time students.

Construction Updates

Construction updates since 2009:

Rongxiang Xu Bioscience Innovation Center

Open in Spring 2023, the center is a 20,000-square-foot facility at the southern gateway of the Cal State LA campus that can support up to 25 startup firms with wet lab and dry lab space, coworking areas, and multi-use classrooms. The center is part of the Cal State LA BioSpace initiative and home to the Cal State LA BioSpace incubator, which provides critical laboratory space and helps emerging entrepreneurs turn their scientific discoveries into job-creating businesses. 

Parking Structure E

The structure has 1,686 spaces on the first four floors and another 533 spaces ion the rooftop. Features of the new structure include solar panels, a pedestrian walkway to campus, 36 Level 2 electric vehicle charging ports, three DC fast-charging stations, a car counting system and campus WiFi.  

The Student Service Building

Initially completed in 1970, the 8-story Student Services Building, previously named the Physical Sciences building, underwent a seismic retrofit and major building upgrade including the windows, roofing, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fire suppression, building controls, and security. The layout of each floor has been developed with new configurations, finishes, fixtures, and equipment to support campus administration and student services, which will be housed in the newly renovated building. It is 218,000 sq. ft. and is located on the Main Campus. Completion date Fall 2021. (click here   for a directory of the offices)

The Wallis Annenberg Integrated Sciences Complex

The Wallis Annenberg Integrated Sciences Complex is home to the College of Natural and Social Sciences. This complex encompasses La Kretz Hall, Wing B, and the Lloyd Ferguson Courtyard. It includes classrooms, labs, and offices for a number of science-based fields of research and study.

The Corporation Yard

Key operations that ensure the University can function are housed in the two new structures that encompass Facilities Services; Facilities Planning and Construction; Risk Management and Environmental Health and Safety; Materials Management; and Shipping and Receiving.

Student Housing: Golden Eagles Apartments and South Village

• The Golden Eagles Apartments offer affordable graduate student living, with single rooms in suites and two-bedroom apartments.
• South Village: The South Village is intended to innovate and improve the student housing experience. Some of those improvements include touch-free entryways and a new recreation room which features a large collection of stationary bikes for student use. The Phase II Housing also features a 150-seat dining facility.  

Hydrogen Fueling and Research

The Cal State LA Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility (H2 Station) was formally opened on May 7, 2014. As the largest university-located hydrogen fueling facility in the nation, commissioning continues and the facility is now available to Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). The station is capable of producing hydrogen onsite from renewable energy sources, using the process known as electrolysis. FCEVs’ fueling at the station emits only water vapor emissions!

Public Safety/University Police

Dedicated to the safety and protection of the entire campus community, the home of Public Safety/University Police, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, is near the campus entrance and adjacent to The Welcome Center. The facility features all modern amenities and services needed to protect and serve a large campus community.

Television, Film and Media Studies Center

The Television, Film and Media Studies Center, part of the College of Arts and Letters, offers students access to state-of-the-art technology, along with innovative creative opportunities. The site of the former Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints includes a two-level parking structure and a multi-use room, classrooms, conference rooms, and office space.

University-Student Union and The Golden Eagle

The University-Student Union is home of the Alumni Center and Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) offices, along with clubs and organizations. The U-SU offers an expanive fitness center, theatre, computer lab, and meeting rooms that connect to The Golden Eagle via a third-floor bridge. The Golden Eagle, home of the Pat Brown Institute and the College of Professional and Global Education, also includes a food court, campus catering services, the University Club, a bookstore and major conference facilities.

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA)

The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) offers a specialized program combining college-preparatory academic instruction and conservatory-style training in the visual and performing arts. Located north of the Music building between Parking Structure C and Student Housing, the new school building is a shared facility with Cal State L.A. LACHSA is Building #20 on the campus map. Please visit the LACHSA website for the most current information at: http://www.lachsa.net/. 

Marc and Eva Stern Math and Science School (Stern MASS)

A collaboration between the Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools (a charter management organization) and Cal State L.A., Stern MASS focuses on preparing students to pursue college degrees in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The building, housing 22 classrooms, four science labs, a multipurpose room, a library, and a CSULA professional development center, was dedicated in 2009.  Stern MASS is Building #26 on the Cal State LA map. Please visit the school website for the most current information at: https://www.sternmass.org/.

Affiliations

Cal State LA holds membership in a number of national and regional organizations concerned with the advancement of higher education. They include the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the Association of American Colleges, Council of Graduate Schools, National Collegiate Honors Council, Western Association of Graduate Schools, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Women graduates are qualified for membership in the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

International Programs

Developing inter-cultural communication skills and international understanding among its students is a vital mission of the California State University (CSU). Since its inception in 1963, the CSU International Programs  (CSU IP) has contributed to this effort by providing qualified students an affordable opportunity to continue their studies abroad for a full academic year in all programs and a semester option in some countries and programs.

More than 20,000 CSU students have taken advantage of this unique study option. Also, through the CSU IP exchange partnerships, more than 5,000 international students have come to study at the CSU.

International Programs participants earn resident academic credit at their home university while they pursue full-time study at a host university or study center abroad. CSU IP serves the needs of students in more than 100 designated academic majors. Affiliated with nearly 70 recognized universities and institutions of higher education in 18 countries, CSU IP also offers a wide selection of study abroad destinations and learning environments.

Students participating in CSU IP pay CSU tuition and program fees and are responsible for airfare, accommodations, meals, and other personal expenses. Financial aid, with the exception of Federal Work-Study, is available to qualified students and limited scholarship opportunities are also available. All programs require students to maintain good academic and disciplinary standing, many programs are open to sophomores or graduate students. California Community College transfer students are eligible to apply (to select programs) directly from their community colleges. Students must possess a current cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or 3.0, depending on the program, and must fulfill all coursework prerequisites. Additional program information and application instructions can be found on the International Programs Website.

Reserve Officer Training Programs

Air Force ROTC

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program’s mission is to develop young men and women into quality leaders for the United States Air Force.  Air Force ROTC prepares college students to become Air Force Officers while also earning their college degrees.  Air Force ROTC also offers a variety of scholarships for students currently in college that can help relieve the financial burden of earning a college degree. 

The program consists of a one-hour academic course for first and second-year students and a three-hour course for third and fourth-year students.  All students must also participate in a weekly one-hour physical training session and a two-hour leadership laboratory that facilitates the application of leadership theory.
Students attending Cal State LA can participate in Air Force ROTC at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). For more information, please contact UCLA at (310) 825-1742. www.afrotc.ucla.edu

Army ROTC

The Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (AROTC) program is available to qualified Cal State LA students via the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) program. Students must follow Cal State LA dual registration procedures. Students are encouraged to contact UCLA ROTC for instructions on how to cross-enroll into a UCLA course.

AROTC offers interested students an opportunity to enroll in courses focused on leadership, military tactics, and law, orienteering, rappelling, first aid, and national security. Participants must be physically qualified and be full-time undergraduate or graduate students. Students may take one Army ROTC course per quarter at UCLA while pursuing a regular college degree at Cal State LA Academic credits earned in the program normally may be counted as electives within regular college degree requirements. Completion of a regular degree and AROTC class requirements may lead to a commission as an officer in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. Upon graduation, officers serve in supervisory-level positions in military intelligence, law, aviation, communications, engineering, finance, nursing, and more.

Two, three, and four-year AROTC scholarships cover (a) full tuition or housing up to $10,000, (b) a $900 allowance for books and fees, and (c) a monthly allowance of up to $500 while the student is enrolled in school. Veterans are eligible to receive the monthly allowance as well as G.I. Bill benefits. U.S. citizenship is required for scholarship acceptance. Permanent resident students may participate in classroom and outdoor training but are ineligible for benefits until naturalized.

For further information, contact the Department of Military Science at UCLA, at (310) 825-7381 or armyrotc@milsci.ucla.edu.

Endowed Chairs

Joseph A. Bailey II, M.D. - Endowed Chair in American Communities

The endowed chair in American Communities is housed in the College of Arts and Letters. Funding was made possible by private donations, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and a naming gift from Joseph A. Bailey II, M.D., a retired orthopedic surgeon. Sub-funds of the endowed chair are established for the study of the African American Experience and the Jewish-American Experience.

The individual who is selected to fill this chair explores the question “What does it mean to be an American?” through teaching, research, and the sharing of insights. The chair studies the process of transition from traditional cultures to American communities, examining the impact of that process on the evolution of American culture and values. The full range of humanities disciplines provides the lens through which to explore the ways that this identity is embodied or reflected in American cultural expressions.

Matthew J. Guglielmo - Endowed Chair in Intellectual Disabilities

The Endowed Chair in Intellectual Disabilities, housed in the Department of Special Education and Counseling, College of Education , was established to honor Matthew J. Guglielmo, former vice president of The Broadway Department Stores, and was made possible by contributions from The Broadway and friends of Mr. Guglielmo.

Mr. Guglielmo has dedicated a major part of his life to focusing public attention on the problems of the developmentally disabled. The chair continues to support excellence in teaching, significant research in the study of mental retardation, and collaboration between Cal State L.A. and community agencies and institutions that serve intellectually disabled persons and their families.

Northrop Grumman Engineering Endowed Chair

The Northrop Grumman Engineering Endowed Chair was established in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology to bring distinguished engineers and engineering educators in the field of design and manufacturing to the College for a one- to two-year period. Funding was made possible through a generous lead gift from the Northrop Grumman Corporation and additional matching support received from other smaller companies throughout the Southern California business community.

The individual selected to fill the chair works with the College faculty and administration to provide leadership in improving the quality of Cal State L.A.’s engineering, computer sciences and technology programs, enhance the College’s manufacturing curriculum, and assist the College in fostering strong relationships with key contacts in industry and government to strengthen our research and external support

Consortia

California Desert Studies Consortium

The California Desert Studies Consortium consists of seven Southern California campuses of California State University which, together with the National Park Service, operate the Desert Studies Center in the eastern Mojave Desert. Participating campuses include Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge, Pomona, and San Bernardino. The purpose of the center is to provide a field facility in the Mojave Desert to develop desert studies educational programs and research activities.

Established in 1976, the center serves students in the areas of anthropology, astronomy, biology, engineering, geography, and geology and provides a substantial support base for environmental and ecological studies that have immediate implications for the effective management of desert resources. The central location allows access to all parts of the desert region. Lodging and laboratory/storage space are offered in support of field-oriented courses. The center also provides a site for independent study courses and research of desert phenomena by individual students and faculty.

The Desert Studies Consortium is administered by the CSU Fullerton campus. Cal State L.A.’s representative to the consortium is Dr. Kirsten Fisher (323) 343-2050.

Ocean Studies Institute (OSI)

Opportunities for undergraduate and graduate study in the coastal environment are provided by the Ocean Studies Institute (OSI), which comprises eight State University campuses: Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge, Pomona, San Bernardino, and San Marcos. The OSI is administered by the Long Beach campus. The OSI operates out of the docks and laboratory facilities of the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI), Fish Harbor, and Terminal Island in the Los Angeles - Long Beach Harbor.

The OSI participates in training managers and scientists and educating the public by coordinating and facilitating marine education and research activities. In addition, the institute serves as an educational and research liaison among regions, states, and nations.

Seagoing research laboratory and instructional facilities are provided aboard the R. V. Yellowfin, an oceangoing research vessel. The Yellowfin is the property of the institute, and its use is scheduled through the office of the SCMI at (310) 519-3172.

Several courses within the departments of Biological Sciences, Geological Sciences, and Psychology and the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology, among others, utilize the Yellowfin and other Consortium facilities. These courses are announced in the Schedule of Classes each quarter. In addition, the eight campuses offer an intensive course of study each fall at the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies on Santa Catalina Island. Courses cover topics in marine biology and ecology, specialty areas, and a culminating research experience. Credits apply to graduation at the student’s home campus.

Cal State L.A.’s representatives to the consortium are Dr. James Henderson, Dean, College of Natural and Social Sciences, and Dr. Elizabeth Torres, professor of Biological Sciences. For additional information, contact Dr. Henderson at (323) 343-2000 or Dr. Torres at (323) 343-2179.

View descriptions of the list of Colleges & Departments