California State University, Long Beach facts for kids
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Former names
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Los Angeles-Orange County State College (1949–50) Long Beach State College (1950–1964) California State College, [at] Long Beach (1964–1972) |
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Motto in English
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"Go Beach!" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1949 |
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Parent institution
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California State University |
| Accreditation | WSCUC |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $115.4 million (2023) |
| President | Jane Close Conoley |
| Provost | Karyn Scissum Gunn |
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Academic staff
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2,454 |
| Students | 38,273 (Fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 32,711 (Fall 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 5,562 (Fall 2022) |
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United States
33°46′59″N 118°06′46″W / 33.783022°N 118.112858°W |
| Campus | Large city, 323 acres (131 ha) |
| Newspaper | Daily 49er |
| Colors | Black and gold |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Elbee |
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California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), also known as Long Beach State University (LBSU) for sports, is a public university in Long Beach, California. Its campus is about 322 acres, making it the second largest in the California State University (CSU) system. In fall 2022, about 38,273 undergraduate students and 5,562 graduate students attended CSULB. It has one of the largest graduate student populations in the CSU system.
CSULB is home to one of the biggest publicly funded art schools in the United States. It is also recognized as a university that serves many Hispanic and Asian American students.
Contents
History of CSULB
The university was started in 1949 by California Governor Earl Warren. It was created to help the growing number of people in Orange and Southern Los Angeles counties after World War II. It was first called Los Angeles-Orange County State College.
Peter Victor Peterson was the first president. The college began with 25 courses and 13 teachers in two apartment buildings in Long Beach. In 1950, a large 322-acre plot of land was bought for a permanent campus. The school was then renamed Long Beach State College. Student numbers quickly grew.
Carl W. McIntosh became the second president in 1959. During his time, student enrollment jumped from 10,000 to over 30,000. He also added many new courses and built 30 new buildings. In 1964, the school's name changed to California State College at Long Beach. By 1972, the school became California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). This change happened because the university had grown so much.
In 1965, CSULB hosted the first International Sculpture Symposium in the United States at a university. Many sculptures were created on campus during this event.
In 1995, President Robert Maxson started the President's Scholars Program. This program gives full scholarships to top high school students in California. Over 1000 students have received this scholarship.
In 2020, CSULB introduced its new shark mascot, Elbee. Even though the mascot is a shark, the university's sports teams are still called "Beach Athletics."
Exploring the CSULB Campus
The CSULB campus covers 323 acres and has 84 buildings. It is located about 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The campus even has its own U.S. Postal ZIP Code, 90840.
Campus Buildings and Design
The buildings on campus have a simple, modern design. The campus is known for its beautiful landscaping, which has won many awards. The trees and plants are designed to blend with the buildings. For example, a group of ficus trees forms a natural roof at the theater's entrance.
Cool Places on Campus
- University Student Union (USU): This three-story building is in the middle of campus. It has offices, a study lounge, a food court, a bowling alley, an arcade, and a movie theater.
- Rec and Wellness Center: This large athletic center opened in 2010. It has fitness areas, courts for volleyball and basketball, rock climbing walls, and an indoor track. Students fund and manage this center.
- The Walter Pyramid: This iconic, pyramid-shaped building is where basketball and volleyball games are played. It can hold over 5,000 fans. Its unique design allows parts of the stands to lift up, making room for more courts.
- University Art Museum: This museum has a collection of modern paintings and an outdoor sculpture garden. It was the first accredited museum in the CSU system.
- Carpenter Performing Arts Center: This theater has 1,074 seats and is named after famous alumni Richard and Karen Carpenter.
- Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden: This peaceful garden has a large pond with koi fish and beautiful scenery.
Puvungna: A Special Place
The university campus is built on an ancient village and burial site called Puvungna. This site is very important to the Tongva and Acjachemen Native American people. In 1974, the 22-acre site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2019, the university put dirt and equipment on the site for a new building. This upset the Tongva and Acjachemen people, who want to protect the site. Today, it remains a natural area with trees.
Helping the Environment
CSULB is working to be more sustainable.
- In 2007, solar panels were installed on some buildings and parking areas.
- The Environmental Science & Policy Club helps raise awareness about the environment. They organize beach clean-ups, hikes, and an annual Earth Week celebration.
- The university also has organic gardens called Grow Beach University Gardens. These gardens promote organic farming and are used by students and teachers.
Academics at CSULB
CSULB has several colleges offering many different subjects:
- Arts: College of the Arts, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
- Career-focused: College of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Health & Human Services, College of Continuing & Professional Education.
Overall, the university offers 81 bachelor's degrees, 67 master's degrees, and three doctoral degrees.
Becoming a CSULB Student
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
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| Applied | 79,658 | 74,704 | 67,092 | 67,402 |
| Admitted | 37,548 | 29,861 | 31,448 | 28,400 |
| Enrolled | 5,756 | 5,366 | 4,865 | 4,908 |
| Admit rate | 47.1% | 40% | 46.9% | 42.1% |
| Average GPA (weighted) | 3.95 | 4.0 | 3.92 | 3.92 |
California State University, Long Beach is one of the most popular CSU campuses. It receives over 70,000 applications each year. In Fall 2023, over 79,000 students applied, and more than 37,000 were accepted. The average GPA for accepted students was 3.95.
University Rankings
CSULB is highly ranked by different groups.
- In 2021, Washington Monthly ranked CSULB as the No. 2 Master's-level university in the nation.
- The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education ranked CSULB 8th in the nation for Campus Diversity in 2021. This ranking looks at how diverse the students and teachers are.
- U.S. News & World Report ranked CSULB No. 1 for Social Mobility in 2022–2023. This means the university helps students from all backgrounds succeed.
Student Life at CSULB
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| Hispanic | 46% |
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| Asian | 21% |
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| White | 16% |
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| Other | 7% |
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| Foreign national | 6% |
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| Black | 4% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 50% |
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| Affluent | 50% |
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CSULB has a diverse student body. In Fall 2020, 46% of undergraduate students were Hispanic, 21% Asian, and 16% White.
Student Publications
Students at CSULB create three publications:
- Daily 49er: This is the campus newspaper, first published in 1949. It comes out Monday through Thursday during the school year. It was one of the first college newspapers to have an online version, starting in 1994.
- 22 West Magazine: This magazine is published monthly and offers an alternative voice on campus.
- DIG Magazine: This magazine focuses on interesting people and groups in the community. It also covers topics that students care about.
Campus Radio Stations
- KKJZ 88.1 FM: This is a non-commercial radio station that plays jazz and blues music. It is owned by the CSULB Foundation.
- 22 West Radio: This is a student-run internet radio station. It has been around since the 1970s and is funded by the Associated Students, Incorporated at CSULB.
Pow Wow Celebration
Every March since 1970, CSULB hosts the largest pow-wow in Southern California. This free two-day event attracts over 6,000 people. It features Native American dancing, arts, crafts, and traditional foods.
Student Recreation and Wellness Center
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The Student Recreation and Wellness Center is a large facility that opened in 2010. It offers many ways for students to stay active and healthy.
Student Housing
CSULB offers housing for 3,000 students in three main areas:
- Beachside Village: Has two buildings, a dining hall, and a pool.
- Hillside Village: Has nine buildings and a dining hall.
- Parkside Village: Has ten buildings and a dining hall.
CSULB Athletics: Go Beach!
Long Beach State competes in NCAA Division I in 18 sports. They play competitively in baseball, cross country, softball, track and field, and more. The university is a founding member of the Big West Conference.
The school's sports teams are officially called "Beach" since the 2020–21 school year. You can often see the cheer "Go Beach!" on campus. The school colors are black and gold.
Long Beach State has one of the top women's volleyball teams in the nation. They have won three national titles in 1989, 1993, and 1998. The 1998 team was the first in NCAA Division I history to have an undefeated season. Famous alumna Misty May-Treanor won three Olympic gold medals in Beach Volleyball.
CSULB has a strong rivalry with California State University, Fullerton, especially in baseball.
Famous People from CSULB
CSULB has over 320,000 alumni. Many have become famous in movies, sports, and other fields.
In Movies and Entertainment
- Steven Spielberg (Class of 1969, BA 2002) is a famous film director who won two Academy Awards. He directed movies like Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Jurassic Park.
- John Dykstra won two Academy Awards for his special effects work on Star Wars and Spider-Man 2.
- Linda Woolverton (BA 1974) wrote screenplays for Disney films like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.
- Chris Carter (BA 1979) created the TV series The X-Files.
- Steve Martin, a former student, is a famous comedian and actor.
- Karen Carpenter and Richard Carpenter (Honorary Doctorate 2000) of the music group the Carpenters are also alumni. The Carpenter Performing Arts Center on campus is named after them. They sold over 100 million records and won three Grammy Awards.
In Sports
- Many baseball players like Jason Giambi, Evan Longoria, and Troy Tulowitzki have played in the Major League Baseball All Stars games.
- Golfer Mark O'Meara (BA 1980) won major tournaments like the Masters Tournament.
- Terrell Davis is a two-time Super Bowl champion.
- Diver Pat McCormick won four gold medals in two Olympics.
- Misty May-Treanor (BS 2002) won three gold medals in women's beach volleyball in three Olympics.
- High Jumper Dwight Stones set a World Record while at CSULB and won two Olympic bronze medals.
In Politics
- Current and former mayors of Long Beach, Robert Garcia and Beverly O'Neill, are alumni.
Images for kids
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Panoramic view of the campus's sports fields, prior to the construction of the SRWC.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de California, Long Beach para niños
