California State University-Channel Islands

Degree Programs at California State University-Channel Islands

California State University-Channel Islands appears in our ranking of 100 Affordable Public Schools With High 40-Year ROIs.

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At California State University-Channel Islands, students can choose from bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The university offers three Master of Arts (MA) in Education programs that include majors in disability studies and curriculum and instruction. It also has an educational leadership program with tracks in higher education and P-12 education. All programs include a core group of classes and a final component that lets students do some type of thesis. They also need to take a comprehensive examination in their last semesters.

Students who have an associate’s degree from a community college can enroll in a program designed for transfer students. Though these programs include 120 credits, students will usually bring at least 60 credits with them. Most of these programs help students complete a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and include majors in Spanish, communication, early childhood studies, sociology, psychology, and biology. The university can also help transfer students earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in a field such as business or chemistry.

Those entering California State University-Channel Islands directly from high school can choose from even more majors, including anthropology, computer science, economics, and liberal studies. The liberal studies program includes two tracks in concentrated studies and teaching and learning. In the performing arts major, students can choose from concentrations in theater, music, and dance. They’ll need to perform in front of their peers and the general public to gain stage experience before they graduate. To go along with their majors, students can choose from a variety of minors such as Chicano studies, global studies, and developmental psychology. The university also offers certificates in digital media art, technical writing, guitar, and several other subjects.

About California State University-Channel Islands

California State University-Channel Islands is a public university that is part of the California State University System. Established in 2002, it was the first university in the system dedicated to the educational needs of Hispanic students. Before the university opened, its campus served as a training center for unemployed people in the region. Government officials worked together in the 1960s to turn the center into a new university, which later opened as a joint venture between California State University and the University of California. This campus would later become California State University-Channel Islands and adopt the nicknames of CI, CSUCI, and CSU Channel Islands.

CSUCI is a Hispanic Serving Institution with more than 50% of its student body identifying as Mexican, Hispanic or Latino. The campus is home to the Channel Islands Boating Center (CIBC), which offers free safety and instructional courses in different types of boating. These classes are free for students and available for a small fee for locals. The campus also has three villages that offer on-campus housing for students at all levels for a fee that they pay each semester. CI can now help students get their teaching licenses in nearly 20 subjects and offers graduate degrees in education. Students can also choose from more than 50 undergraduate majors and dozens of minors. Those programs helped enrollment at California State University-Channel Islands climb to more than 6,800 undergrads and more than 200 graduate students.

California State University-Channel Islands Accreditation Details

CSU Channel Islands has accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) through the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (ACSCU). This is why students can transfer to the Channel Islands campus from a community college or a university and get full credit for the courses they already took. WASC accreditation is also necessary for students who plan to use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to get financial aid. It helps them qualify for federal loans and all the other financial aid available from the university and the government.

California State University-Channel Islands Application Requirements

Undergrads can apply to CSUCI if they have a high school diploma or a GED. Incoming freshmen have until the middle of December to apply online. They need an ACT or SAT score and an official transcript. The university accepts both the old and new SAT scores. CSUCI assigns students an eligibility score based on the grade point averages and test scores that they have. It also recommends that students take a maximum of eight honors or advanced classes in high school and that they follow a curriculum that will help them in college, which includes math, English, science and foreign language courses.

Graduate students applying to any of the MA programs at CSUCI need to complete the applications available from the School of Education and the university. They should provide an official transcript that shows a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Those with a lower GPA need to provide an official GRE score. CSUCI Channel Islands also requires two letters of recommendation and a writing sample of 500 to 600 words. The essay should address the professional experience they have in education and the reasons they have for studying education at CSUCI. Students also need to interview for a spot in the graduate program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

CSU Channel Islands undergrads pay $6,802 every year for tuition and fees. This allows them to take classes during the nine-month school year that features two terms. They pay an average of $16,954 for their room and board costs each year if they elect to live on-campus. Graduate students at CSUCI pay the same amount for room and board but pay $8,236 for their tuition and fees. The CI Student Center allows accepted students to go online and view their estimated cost of attendance. They can also view all the financial aid awarded to them for the year and see when they will receive that aid.

The California Dream Act is one type of financial aid that undergrads can get. Students must attend a high school in California for a minimum of three years, have a diploma from a state school and agree to attend a college or university in California. CSUCI can help students complete the application for this program. It also allows students to qualify for work-study, grants and loans as well as scholarships. The scholarships have a separate application that closes early in the year. Both undergrads and graduate students enrolled in the degree programs at California State University-Channel Islands can get financial aid.