One of the largest universities in America’s most populous state, the scenically sited CSULB has an aggregate enrolment of 39,360 students from over 100 countries worldwide, writes Reshma Ravishankar A constituent institution of the 23-campus California state public higher education system, California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is one of the largest universities in America’s most populous state (40 million) with an aggregate enrollment of 39,360 students from over 100 countries worldwide. The Wall Street Journal and the Times Higher Education rank CSULB #4 for campus student diversity. Sprawled across 322 acres in the coastal city of Long Beach, CSULB is also ranked among America’s Top 10 public universities for value for money by Money magazine. Moreover, the US News & World Report routinely ranks it among the Top 10 most-applied-to universities of USA. Founded in 1949 as the Los Angeles-Orange County State College, it was awarded university status in 1972. Currently, its eight colleges — arts, business, education, engineering, health and human services, liberal arts, natural sciences and mathematics, professional and international education — provide over 147 undergraduate, postgrad and doctoral degree programmes to 39,360 students mentored by 2,372 faculty. Notable CSULB alumni include acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg, J.F. Lawton, screenwriter of the Hollywood blockbuster Pretty Woman, and Tara Cross-Battle, a former Olympic women’s volleyball player. Long Beach. Sited on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Long Beach (pop. 467,000) is a coastal city famous for its scenic waterfronts, RMS Queen Mary (museum ship moored in its Queensway Bay), Aquarium of the Pacific and other sea-side attractions. The sixth largest city of California, Long Beach is the second busiest container terminal in the US and among the world’s largest shipping ports. A short drive (32 km) from downtown Los Angeles, it offers world-class dining, shopping and recreation experiences. The weather is Mediterranean — summers are warm and humid and the winters mild to warm with occasional rainfall. Campus facilities. A mere 5 km from the Pacific shoreline, the CSULB campus in typical American-style sprawls across 322 green acres and hosts state-of-the-art academic, research, sports and recreation facilities. The natural park campus houses 84 buildings of minimalist design that provide excellent teaching-learning facilities. The allure of the campus owes much to the 3,200 Helen Borchers flowering peach trees donated by the citizens of Long Beach, and numerous works of art and sculpture on the varsity grounds. Campus landmarks include the University Art Museum, the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens, the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, Walter Pyramids and University Student Union Building. Moreover, the six-storey CSULB library hosts 1.1 million printed volumes and offers seating to 4,000 students. Inevitably, sports and recreation facilities are extensive and impressive. They include the cobalt-blue Walter Pyramid (nine volleyball courts or three full basketball courts); Blair Field (one of America’s best amateur baseball arenas); 400 m all-weather Jack Rose Track; 500-seat Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center; Rhodes Tennis Center (12 courts); 2,000-seat George Allen Field (women’s soccer); LBSU Sand Courts (beach volleyball); 500-seat LBSU…
