California State University-Los Angeles Reviews

"The undergraduate program gives a great foundation of knowledge for any graduate program. However, as the degree is not of the STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) there is a-lot of challenges that come after graduation. The great and worse thing about the university is that it is in Los Angeles, meaning you have to compete with USC, UCLA, CSUN, CSDH, CSUF, Cal poly Pomona and neighboring UC's and private colleges. You really have to do more out of the college classroom then you actually do academically. The great thing about the program is that it is one of the cheapest Cal States to attend."

"My experience at CSULA was one of the hardest and best times of not only my academic career but personal life as well. Academically it was challenging with homework, studying, and tests. The usual of procrastinating and staying up really late to get a passing grade. However besides that it has the best networking and opportunities inside the campus. I was able to join many organizations and meet many students who just like me found out that there was more to college than just attending classes. I joined a co-ed fraternity and a sorority in which I made many great memories and gained leadership skills. I joined a teaching program that helped my realize that I wanted to become a teacher and helped me gained experience in the classroom. I got my first full time job in the classroom right after graduation thanks to the friends I made in the teaching program. I met my best friends in college and I also met the love of my life through one of the organizations. Networking at CSULA is one of the best experiences because you never know who you will meet and how they will have an impact on your life."

"MY EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT WAS GREAT. IT WAS DURING THE TIME WHEN WE WERE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF CIVIL ACTIVITIES.OUR INSTRUCTORS WERE ACTIVE AND ENCOURGING US TO BECOME ACTIVE IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE. IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES AND THE BEST OF TIMES. SORRY: MY COMPUTER IS REALLY ACTING-UP,GOING FROM CAPS KEYS TO NON-CAPS KEYS."

"California State University, Los Angeles is one of the highest ranked public universities in Northern California. The university offers a wide array of culture and students with different backgrounds. There is plethora of options for degree options, from African American Studies to Computer Engineering. However, as a student athlete, the athletic department lacked a great deal of academic support. As A CSULA alumna, I strongly recommend CSULA for students that are wanting a institution that offers cultural diversity and degree options."

"California State University Los Angeles has a great program if you are interested in studying Criminal Justice. The professors have hands on experience in all areas of law enforcement and they bring that knowledge to their courses. This makes the courses so exciting. You will not regret choosing Cal State LA to complete your degree."

"CSULA School of Social Work is an outstanding program that will not financially hinder you upon graduating. Courses are well taught and organized for a granteed success, including studesnts witch families! I would highly recommend the MSW. program! Take advantage of State University Grants through early financial aid application along with a abailable stipend programs!"

"I received my MA in TESOL from Cal State LA and am extremely grateful for the opportunities this program has afforded me. The supportive faculty provided generous opportunities to engage in research at the university, helping lay my path to continued studies pursuing a PhD in education. The coursework provided a strong foundation in the elements of pedagogy, language, and culture in the language classroom. The program encourages students to attend and present at academic conferences, providing direct experience in contemporary research on language teaching and learning. In addition to learning the theoretical underpinnings of Second Language Acquisition research, courses on teaching methods and a practicum component equipped me with multiple applied techniques for the language classroom. Many students interests centered on these elements of the program and greatly improved their instructional methods. Though several members of my cohort went on to pursue advanced degrees, most of the students are now employed as community college professors, university instructors, teachers, or in learning and writing centers. In addition to the great mentorship, the TESOL faculty are kind and caring, fostering a true community with lifelong friendships among the alumni. While the program was challenging, it was also fun! If you are interested in language learning, teaching, or applied linguistics, I give the MA in TESOL Program at Cal State LA my highest recommendation."

"Cal State LA prepared me for the filed of educational administration. While I was taking my classes, I was also working full time as a teacher with many administrative roles. I was not yet sure I wanted to pursue being an administrator at an elementary school, but I quickly realized, through the learning I was involved in at CSULA, that I wanted to pursue the field."

"Great if you want to work in the film industry. The program had great internships available and very good instructors who were actively working in the business. The program has continued to grow and is located right next to the heart of Los Angeles. Id take the classes again if I could."

"MA in TESOL: Honestly, this program is a major joke. I attended within the last few years. It absolutely in no way prepares you to become a good teacher. It is all based on outdated theory and research and is just overall ridiculous . The professors are all so boring and their teaching methods are so boring. I spent 2 years of my life listening to peoples feelings on boring topics and at the end of the 2 years I felt like I learned absolutely nothing. I could have picked up a teaching methods book and read for a couple hours or did some research online and got more in 2 hours than in 2 years. You may learn how to study terms for exams which you will braindrop later. You may learn how to write endless amounts of papers. But in no way, shape or form will you enhance your teaching skills. It is a joke. Seriously a waste of time and money! I would just go do the CELTA, it's 110% better. Whoever is in charge of this program should fire everyone and completely remodel the program. Get some awesome younger teachers with overseas teaching experience who are aimed at making you a better teacher. Drop the stupid exams and essays. Save all that research and paper writing for PHD students. When I came to get my Masters I was told it would directly teach me to be a great ESL teacher. It didn't do that at all. Seriously run far away from this program. Don't waste time or money. If you don't believe me... visit the campus and find some of the current student and ask them. I guarantee you they will all say its a joke and waste of time. Everyone felt that way when I was there a couple years back. I heard it got even worse from a colleague."

"There are many that have a low opinion of the university, but like any other establishment of higher education, it is what you make of it. There are many great professors at this university, There are also some that help encourage me when I have had thoughts of giving up. Naturally there are those professors who don't contribute to a pleasant experience. The school has updated technology, some departments have antiquated equipment but sufficient for the learning experience. The campus itself is nice, and for the area in which it is located the campus itself is safe. The only major inconveniences suffered while attending the university is they are impacted and continue to admit too many students, and there is insufficient parking to accommodate the overload."

"California State University, Los Angeles was an excellent program for pursuing my Master's Degree in Audiology. Currently, they are in the process of starting a doctoral program in Audiology, which should be an excellent, in-state option to consider."

"Excellent school with an amazing sociology program. It is very impacted but the student to teacher ratio allows students to become involved in discussions and class activities. The diversity at CSULA is great because it allows people from different backgrounds to come together to learn."

"The professors were really helpful in providing the needed information! They were always supportive during classes and office hours. The syllabus and curriculum were presented clearly from day one. The access to technology and web resources were readily available."

"It is a great program! You have to create a program plan as part of the application process so I felt that it was definitely organized and mapped out your classes. The professors are also amazing and knowledgeable."

"The degree that I will be reviewing is a Bachelors of Arts in History from California State University of Los Angeles. Overall, I felt that the quality of instruction, the educational and career advisement from the history faculty, and the satisfaction from the rigor of the curriculum of the program was the most fulfilling experience I've had in my whole educational career. Ultimately, the program was challenging due to the expectations enforced by the history departments staff, but as a student you wanted to meet those expectations or more because the history faculty want you to learn as much as you can from their expertise. There were many of the faculty engaged with their specialties such as giving talks domestically or abroad like in Washington D.C. or in Russia. Additionally, there are many numerous historical periods to choose that are offered year-round. The opportunities from the history department at Cal State LA were limitless such as from internships at the Autry, local community museums, or even trips aboard to Germany made my college experience unforgettable. If you are a history major, choose Cal State LA in order to replicate the same memorable experiences I had."

"The sociology department staff are highly interested in helping their students. My mentor is the chair of the sociology department. She has nominated me and has shown me opportunities that I would have otherwise not known about. The more a student tries, and talks to their professors, the more connections they can make. All my professors have been easy to talk to and willing to help. I will be attending their MSW program in the fall."

"My undergraduate experience at California State University, Los Angeles was more than I ever could have imagined. I took everything from general ed classes in large lecture halls to upper division courses in a classroom setting, and the professors shared great immediacy to their capacity. Every professor I took wanted to see me succeed, so they made themselves available for office hours and through email. The entire Communication department at Cal State LA will go above and beyond for their students; they will expect you to give your 100% and they will give you their 100%. The scholarship expected from students is of potential for publication and that is a great incentive to produce your best possible work. I felt like I flourished and grew at Cal State LA, not just as a student, but as a human. I fell in love with Cal State LA so much that I am also, currently, pursuing my master's degree there."

"Cal State University of Los Angeles was a great school. I enjoyed my classes and the campus was clean, friendly, and easy to get from one class to another. Parking was easily accessed and the campus was not overly crowded. I enjoyed my classes as well. My professors were wonderful and every class had something new to offer."

"CSULA is a great university. It is a very diverse campus where students will have many unique encounters with other students due to the fact that there are people from all over the world. That is the beauty of it. The professors are also diverse and very knowledgable in their field. The courses were very challenging but I learned a lot and the professors are more than willing to really help their students understand the material. They are very flexible and will meet with you at a time that is best for the student. CSULA is a very small campus which I absolutely love because it gives the sense of a tight knit community. You automatically feel like you belong. The faculty in student services departments such as, admissions, financial aid, the student health center, the program department, cultural centers, and advisors, are all very helpful and welcoming when students go in with many questions. If they do not know an answer for you, they will find a way to get you the information you need. The campus security is also very great. You see them everywhere patrolling the campus and they are friendly too so you don't feel intimidated to ask them for help. Definitely makes students feel safe. There are always different events on campus that fit everyone's needs and meet everyone's interests. It's never a boring day on campus because there is always something going on. What I love the most about CSULA are the psychology professors. They are passionate and very experienced in their field and they have truly inspired me to do bigger and greater. They also have a bus terminal that makes it very easy to use public transportation. The busses and Metrolink leave you right there on campus. CSULA is a great campus overall. I wouldn't mind going back for my graduate degree."