California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) is a public university in Los Angeles, California. It is part of the California State University system. Cal State LA offers 142 bachelor's degree programs, 122 master's degree programs, and 4 doctoral degrees: the Doctor of Philosophy in special education (in collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles), Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Audiology. It also offers 22 teaching credentials.[6][7]
Not to be confused with University of California, Los Angeles.
Former names
Los Angeles State College of Applied Arts and Sciences (1947–1964)
California State College at Los Angeles (1964–1972)
Vox Veritas Vita (Latin)
"Voice Truth Life" – Speak the truth as a way of life
1947[1]
$46.2 million (2020)[2]
William A. Covino[3]
José A. Gómez[4]
1,031
26,342 (Fall 2020)[5]
22,566 (Fall 2020)[5]
3,776 (Fall 2020)[5]
Large city, 175 acres (71 ha)
University Times
Black and gold
Eddie the Golden Eagle
Cal State LA had a student body of 26,342 as of fall 2020, which includes 22,566 undergraduates, primarily from the greater Los Angeles area, and 3,776 graduate students.[5] It is organized into 9 colleges that house a total of 4 schools and approximately 50 academic departments, divisions, and interdisciplinary programs.[8] The university's forensic science program is one of the oldest in the nation. The Early Entrance Program in the Honors College for gifted students as young as 12 is the only one of its kind in the United States in promoting a direct transitional scheme from middle and high school to college without intermediary remedial education.[9] Cal State LA is a Hispanic-serving institution and is eligible to be designated as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander serving institution (AANAPISI).
The 175-acre (71 ha) hilltop campus core is home to the nation's first Charter College of Education, the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, the Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility, and the Luckman Fine Arts Complex.
It is also home to two high schools: the Marc and Eva Stern Math and Science School and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), the only arts high school in Los Angeles that allows students from any district within Los Angeles County to attend.
Consortia[edit]
Ocean Studies Institute (OSI)[edit]
Opportunities for study in the coastal environment are provided by the Ocean Studies Institute (OSI), which comprises eight State University campuses: Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge, Pomona, San Bernardino, San Marcos and Dominguez Hills. The OSI operates out of the docks and laboratory facilities of the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI), Fish Harbor, 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 educational and research activities. Seagoing research laboratory and instructional facilities are provided aboard the R. V. Yellowfin, oceangoing research vessel.
Several courses within the departments of Biological Sciences, Geological Sciences, Psychology and the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology, among others, utilize the Yellowfin and other Consortium facilities. In addition, the eight campuses offer a 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, and a research experience.[66]
Desert Studies Center[edit]
The Desert Studies Center is a field station of the California State University located in Zzyzx, California in the Mojave Desert. The purpose of the center is to provide opportunities to conduct research, receive instruction and experience the Mojave Desert environment. Is officially operated by the California Desert Studies Consortium, a consortium of 7 CSU campuses: Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, Long Beach, San Bernardino, Northridge, Dominguez Hills and Los Angeles.[67]
Programs[edit]
Early Entrance Program[edit]
The Early Entrance Program (EEP) is an early college entrance program for gifted individuals of middle school and high school ages. The unique educational program is specifically designed to permit young, highly gifted students to enroll in college as full-time students. The Early Entrance Program was established at California State University, Los Angeles in 1982. The program allows qualified students as young as 12 years of age the opportunity to excel at the university level. The program maintains a population of approximately 130 full-time highly gifted teenaged students known as "EEPsters." Every year, approximately 100 academically gifted students from all over the United States apply to EEP, with around 30 applicants admitted. Students must achieve a minimum score of 550 on the evidence-based reading and writing section and 570 on the mathematics section of the SAT; or at least a 22 in English and a 23 in mathematics on the ACT.[9] After a preliminary interview with the EEP director, prospective students must also undergo a rigorous assessment period called a Provisional Quarter (or "Provie Summer") before final admission.
Forensic sciences[edit]
Cal State LA's growing forensic science program has been a part of the university curriculum since the founding of the school. It is home to one of the few and the longest-operating graduate Criminal Justice and Criminalistics program west of the Mississippi River,[106] located in the new Los Angeles Regional Crime Lab. The new Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, which was dedicated on May 11, 2007, jointly house the LAPD's Scientific Investigation Division, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department Scientific Services Bureau and Cal State LA Criminal Justice and Criminalistics programs.[107][108]
Sea floor engineering[edit]
Cal State LA also has a comprehensive seafloor-engineering program.[109] Research is conducted at the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center in Port Hueneme, California.[110] In 2003, Civil engineering professor Mark Tufenkjian led Cal State LA to receive over half a million dollars in grant money. The award of $594,253 is the largest grant ever received by Cal State LA's Department of Civil Engineering.[111]
Cal State LA Experiential Learning[edit]
The Cal State LA spring water (bottled water), sold on campus, is the result of a partnership between the university's administration and the College of Business and Economics. Together the two branches of the university worked together to develop a product that would appeal to the student body and be affordable. The college has developed "experiential" learning projects, which students participate in during their final years of schooling. Other projects have included the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, where students complete tax returns for small businesses and low-income community members, marketing and site selection research for the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and a case study for American Apparel.[112][113]
Campus media[edit]
University Times[edit]
The University Times (UT) is a student-run newspaper. The first student newspaper, at that time called The College Times, was published in June 1948 for the first time. In 1965 The College Times was named the best newspaper by California Intercollegiate Press. On October 2, 1972 The College Times changed its name to University Times, in accordance with the change in university status. The name was the popular result of a campus-wide poll, with "Devil's Advocate" coming in second. Larry Hawthorne was the first editor-in-chief of the University Times.[114]
The Golden Eagles are members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) for all sports except women's tennis, which is in the Pacific West Conference, and women's beach volleyball and Indoor Track & Field, which are in the NCAA Division II independent schools. Cal State LA is the only CCAA University who has beach volleyball as a sport. Cal State LA competes in the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Prior to January, 1981, Cal State LA was known as the Diablos; the change to Golden Eagles was made by then-President James Rosser to create a more inclusive, less stereotypical mascot.[103]
The university fields as of 2019 fourteen intercollegiate teams for men or women in soccer, baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, volleyball, cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track and field.[120] Cal State LA's more than 11 acres (4.5 ha) athletic facility is named the Billie Jean King Sports Complex. The sports complex—which was approved by the CSU Board of Trustees in September 2010—features the Eagle's Nest Arena, the University Stadium, Jesse Owens Track and Field, Reeder Field (baseball), the swimming pool, and tennis and basketball courts. Development project plans for the complex include a new gym, athletic field and the Rosie Casals / Pancho Gonzales tennis center.[121] The center is a new two-story building which will include locker and training rooms on the ground floor with multi-use space and viewing areas on the second floor. It is 7,000 sq. ft. Completion date of fall 2021.
The Eagles Nest is home to the Cal State LA basketball and volleyball teams. The arena seats just over 3,200 fans at full capacity. In 1984, the Eagles Nest hosted the Summer XXIII (23rd) Olympics judo competition. In July 1984 the Olympic mural, Olympic Fantasy, a mosaic tile work by muralist Guillermo "Bill" Granizo, was installed on west side of the arena in remembrance of the event.[122][123][124]
The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) of Major League Soccer selected Cal State LA in 2017 as the home of its new training facility, soccer operations headquarters, and youth academy.
The LAFC trains on the site at the northern gateway of the campus, though it plays its games at Banc of California Stadium, which opened in 2018 in Exposition Park in South Los Angeles. The arrangement with Cal State LA was approved by the California State University Board of Trustees.[125]
Entering the 2017–2018 school year, Cal State LA has won a total of 75 conference championships in the university's history. This is in addition to the eighth national championships and 10 national runner-up finishes. Besides being located in close proximity to each other, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State LA have competed heavily as conference rivals.
In 2021 Cal State LA men's soccer won the first national championship in program history. The national championship is the eighth from any sport in school history and Cal State LA's first since 1981.[126]
The surface parking lots immediately south across Hellman Avenue were replaced with soccer fields. These South Fields will be used by the university students, including students living in the existing student residence halls on site, and supports the Athletics Department programs. The North Field is anticipated to be used as a training soccer field by a major league soccer team, and will also be used as a training field by the community youth soccer organizations.
Cal State LA has won in Men's tennis singles four times in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1968. In doubles Cal State LA has won once in 1963 of the NCAA Men's Division II Tennis Championship. In Women tennis singles Cal State LA was champion once in 1990 and once in doubles the same year in the NCAA Women's Division II Tennis Championship.
Symbols[edit]
University Seal[edit]
The university seal is reserved for legal, formal and ceremonial purposes, including commencement materials, diplomas, transcripts, formal events, presidential documents and gift items from the President's Office. The seal, available in full-color or black-and-white, cannot be used in combination with the Cal State LA logo.[128]
University Mace[edit]
The university Mace is a ceremonial piece symbolizing the authority under which the university is chartered. It is identified with the Office of the President and is carried in academic processions for commencements and other official university gatherings. The honor of serving as mace-bearer is accorded to the Chair of the Academic Senate.
University badge[edit]
The shield, with its urban architecture angles, represents the enterprising, global city in which it resides. Inside the shield, you will find iconic buildings and landmarks from the Los Angeles skyline. They are drawn to scale and ascend upward, from left to right, pointing toward the future. The thick bordure (outer edge of the shield) has open corners that represent a campus that opens out to the region it serves. The 'A' in Cal State LA, features an eagle's beak at its tip.[129]
Future developments[edit]
Administration and Student Affairs Building Abatement and Demolition
Plans and specifications for the abatement and demolition of the Administration and Student Affairs Buildings are being designed. The overall scope will be to demolish the buildings including their foundations.[130]
