UC vs Cal State systems?

[33girl]

What is the difference between the UC system and the Cal State system? Did one of them used to be teachers' colleges?

[MattUMASSD]

well the state colleges in massachusetts have lower standards for admission. This could be true for California.

[DeltaSigStan]

UC has higher admissions standards and, honestly, a better reputation education wise.

CSU system isn't bad or anything, except many of them are known as party schools, like mine.

Which is kinda true. We can outparty UCSD any day!

[jonsagara]

Speaking from a limited perspective, CSUs are more oriented toward providing a practical, hands-on education, whereas the UCs aim to provide a more theoretical background.

[NinjaPoodle]

http://www.universityofcalifornia.ed...c/mission.html
University of California's Mission

The University's fundamental missions are teaching, research and public service.

Mission Statement

We teach - educating students at all levels, from undergraduate to the most advanced graduate level. Undergraduate programs are available to all eligible California high-school graduates and community college transfer students who wish to attend the University of California.

Instructional programs at the undergraduate level transmit knowledge and skills to students. At the graduate level, students experience with their instructors the processes of developing and testing new hypotheses and fresh interpretations of knowledge. Education for professional careers, grounded in understanding of relevant sciences, literature and research methods, provides individuals with the tools to continue intellectual development over a lifetime and to contribute to the needs of a changing society.

Through our academic programs, UC helps create an educated workforce that keeps the California economy competitive. And, through University Extension, with a half-million enrollments annually, UC provides continuing education for Californians to improve their job skills and enhance the quality of their lives.

We do research - by some of the world's best researchers and brightest students in hundreds of disciplines at its campuses, national laboratories, medical centers and other research facilities around the state. UC provides a unique environment in which leading scholars and promising students strive together to expand fundamental knowledge of human nature, society, and the natural world. Its basic research programs yield a multitude of benefits for California: billions of tax dollars, economic growth through the creation of new products, technologies, jobs, companies and even new industries, agricultural productivity, advances in health care, improvements in the quality of life. UC's research has been vital in the establishment of the Internet and the semiconductor, software and biotechnology industries in California, making substantial economic and social contributions.

We provide public service, which dates back to UC's origins as a land grant institution in the 1860s. Today, through its public service programs and industry partnerships, UC disseminates research results and translates scientific discoveries into practical knowledge and technological innovations that benefit California and the nation.

UC's agricultural extension programs serve hundreds of thousands of Californians in every county in the state.

Open to all Californians, UC's libraries, museums, performing arts spaces, gardens and science centers are valuable public resources and community gathering places.

The University's active involvement in public-school partnerships and professional development institutes help strengthen the expertise of teachers and the academic achievement of students in communities throughout California.

*************************************************
http://www.calstate.edu/PA/info/mission.shtml
The Mission of the California State University

(as adopted by the Board of Trustees November 1985)

I. The mission of the California State University is:


To advance and extend knowledge, learning, and culture, especially throughout California.
To provide opportunities for individuals to develop intellectually, personally, and professionally.
To prepare significant numbers of educated, responsible people to contribute to California's schools, economy, culture, and future.
To encourage and provide access to an excellent education to all who are prepared for and wish to participate in collegiate study.
To offer undergraduate and graduate instruction leading to bachelor's and higher degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, the applied fields, and the professions, including the doctoral degree when authorized.
To prepare students for an international, multi-cultural society.
To provide public services that enrich the university and its communities.
II. To accomplish its mission over time and under changing conditions, the California State University:

Emphasizes quality in instruction.
Provides an environment in which scholarship, research, creative, artistic, and professional activity are valued and supported.
Stresses the importance of the liberal arts and sciences as the indispensable foundation of the baccalaureate degree.
Requires of its bachelor's degree graduates breadth of understanding, depth of knowledge, and the acquisition of such skills as will allow them to be responsible citizens in a democracy.
Requires of its advanced degree and credential recipients a depth of knowledge, completeness of understanding, and appreciation of excellence that enables them to contribute continuously to the advancement of their fields and professions.
Seeks out individuals with collegiate promise who face cultural, geographical, physical, educational, financial, or personal barriers to assist them in advancing to the highest educational levels they can reach.
Works in partnership with other California educational institutions to maximize educational opportunities for students.
Serves communities as educational, public service, cultural, and artistic centers in ways appropriate to individual campus locations and emphases.
Encourages campuses to embrace the culture and heritage of their surrounding regions as sources of individuality and strength.
Recognizes and values the distinctive history, culture, and mission of each campus.
Promotes an understanding and appreciation of the peoples, natural environment, cultures, economies, and diversity of the world.
Encourages free scholarly inquiry and protects the University as a forum for the discussion and critical examination of ideas, findings, and conclusions.
Offers degree programs in academic and applied areas that are responsive to the needs of the citizens of this state and provides for regular review of the nature and extent of these programs.
Offers or proposes to offer instruction at the doctoral level jointly with the University of California and with private institutions of postsecondary education, or independently in the field of education where the need is clearly demonstrated.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content Contact:
Public Affairs
publicaffairs@calstate.edu Technical Contact:
webmaster@calstate.edu



Last Updated: February 1999

[SAEalumnus]

The requirements for admission to either system are actually very similar although the UC system might require slightly higher SAT scores, one additional year in various subjects at the high school level beyond that which is required for the CSU system, or other things to that effect. There are considerably fewer UC campuses than there are CSU campuses, which makes getting into a UC generally a little more difficult due to space restrictions if nothing else.

The CSU system does not offer any doctoral programs of any kind (although some campuses have joint efforts with other schools that do), and limited masters programs. Generally speaking, the CSU campuses focus more on hands-on training at the bachelors level than anything else. The UC system, on the other hand, focuses more on research and offers all sorts of degrees from bachelors to masters, doctorates, and professional degrees such as medicine and law. A degree at a CSU campus can prepare a student very well for further study at a UC campus or elsewhere, but a student's options within the CSU system are ultimately limited by budget restraints, space availability, and so on. It's also far easier to graduate from a UC in four years than from a CSU.

That's about it though.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally posted by SAEactive
The requirements for admission to either system are actually very similar although the UC system might require slightly higher SAT scores, one additional year in various subjects at the high school level beyond that which is required for the CSU system, or other things to that effect. There are considerably fewer UC campuses than there are CSU campuses, which makes getting into a UC generally a little more difficult due to space restrictions if nothing else.

The CSU system does not offer any doctoral programs of any kind (although some campuses have joint efforts with other schools that do), and limited masters programs. Generally speaking, the CSU campuses focus more on hands-on training at the bachelors level than anything else. The UC system, on the other hand, focuses more on research and offers all sorts of degrees from bachelors to masters, doctorates, and professional degrees such as medicine and law. A degree at a CSU campus can prepare a student very well for further study at a UC campus or elsewhere, but a student's options within the CSU system are ultimately limited by budget restraints, space availability, and so on. It's also far easier to graduate from a UC in four years than from a CSU.

That's about it though.

Well Said!

[GiantsChic]

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan
UC has higher admissions standards and, honestly, a better reputation education wise.

CSU system isn't bad or anything, except many of them are known as party schools, like mine.

Which is kinda true. We can outparty UCSD any day!

lol, yes- SDSU is known as a party school, but it is also the highest ranked CSU and most difficult to get into (behind Cal Poly SLO, but that's a diff. story )

[DeltaSigStan]

Originally posted by GiantsChic
(behind Cal Poly SLO, but that's a diff. story )

Ah yes, Cal Poly, only in a perfect world would....n/m

[PandaOnProzac]

One difference that's very noticeable is that CSU's are EVERYWHERE in Cali. UC wise there's only 4 in SoCal, 1 in Mid Cal and 4 in NorCal. Cal State's are just everywhere.

[bruinaphi]

The University of California system was originally chartered by the California state legislature in 1868. In 1907, the legislature passed a law allowing local governments to establish junior colleges. The purpose of these junior colleges was to provide courses that were equivalent to collegiate curriculum at the University of California and that allowed, under a formal agreement proposed by UC faculty, transfer at the junior year to the campus at Berkeley.

In 1921 the legislature passed a law reorganizing the state's regional normal schools (teacher's colleges) into "State Teacher's Colleges." In 1923, the legislature granted those State Teacher's Colleges the right to give 4-year BA degrees. In 1935 the State Teacher's Colleges were renamed State Colleges and they were granted the right to have many different types of BA programs, not just teaching. In 1947 State Colleges were granted the right to give master's degrees. The "State Colleges" or former "teacher's colleges" became the California State University system.

There is a great page that summarizes the legislative changes to California higher education here.

[Munchkin03]

So, the UCs are research universities, while the CSUs are not.

[phisigduchesscv]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
So, the UCs are research universities, while the CSUs are not.

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

[Glitter650]

There are 23 CSU's and 11 UCs... indluding the new one in Merced although one UC (UC San Francisco) is strictly a medical/dental school and UC Hastings (also here in San Fran) is a law school.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by phisigduchesscv
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).

Way off subject, but isnt your campus where they filmed part of Encino Man? I thought I read that somewhere.