Quote:
Originally posted by Munchkin03
So, the UCs are research universities, while the CSUs are not.
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Munchkin you got it in a nutshell. UC's are research and CSU's are hands on practicum (plus a lot of smaller classes at most CSU's vs the UC's)
Also, as someone else mentioned the UC's grant Doctoral Degrees while the CSU's are limited to Masters degrees as the highest they can award. However that is now changing as the CSU's are known to produce the most teachers in the state (my campus CSU Dominguez Hills being one of the top schools for Education degrees in the state). Because of the number of students graduating with degrees in education the CSU and UC's have recently implemented a program in which you can earn a Doctorate in Education at some CSU's that are working in conjunction with the UC system.
Someone mentioned that the UC's have a different admission (more difficult) standard for Freshman then the CSU's. Regarding course requirements needed in high schools the CSU's are completely in line with the UC's as to what classes are required. The CSU's require you to have an SAT or ACT score whereas the UC's don't, rather they look at the SAT IIs and AP scores, activities (I think), etc. I'm well versed in the CSU's admissions standards as I work as an Admissions Evaluator at CSUDH.
Although the UC's do tend to be ranked higher the CSU's sometimes, depending on the industry/career you want and on the program/major and the campus, you're going to sometimes the CSU's rank higher then the UCs. The MPA program I am in at CSUDH is a nationally known program for instance and has the highest accrediation ASPA can give it.
I have to disagree with SAEactive (a fellow CSU graduate) about it being easier to graduate from the UC then the CSU - 4 years vs 5 years. I think it's more the clientele the CSU serves that make the difference. A lot of the UC's are stereotypical college where you start at 18 and graduate in 4 years. the CSU profiles tend to be transfer or older students who work full time and maybe have a family which causes the time to get a degree to lenghten to 5 years. As for budget problems both the UC and CSUs are in a world of hurt with the budget proposed by the governor this year although the CSUs and UCs and definitely better off then the Community College system.
With the opening of CSU Channel Islands Fall 2002 there are 23 CSU's statewide. CSU Long Beach has moved past San Diego State as the largest (most enrolled students) with this past falls Full Time Enrollment numbers. The UC's have 9 campuses with the 10th, UC Merced, scheduled to have its first students Fall 2004.
Hope everyone has been able to answer some of your questions 33girl.
Carolyn