California State University-Long Beach Reviews

"A high end university that provides all the technology need it to teach and prepare students for their new roles"

"CSULB is undoubtedly an amazing bargain and a great school to attend. It may not be as fancy as a UC or Ivy league, but in a couple of years with a little more funding I'm sure it will get there. The campus itself is a mix of new and older buildings and there is always remodeling or construction going on somewhere. The students are diverse and friendly for the most part. CSULB is a commuter school and there isn't a huge dorming population, so it lacks the community oriented feel of, say, UCLA for example. It is also a huge school, one of the largest CSU's, but even still within my major (the largest on campus) people often knew each other by first time and had many classes together. The professors here shine in the upper division classes and it is where you will definitely learn the most. Depending on the major, your time here can be either really tough or you can coast along. There are lots of clubs on campus and opportunities to get involved. I would recommend joining an organization as soon as you can and getting to know people to make your experience here even more fun!"

"CSULB is a college that will give you the tools necessary to succeed. One of the biggest tools is their networking events and clubs. Utilize these two opportunities and you will have job right out of college. For Majoring in Finance or Accounting, join either Beta Alpha Psi or Accounting Society. There are many other clubs that will help you attain a job before you graduate. Moreover, this campus has professors that care about your education and are willing to meet with you on the side to help you in every aspect of your college experience."

"The Single Subject Teaching Credential Programs in physical education and adapted physical education at California State University Long Beach are rigorous. The programs are small so the teacher to student ratio is beneficial for learning. The professors are supportive of each student and want each student to succeed. I graduated from another university with my undergraduate degree and wish I had researched more into the CSULB Kinesiology department because I felt more prepared and confident upon graduating the credential program at CSULB than from the university I obtained my undergraduate degree. These programs equip students with the necessary tools, resources, and experiences needed to succeed in the field of teaching. I have taught for the past two years and everything I learned in these programs. The professors treat the students with respect and even upon graduation they will still answer emails from former students in a timely manner. For me personally, I compare the culture of the programs to a family. Former students are welcomed back whether it has been 6 months or 20 years. CSULB graduates look out for one another and are willing to help each another by connecting each other with their professional network of contacts. A student is not alone during their educational journey in the Kinesiology programs at CSULB. We are treated as individuals not a number. The friendships built with other students and the professional relationships built with professors and mentor teachers and the rigorous coursework make these programs worthwhile. I am proud to have graduated from these programs and look forward to pursuing my Masters of Arts in Kinesiology in Physical Education Individualized Program and Generalized studies in Fall of 2017."

"Cal-State Long Beach is a great school to attend. The campus is located in a beautiful city where there is a lot to explore and discover. My experience there was amazing! I had support from the EOP program, and the counselors there helped me create a graduation path which helped me reach my goal of graduating in 4-5 years. CSULB was about diversity, opportunity, and free expression."

"This college has many excellent programs and majors. Although it is a "commuter school" there are a large number of activities to help you connect to other people and faculty"

"This schools biggest strengths are its diversity and the commitment of faculty to the success of all students, no matter their background or lives beyond school. I learned as much from other students as I did from professors. Most of us were not following a traditional academic path. This served to enrich the learning experience with knowledge gained beyond the classroom. Additionally, those students who were on a longer education plan developed deeper relationships with the faculty, which also enriched classroom exchanges and I am sure resulted in those students deeper relationship with the subject. The university as a whole seems to understand that their students come from a variety of backgrounds, and while we are committed to our education, most of us have a wealth of other demands as well. I found my professors in line with this vision. Both within my major (Philosophy) and my minor (Psychology), professors went above and beyond to make classroom requirements as financially feasible and accessible as possible. Instructors had an equally wide variety of backgrounds as students and many were very experienced in their fields. For a highly accessible state school, I was impressed with the academic rigor. Of course, there were some courses, particularly for younger professors, that were not as rigorous as others. However, I saw many of my professors present at conferences, sit on various boards, and draw from years of conducting independent research or diagnoses. The instructors do an excellent job of delivering a quality education that focuses on the most important themes to take-away from a course without forcing excessive work that for most of us will be useless and forgotten in five years time. I feel I got a good background in my field, such that if I pursued a career outside of academia I have the skills I need to succeed, and I dont feel as though I wasted my time drilling on facts and figures that I dont need on a daily basis. If I were to pursue a career in academia within my field, the curriculum is probably not quite as rigorous, but I have enough background to pursue an advanced degree and have a solid baseline of knowledge from which to build on."

"CSULB is the optimal graduate program for school psychology. It is affordable, with many opportunities for grants and scholarships. The student body of the program is diverse and issues of diversity in schools are frequently addressed. There is also a clinic on campus that is used for training in psychoed services, counseling, and intervention. Every local school district knows that CSULB grads make great school psychologists, which is why the program has excellent rates of employment. Could not recommend the program more."

"Located near the beautiful beaches of California is csulb. The school as a whole has a very friendly atmosphere with the feeling that everyone is ready to help. The faculty in my math department were like family and were always available with any question or problem that I encountered. Class sizes for graduate classes were no more than 30. This gave each student plenty of time to have one on one conversations with the professor. There multitudes of activities available in the school in your down time, including movie theatre, bowling alley and pool tables. If you are looking for a school with a strong friendly staff with small class sizes I definitely recommend CSULB."

"CSULB's School of Social Work has a super diverse cohort for my year, and I believe each year is diverse as well. Different students from every ethnic/racial background, every age group, location, etc. It has been an awesome experience growing with my cohort and learning from one another. I love how the school makes very intentional efforts to decide our placements and works with the student to negotiate any issues at the placement. I also appreciate the faculty. Many are excellent resources of wisdom and knowledge. They can be very helpful and understanding too!"

"The professors really want you to succeed in your classes. They also want to prepare you to work in the field of social work. The internship program is great in teaching you real world experiences to help you understand what you are learning in class."

"Overall, this college is a baseline bargain. You get what you pay for. Most professors are passionate and thoroughly knowledgeable about the subjects they are teaching, however; there were quite a few who were incompetent. Most classes, even the most interesting, do not seem to be geared to give you knowledge needed to succeed in the working world. Once you reach your upper division courses, college and the education you receive is exciting, somewhat helpful, and downright fun. Upper division is where your wings will really spread and the professors are good enough to help you soar. I will encourage all new students to take at least one 1 unit Kinesiology course every semester. This will be a fun, constructive way to decompress from your more rigorous classes. The campus always feels safe, even late at night and everyone is friendly. Beware the psycho religious screamers! Every spring without fail, handfuls of individuals will stand on the lawns in upper campus and scream hateful messages at everyone who is around. Do not engage these people, they only want to get assaulted by a student so they can sue the school. In other words, I honestly enjoyed my time here, I just wish I spent more time on campus and had cultivated a college community. Good luck!"

"California State University, Long Beach has a very well established faculty in the Kinesiology department. I chose to specialize in Exercise Science and was able to complete the program in two years. Now serving as an exercise physiologist, I am able to speak about the application of the courses offered in a clinical setting, as well as in the process of looking for a career. There are very strong professors in the department that really teach what you need to know should you end up working in the field. However, the courses do not allow you to specialize enough to be strong in one particular area of exercise science (clinical, training, coaching, etc). Additionally, the curriculum does not prepare you for finding a job upon graduation. Jobs are very few and far between in the field and often require experience that could have been done as a student through internships. My advice is to go through the program (definitely do not regret selecting CSULB for my Masters), but to be in a place where you can subject yourself to as many internships as possible on your own (get out and travel!) as that is what will set you up for a career. I really had to struggle."

"In regards to the Nutritional Science Master's program, I believe CSU Long Beach provided a quality education. All instructors were very knowledgeable, passionate, and dedicated to their careers as educators and as professionals in their respected areas. They educated us on up-to-date research, which is very important in the field of science. They also discussed the importance of evaluating current research, which is also important since not all research studies are equal. They challenged us yet supported us in our academics. They also stressed the importance of diversity, cultural awareness, and the underserved in regards to healthcare. Overall, this program gave me a well-rounded education and prepared me in multiple aspects for my career in healthcare."

"California State University, Long Beach is one of the best schools out there! It helped me make friends that I will have for the rest of my life and the science department is amazing! It helped me get to where I am today which is working on my masters degree, now in Massachusetts! I have contacts that have helped me get to where I am now and the program I was in led me to a great career right after graduation. The professors are amazing and take all the time you need to help you succeed. Choosing to go to this school was one of the best decisions I have ever made and I could not recommend it enough to others. There are so many great resources to take advantage of and it is also in one of the best cities in the country! CSULB shaped who I am and I am so thankful for the opportunities I had and still have because of it."

"Loved it. Great professors with tons of knowledge and experience."

"The program was exactly what I expected it to be. I decided to pursue an MBA degree in order to increase my career options by changing the field that I had been working in since receiving my undergraduate degree. The CSULB MBA degree helped me do exactly that and I was able to find a job shorty after graduating, and have been here ever since!"

"College was a great experience. When I found my calling, I pursued it to the fullest and with that 4-year education and good workplace experience, I got into grad school. The degree I earned has helped me immensely in my professional life."

"A very laid back atmosphere that encouraged students to challenge themselves and the norm."

"Very good value. Cost is low and the aerospace coursework was great."