California State University-Northridge

California State University-Northridge Summary

California State University, Northridge (also known as CSUN, Cal State Northridge, or “C-Sun”) is a public university in the San Fernando Valley, within the city limits of Los Angeles, California, USA. Part of the California State University system, CSUN was founded in 1958 as San Fernando Valley State College and adopted its current name in 1972. CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor’s degrees in 61 fields and master’s degrees in 42 fields. Cal State Northridge is home to the National Center on Deafness, and each year the university hosts the International Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities. California State University trustees on March 15, 2006 voted their unanimous approval of Envision 2035, the Cal State Northridge planning initiative that will help frame the university’s physical development for the next several decades. Instruction at CSUN is offered through nine colleges: Cal State Northridge faculty have been recognized for their high quality. CSUN’s admissions program is rated as “less selective” in most major fields, but admissions to “impacted” majors, such as accounting, finance, music, computer science and cinema and television are more selective. Nearly eight in 10 CSUN students rate the university’s quality of instruction as good or excellent, and the same share say CSUN was their first choice of a university to attend. According to the National Science Foundation’s June 2006 Survey, Cal State Northridge ranks second in the nation, only behind Cal State Long Beach, among more than 550 master’s-level colleges and universities in graduating students who went on to earn doctoral degrees (according to data of 1995-2004). In its May 9, 2006 issue, Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education featured CSUN in its list of the nation’s top 100 universities for awarding bachelor’s degrees. CSUN was in the top 10 with second in the nation for awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics in Hispanic studies; U.S. News and World Report’s 2005 “America’s Best Colleges” list ranked CSUN’s College of Engineering and Computer Science among the nation’s best undergraduate engineering programs at 39th, tied with seven out-of-state institutions. Northridge is one of only six California State University programs in the top ranked tier of engineering programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The California State University, Northridge’s Oviatt Library provides educational, cultural and information services and resources to the students and faculty. Of note are the Collaboratory with its 170 multipurpose computer workstations, 3 computer equipped library instruction labs, and 120 computer workstations devoted to library information resources. The Library is heavily used with 8.2 million uses of its web pages annually, an annual gate count of 1.4 million, and over a half a million interactions per year with Library personnel. As part of its Jazz Studies curriculum, CSUN’s Department of Music features a world-class jazz band. The community service learning project represents a coordinated effort between CSUN’s Communication Studies department and Grant High School. The mascot for CSUN is the Matador, which was suggested in 1958 by student submissions. CSUN fields both men’s and women’s teams in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, track and field, and volleyball. CSUN is a very multicultural university, which is evident in the multitude of ethnic and cultural student organizations that have formed root nearly a quarter century ago. Some of them are the CSUN Armenian Student Association, founded in 1976; The eleven North-American Interfraternity Conference houses at CSUN are: The six National Panhellenic Conference houses at CSUN are: This campus was heavily damaged by the 1994 earthquake, including entire sections of the main library, art building, etc., but classes continued in alternative structures.

Summary content courtesy of Wikipedia.

California State University-Northridge History

California State University, Northridge was founded in 1958 as San Fernando Valley State College. Originally a part of Los Angeles State College of Applied Arts and Sciences, the University was separated from that institution. The current name was adopted in 1972 by an act of the California legislature.

California State University, Northridge was founded as a branch campus of the Los Angeles State College. It soon became a separate college, San Fernando Valley State College, and became a University in 1972. It is one of the largest campuses of the CSU system. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Its mission statement says in part that its mission is “to promote the welfare and intellectual progress of students” through “programs and activities to help students develop the academic competencies, professional skills, critical and creative abilities, and ethical values of learned persons who live in a democratic society, an interdependent world, and a technological age…” It is classed as a Master’s College and University I by the Carnegie Institute.

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California State University-Northridge Academics

CSUN is home to nine colleges offering 60 bachelors degrees and 28 credentials in the field of education, as well as extended learning and other special programs. It is home to nearly 28,00 students and some 3,300 faculty and staff. More than half of the full-time faculty possess the terminal degree in their field, and the student-to-teacher ratio is approximately 21:1.

California State University, Northridge has academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. There are 9 colleges: The College of Arts, Media & Communication, the College of Business and Economics, the Michael D. Eisner College of Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning, the College of Health and Human Development, the College of Humanities, the College of Science & Mathematics, and the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences.

Bachelor’s degrees are offered in a variety of fields within the various academic colleges. Degrees at the bachelor’s level can be received in such areas as accountancy, Asian American studies, deaf studies, engineering, humanities, information systems, nursing, physics, religious studies, theatre arts and urban studies and planning.

Graduate programs are offered in 45 master’s level fields, including anthropology, business administration, counseling, engineering, environmental & occupational health, kinesiology, linguistics, physical therapy, recreation, and social work. There are 28 credential programs in education, including teaching credentials and specialist credentials.

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California State University-Northridge Unique Programs

The Manufacturing Engineering program prepares students to relieve the monotony of life by automating dangerous, tedious, or repetitive processes. Students are exposed to a diverse array of areas including chemistry, mathematics, physics, electrical engineering, and economics. Senior students are given the opportunity to design and build a robotics project s their capstone work.

The Pan-African Studies department educates students about “the African World Experience” and programs concerning diversity, vibrance, and vitality of African and Caribbean cultures. The program also presents “an Afrocentric analysis” of the world and its workings. Students’ efforts result in a BA in Pan-African Studies.

SAGE (Study, Activity, Growth, Enrichment) is a learning program for retired individuals interested in extending their own knowledge base. The program revolves around research topics that student groups examine and then deliver presentations on. The program is offered by the College of Extended Learning.

California State University, Northridge has an undergraduate Honors Program for students with a high school GPA of 3.7. Students in the Honors program can take general education courses designated as Honors courses.

There is an adult college education program (PACE) with evening and weekend courses offered in compressed sessions. Students enrolled in this program can complete upper division requirements within two years.

Distance and continuing education programs are also offered at both the bachelor’s and master’s level.

Some of the other unique opportunities available at California State University, Northridge include the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), a mentoring program beginning at the high school level and extending through college for low-income students.

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California State University-Northridge Financial Aid

Students and applicants can complete the FAFSA and contact the University’s financial aid office about the possibility of federal grants, loans, or work study. General scholarships (i.e. at Northridge are awarded to more than 300 students every year and average about $1,500. The numbers and sizes of these awards depend on endowment earnings and may vary each year. Incoming students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.00. The financial aid office also encourages students to pursue their own scholarship search by beginning in their local community.

Registration and fees at California State University, Northridge were $1,518 per semester for the fall 2005 semester for in-state, undergraduate students attending full-time. Students applying from out of state and graduate students have higher costs.

Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans. Work-study programs are also available for some students. Students who seek financial aid will need to fill out the Federal Student Financial Aid Form, available on-line. Other scholarships, grants, and loans may require additional applications.

Graduate students may also receive financial aid in the form of teaching or research assistantships, including a stipend and a waiver of some or all of the tuition and other fees. Graduate students should consult with their individual department about what sort of assistantships or fellowships are available and about the details of the application process.

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California State University-Northridge Students

Northridge is home to dozens of student organizations, including a very vibrant and active Greek community. The student activities office has done a good job of making policies and procedures available to student organizations, as well as any forms necessary to start a new organization or maintain an existing one. The University Student Union includes study areas, places to eat, the Performing Arts Center, University events, films, meeting areas, and recreational activities. The intramural sports program offers athletic competition for all students, and also has separate leagues for fraternity and sorority members.

Student life at California State University, Northridge includes opportunities in a diverse range of activities and organizations. The Center for the Visual and Performing Arts offers various shows and exhibits. Students can also see plays, go to art galleries, or attend films. Recreational and sporting activities are available, and student organizations include fraternities, academic and career clubs, political and religious organizations, and cultural groups. There is a student newspaper.

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California State University-Northridge Local Community

California State University, Northridge is located in Northridge, California, in the San Fernando Valley and near the city of Los Angeles. The surrounding environment is urban. Near-by attractions include museums, theme parks, movie studios, and parks. Students have access to all that a metropolitan area can offer.

Northridge is actually a community of Los Angeles, California, in the San Fernando Valley. In addition to the University that is there, other points of interest include the Botanical Gardens and the Northridge Fashion Center, a shopping mall. Northridge is located in the Santa Susana Mountains, allowing its residents a good deal of outdoor and recreational activities. Though the area’s population dates back to the 1700s, it was not truly populated until water was brought to the area in the early 1900s. Today, many residents of Northridge are working to make the area its own independent community, a concept that the residents of Los Angeles voted down in 2002.

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