California State University-Long Beach Reviews

"The MFT program has been challenging, which has allowed me to work hard and give it my all. I like the design of the program, students can finish in 2, 2.5 or 3 years. Professors are very helpful. Every single class is helpful. Professors show great support. Some of the cons of this program is that all classes are back to back without little room to take everything in."

"Anytime someone asks me what the strongest aspect of the CSULB Masters in English program is, I immediately respond, "It's the faculty." They are fantastic, brilliant minds attached to human personalities (something all too rare in the academic world) who deeply desire to see their students move forward in their chosen career fields. I would never have expected to receive the kind of personal advising and support that I receive from the faculty at CSULB. Faculty will make or break your graduate experience, and CSULB's English graduate faculty are fabulous. Other pros: The student diversity at CSULB makes for a lively and active campus community. Some students will have the opportunity to teach either literature or rhet/comp at the masters level, which is an unusual opportunity and a fantastic experience. The program offers a strong rhet/comp component for those interested in that area. The MFA/MA options ensure an academic discourse that is both critically rigorous and continually creative. Cons: California is BROKE. Don't expect any kind of financial aid package except maybe some Stafford loans. The department does offer a number of scholarships each year, but they are competitive and you can't apply until the end of your first year. Expect to finance the program through loans and personal savings. That said, as a CSU, Long Beach is relatively inexpensive compared to other graduate programs. You may find that the tuition is comparable to other programs that provide financial aid, but have a higher baseline sticker price."

"Overall the program is great. Prospective students should be prepared to lead their own education because students are expected to find their own solutions to problems and network independently."

"CSULB has one of the finest graduate programs for Physical Education. Professors prepare students for real world situations in and outside of the classroom. The program is great because it is designed for working professionals, so classes are very diverse. You may be in a class of veteran teachers, new teachers, and some who are new to the profession itself. It is an overall great experience that provides one with mentoring and career networking opportunities."

"The professors in my program are very knowledgeable and most are working in the field. The only downside so far was the lack of a reminder for the financial aid application priority deadline."

"The program is challenging and the professors represent different specialty fields. The faculty is readily available and very helpful with questions pertaining both to their respective classes and the program as a whole. The school is unable to provide a good variety of courses each semester and it is difficult to find courses that are both in your field of study AND satisfy the requirements to graduate "on time.""

"The political science graduate program at Long Beach State would rival any in the country. The professors expected a high level of work and for students to be prepared to contribute and participate in discussions every class. The professor availability and enthusiasm was the best part of the program. They were very engaged with the graduate students which helped to maintain an open dialogue with the material bringing student interests and current events into the classroom."

"The Research Psychology program at California State University, Long Beach is a great program and very effective. The program emphasises use of statistics, which I needed help with, and research methods. They have recently restructured the program to help students become more familiar with the methods process and work on their thesis at the same time, which would have been helpful while I was going through it. The downside is that the surrounding area is expensive (though it is an awesome place to live) and they did not have SPSS available to download onto student computers. Other than that, the program was great and the faculty are very approachable."

"CSULB's SDHE Program is by far the best program in California. Students have the opportunity to work while pursuing a graduate degree. In addition, the faculty is widely known and graduates from this program usually get a job quickly."

"My specific program is confusing and there is limited advising. The cost per semester is affordable, however I have taken extra classes due to confusion with the degree itself."

"There are few students in the program so there is more time for one on one experience with the mentors. Since there are so few grad students, the classes are both undergraduates and graduates in the same classes. This is great for the undergraduates, but I believe it makes the classes less challenging for the graduate students."

"I am currently enrolled in a special cohort program in which my colleagues and I have become very close. We offer each other support and obtain additional support from our professors. The courses are pre-determined and set, so we do not need to worry about not acquiring the courses we need to graduate on time. Faculty in charge of the cohort guides us through the processes we need to complete in order to be prepared for our careers as competent Speech- Language Pathologists."

"It is rather a small program and funding availability is limited to graduate assistantships and research assistantships. CSULB is not a research institution, thus you must work hard to built your resume if you plan to pursuit post MA education. Many students are TESOL students, planning to teach English as a second language. Professors are very supportive and there are opportunities for guest lectures, colloquiums and conferences to enhance your graduate school experience."

"I have not started the graduate program yet. However, one pro is that it is a generalist program, so we gain knowledge in all areas of social work practice. Though I enjoy that, the fact that there are no specific concentrations is also a con for me."

"The student population of the program was very diverse. The faculty provided high quality service."

"CSULB is definitely a great place, and the program is very competitive at the academic level! The people in really nice, something important for your every-day work. The problem I see is that is not clear how the students will be able to afford the cost of the education and living expenses being full-time students!"

"This program allowed for the students to really talk about the upcoming theories in Psychology instead of just being lectured at in a classroom setting. It was a free environment to voice your opinions and not get immediately shot down by professors and other students."

"The pros are that it is close to the beach so it receives the same weather pattern, the professors are friendly and open to discussion, the students are friendly, the classes are great. The cons are it rains alot during winter and can be windy, sometimes parking is hard to find, and some of the buildings are a little old."

"Pros are definitely the supportive department staff and the applied approach to sociology. Cons can be the excessive work-load and the fact that there is no student lounge or working lab."

"CSULB offers great diversity with the student population and also provides professors with real world experience. Students are able to learn using various research opportunities as well as volunteerism and community services. Some cons of the school is the cost of the programs, parking, commute, and books."