California State University
Dominguez Hills, CA 90747
Overview
CSUDH is located on the historic Rancho San Pedro, the oldest Spanish land grant in the Los Angeles area. The land was in the Dominguez family from 1784 until its public acquisition to establish a university in 1960. CSUDH has a multicultural community committed to excellence and educating a student population of unprecedented diversity for leadership roles. University programs enable students to develop intellectually, personally, and professionally as they apply knowledge and hands-on expertise to real-world situations.
Graduate student enrollment averages about 5,100 out of 12,800 students; 50 percent are enrolled in master's programs and 50 percent are pursuing teaching credentials and other objectives. The highest enrolled master's programs are education, business administration, behavioral sciences, and the distance learning humanities program. The majority of students are part-time evening students with an average course load of 6 units. Campus diversity is strong, with a 74 percent minority population.
The Location and Community
California State University, Dominguez Hills, is a diverse, comprehensive public university located in the suburban city of Carson and primarily serving the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Carson sits just a few miles from the beaches, the Long Beach Aquarium, L.A. County Museum of Art, the Getty Center, and Disneyland. CSUDH is known to have the safest campus in the CSU system.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
Programs leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), are offered in behavioral science (with options in negotiation and conflict management and gerontology), education (with options in counseling, educational administration, multicultural education, physical education administration, teaching/curriculum, technology-based education, and an individualized program), English, humanities, humanities external degree, psychology (clinical), sociology and special education. A Master of Arts in teaching mathematics is also offered. Master of Science (M.S.) programs are offered in biology, clinical science (with options in cytotechnology and medical technology), health science (with options in physician's assistant and professional studies), marital and family therapy, nursing, and quality assurance. A Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) are also offered. The master's degree program in interdisciplinary studies is offered as either a Master of Arts or a Master of Science, depending on the program course work.
Programs of study are primarily focused on research, preparation for employment, and providing a solid foundation for doctoral studies. The average duration of a Dominguez Hills master's program is two years. Some programs require completion of a thesis, while others offer the alternative comprehensive exam or project. Opportunities exist for involvement in challenging research projects, both on and off campus.
Facilities & Resources
Graduate students have access to various research opportunities through a number of research facilities and laboratories. Such facilities include the Center for Urban Research and Learning, the Southern California Ocean Studies Consortium, the Desert Studies Consortium, a 20-acre nature preserve, a tissue culture laboratory, and a vivarium. Use of laboratories and facilities are also provided through Cedars-Sinai and UCLA Medical Centers, Specialty Laboratories, and Quest Diagnostic Laboratories. CSUDH has gained national recognition for student collaboration in externally funded faculty research.
Expenses and Aid
Registration fees (including health services and other fees) for California residents average $1,900 per semester. Nonresidents paid tuition of $392 per semester unit in addition to registration fees.
Financial Aid:
Sources of financial assistance include federal student loans, grants, and work-study opportunities. The University offers a limited number of fellowships and scholarships. Students should visit the Office of Financial Aid Web site at http://www.csudh.edu/fin_aid for more information. The Office of Graduate Studies offers support to students involved in mentored research through fellowships, a forgivable loan program, and a predoctoral program. Support is available to enable students to present their work at professional meetings. Students should visit the Graduate Studies Web site at http://somc.csudh.edu/graduatestudies/ for further information.
Housing/Living Expenses:
University housing consists of 134 double- and triple-occupancy, fully furnished apartment units located at the east end of the campus. The average on-campus housing cost (including meals) for the academic year is $5,825. Off-campus monthly rental costs range from $600 to $1000 for a studio or one-bedroom apartment. Total off-campus living and housing costs average approximately $8,614 per academic year.
How to Apply
Applications are first accepted on November 1 for the following fall semester and September 1 for the following spring. Applicants should check with the individual department for application filing deadlines and for specific program requirements, such as supplemental applications, letters of recommendation, interviews, and test requirements. Applications for scholarships may be accessed through the Financial Aid Office on the Web at http://www.csudh.edu/fin_aid. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Who to Contact
Admissions Office
California State University, Dominguez Hills
1000 East Victoria Street
Carson, California 90747
310-243-3696
The Faculty
• Iris Baxter, Professor of Public Administration; Ph.D., USC. Health-care access for vulnerable populations.
• Charmayne Bohman, Professor of Education; Ph.D., Claremont. Female identity, personality theory.
• James Cooper, Professor of Education; Ph.D., Iowa. Reading assessment reform, graduate retention, at-risk assessment.
• Larry Ferrario, Professor of English; Ph.D., USC. Rhetoric and composition, effective teacher education.
• Lois Feuer, Professor of English and Humanities; Ph.D., California, Irvine. Dramatic structure and intertextual relationships in Shakespeare.
• Farah Fisher, Professor of Education; Ph.D., USC. Distance education, educational technology.
• Ken Ganeezer, Professor of Physics; Ph.D., UCLA. Nutrinos, biomedical research on bone density.
• Thomas Giannotti, Professor of English, Ph.D., California, Riverside. Irish literature, rhetoric/composition.
• Diane Henschel, Professor of Psychology; Ph.D., Berkeley. Child abuse, child development.
• Pamela Krochalk, Professor of Health Science; Dr.P.H., UCLA. Aging, alternative health care, community disease prevention.
• Donald Lewis, Professor of Philosophy, Ph.D., Southern Illinois. Postmodernism, continental philosophy.
• Cecile Lindsay, Professor of Foreign Languages; Ph.D., California, Irvine. Twentieth-century French literature, critical theory.
• Leonard Martinez, Professor of Chemistry; Ph.D., San Diego. Science education, physical chemistry, biophysics.
• Helen Oesterheld, Professor of English; Ph.D., California, Irvine. Restoration literature, domestic and utopian fiction, the Gothic.
• John W. Roberts, Professor of Biology; Ph.D., California, Santa Barbara. Environmental biology.
• Laura Robles, Professor of Biology; Ph.D., California, Santa Barbara. Biomedical research, cell signaling in the retina of the octopus.
•Marilyn Sutton, Professor of English; Ph.D., Claremont. Medieval literature, death and dying.
• A. Marco Turk, Professor of Behavioral Science; J.D., Southwestern Law. Crime prevention, international peace building.
• Sara Waller, Professor of Philosophy; Ph.D., Loyola Chicago. Dolphin behavior, conceptual flexibility.
• Andrea White, Professor of English; Ph.D., USC. Critical theory in modern British literature, Joseph Conrad.
• Molly Youngkin, Professor of English; Ph.D., Ohio State. Victorian literature.