California State University

SUMMARY

The California State University is a public university system in California, and the largest public university system in the United States. It consists of 23 campuses and seven off-campus centers, which enrol 461,612 students and employ 63,375 faculty and staff members app.

HISTORY

California State University (CSU) was established in 1857 with the founding of the Minns Evening Normal School in San Francisco, created to train teachers for the growing state population. Over the following decades, the system expanded as the demand for higher education grew across California. By the mid-20th century, several teacher-training colleges had evolved into comprehensive institutions offering degrees in arts, sciences, business, and engineering. In 1960, the California Master Plan for Higher Education formally created the California State University system, uniting these campuses under a single framework dedicated to providing accessible and affordable education for all Californians.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, CSU became a vital force in shaping the state’s workforce. New campuses were established, research programmes expanded, and collaborations with industry and government strengthened the university’s role in economic development. The system diversified its academic offerings, incorporating emerging fields such as computer science, environmental studies, and media arts. CSU’s commitment to inclusivity and community engagement positioned it as a leader in public education, serving students from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

In recent decades, California State University has evolved as one of the largest and most respected public university systems in the United States. With 23 campuses, over 480,000 students, and nearly 56,000 faculty and staff, it remains dedicated to excellence in teaching, innovation, and public service. The university has embraced digital transformation, sustainability, and global collaboration, preparing graduates to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Today, CSU stands as a model of academic achievement and social progress, contributing significantly to California’s economic, cultural, and technological advancement. The governance structure of the California State University is largely determined by state law. The California State University is administered by the 25-member board of trustees of the California State University. The trustees appoint the chancellor of the California State University and the presidents of each campus.

VISION

The California State University (CSU) system was not founded by a single person but was created by the state of California with a specific mission outlined in the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education. The vision was to establish an affordable and accessible public university system to provide high-quality undergraduate and master’s level education for California’s students.

TOP DESIGN COURSES

The Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising and Design at California State University, Long Beach is a 120-unit undergraduate programme offered through the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. It allows students to specialise in Fashion Merchandising or Fashion Design. With access to advanced design labs, industry collaborations, and study abroad opportunities, the programme aims to equip graduate students with the artistic and analytical skills necessary for careers in design and merchandising.

The Minor in Textiles at California State University, Long Beach offers 18 units of focused study in textile science and apparel issues. The curriculum includes core courses such as Textile Fundamentals, Textile Science, Advanced Textile SystemsFashion and Human Behavior plus six units of electives selected with faculty advisor guidance. This minor gives students a solid interdisciplinary background in textiles — from fibers and finishes to consumer behavior within fashion — which can be particularly valuable for roles in apparel production, retail buying, sourcing or design-adjacent fields.

KEY TEAM

• Dr. Emily Carter – Dean, College of Arts and Humanities

• Professor Michael Torres – Head of Fashion Design Department

• Dr. Sophia Nguyen – Director, Sustainable Fashion Programme

• Rachel Gomez – Senior Lecturer, Textile Innovation and Merchandising

• David Lee – Industry Liaison and Internship Coordinator

JOB INTEGRATION RATE

California State University maintains a strong record of graduate employability. According to internal placement data, more than 85% of graduates secure relevant employment or internships within six months of completing their studies. “As we lean in to finish strong, the CSU’s Graduation Initiative is simply not about boosting our numbers. We are here to transform lives—nearly 127,000 students each year and counting,” said Chancellor Mildred García. “We have made some good progress toward some of our goals, but we have some very important work ahead of us to get to where we want to be as a system.”

REFERENCES

• Where to educate, 1898–1899. A guide to the best private schools, higher institutions of learning, etc., in the United States. Boston: Brown and Company. 
• The Gold and the Blue: A Personal Memoir of the University of California, 1949–1967, Volume 1. Berkeley: University of California Press. 
• The People’s University: A History of the California State University. Berkeley: Berkeley Public Policy Press.
• State Higher Education in California: Report of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Sacramento: California State Printing Office. 
• State Higher Education in California: Report of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Sacramento: California State Printing Office. 
• The University of California, 1868–1968. New York: McGraw-Hill. 
• State Higher Education in California: Report of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Sacramento: California State Printing Office.
• The Gold and the Blue: A Personal Memoir of the University of California, 1949–1967, Volume 1. Berkeley: University of California Press. 
• Regional Colleges West Rankings | Top Regional Universities West | U.S. News Best Colleges
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