California State University-Long Beach

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a large city.

Overview

California State University-Long Beach, or CSULB, is the second largest campus of the California State University system--covering 323 acres. In terms of enrollment, it is the third largest university in the state.

The school was founded in 1949 and gained the status of a university in 1972. The promotion was granted by the Board of Trustees of the California State University system.

The university is repeatedly ranked as "One of the Top Five Public Comprehensive Universities in the Western United States" by U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best College Guide."

CSULB offers more than 80 baccalaureate degrees, more than 65 masters degrees, and 15 education-related credential programs. It is organized into the following colleges:

• College of Business Administration
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Health & Human Services
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• College of the Arts

Faculty, staff, and students are involved in service partnerships with community agencies and non-profits, schools, and local government agencies. Students have the opportunity and financial support to earn degree credit through internships with area companies and community organizations.

CSULB hosts more than 350 events every year. The university is a founding member of the Big West Conference for major sports and also participates in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the 49ers.

One of the fastest growing areas of campus activity is the business and technology "incubator" program, in which faculty-staff-student research teams work together to bring ideas into the marketplace.

Among the famous CSULB alumni are Neil Campbell, biologist and author; Richard Bach, writer of nonfiction and fiction, including Jonathan Livingston Seagull; Agnes De Mille, choreographer; Steve Martin, actor and comedian; Steven Spielberg, award-winning filmmaker and school alumnus; Richard and Karen Carpenter, of The Carpenters, pop duo; John Bettis, songwriter; John G. Schmitz, former U.S. Representative and candidate for President from American Independent Party; Pat McCormick, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist; Jason Giambi, first baseman, Colorado Rockies; Craig Hodges, NBA champion; Jim Fassel, former offensive coordinator of NFL's Baltimore Ravens and former head coach of New York Giants; and Ricardo Chavira, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Many students concentrating in fine arts, drama and performing arts, nutrition and exercise therapy, religion and philosophy, family and social work, liberal arts, and art studies.
• Large number of students.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• Affordable tuition & fees.
• High faculty salary.
• Selective admissions.
• Racially diverse student body.

School characteristics:

• The school is public.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Masters Colleges and Universities I.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students have meal (board) plans.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Part-time classes are available.
• ROTC.
• Athlete financial aid is awarded.

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Long Beach State:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 37,891 in 2009-2010 (30,891 full-time equivalent).

About 37% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 63% of the class.

Undergrads are 82% of enrolled students and graduate students are 18%.

Students under 25 years old represent 70% of the student body. About 5% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Among freshmen students, 98% are full-time and 2% are part-time.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

SAT Test Scores:

Room and Board

Long Beach State provides on-campus housing for 2,538 of its 30,891 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010).

Students may purchase a meal plan which includes 19 meals weekly.

Athletics

The school is in the Big West Conference for major sports.

The school offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 108 male students received the aid (men were 46% of those receiving aid) and 129 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 54% of students receiving such aid) .

Graduate School Focus

Long Beach State offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Doctorate (Other Than Research or Professional Practice).

The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Postbaccalaureate Comprehensive.

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

ART STUDIES (213 awarded)

• Art/Art Studies

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (1,342 awarded)

• Business Administration and Management
• Business/Managerial Economics
• Logistics and Materials Management

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (126 awarded)

• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science

CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (20 awarded)

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Studies

DESIGN (34 awarded)

• Design and Applied Arts
• Industrial Design

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (106 awarded)

• Dance
• Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
• Theatre/Theatre Arts Management

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (684 awarded)

• Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
• Education
• Special Education and Teaching
• Trade and Industrial Teacher Education

ENGINEERING (377 awarded)

• Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
• Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (71 awarded)

• Computer Engineering Technology/Technician
• Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
• Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engr Technology/Technician
• Engineering Technology

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (681 awarded)

• Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
• Human Development and Family Studies
• Public Administration
• Social Work

FINE ARTS (169 awarded)

• Fine/Studio Arts

LIBERAL ARTS (1,985 awarded)

• African-American/Black Studies
• American/United States Studies/Civilization
• Anthropology
• Asian Studies/Civilization
• Classics/Classical Languages, Lit & Linguistics
• Comparative Literature
• East Asian Studies
• Economics
• English Language and Literature
• European Studies/Civilization
• French Language and Literature
• Geography
• German Language and Literature
• Hispanic-American,Puerto Rican & Mexican-American/Chicano Studies
• History
• International Relations and Affairs
• Language Interpretation and Translation
• Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
• Linguistics
• Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
• Political Science and Government
• Sociology
• Spanish Language and Literature
• Speech and Rhetorical Studies
• Women's Studies

MATHEMATICS (87 awarded)

• Mathematics

MEDIA (251 awarded)

• Journalism
• Radio and Television

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION (95 awarded)

• Health/Health Care Administration/Management

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY (89 awarded)

• Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences

MEDICINE (29 awarded)

• Gerontology
• Public Health, General (MPH, DPH)

MUSIC (81 awarded)

• Music Performance
• Music

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE (292 awarded)

• Nursing Administration (MSN, MS, PhD)
• Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
• Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (364 awarded)

• Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)
• Health and Physical Education
• Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY (61 awarded)

• Jewish/Judaic Studies
• Philosophy
• Religion/Religious Studies

SCIENCE (319 awarded)

• Biochemistry
• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
• Geology/Earth Science
• Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
• Microbiology
• Physics

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (408 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
• Security and Protective Services

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (487 awarded)

• Communication Disorders
• Physical Therapy/Therapist
• Psychology