6610 California State University
Mission Statement

The California State University (CSU) is comprised of 23 campuses. All campuses offer undergraduate and graduate instruction for professional and occupational goals and liberal education programs. For undergraduate programs, each campus requires a basic program of general education, regardless of the major selected by the student. In addition to master's-level graduate programs, the CSU offers doctorate programs in education, nursing practice, and physical therapy, as well as a limited number of doctoral degrees offered jointly with the University of California and with private California institutions.

The university is governed by the Board of Trustees, which includes the following 25 members: 5 ex officio members, 16 members appointed by the Governor to eight-year terms, and 4 members appointed by the Governor to two-year terms (2 student representatives, 1 voting and 1 non-voting, 1 faculty representative, and 1 alumni representative). The Trustees appoint the Chancellor and the campus presidents. The Trustees, the Chancellor, and the presidents develop systemwide policy. The systemwide Academic Senate, made up of elected faculty representatives from the campuses, recommends academic policy to the Board of Trustees through the Chancellor.

The program goals are:

  • To provide instruction in the liberal arts and sciences, the professions, applied fields that require more than two years of college education, and teacher education.
  • To provide public services to the people of California.
  • To provide services to students enrolled in the university.
  • To prepare administrative leaders for elementary and secondary schools and community colleges by awarding the doctorate degree in education.
  • To prepare physical therapists by awarding the doctorate degree in physical therapy.
  • To prepare faculty to teach in postsecondary nursing programs by awarding the doctorate degree in nursing practice.

Because department programs drive the need for infrastructure investment, each department has a related capital outlay program to support this need. For specifics on the California State University's capital outlay program, see "Infrastructure Overview."