California State University - Hayward

Hi!

It looks like I'm going with the MS in Education with an Option in Online Teaching and Learning (try saying that 3 times fast!) from CSU-Hayward.

Has anyone else studied at CSUH? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, any info on the reputation of this school? I know it's RA, and that was crucial for me, but that's about all I know, except that the courses sound very interesting to me and the price and timing are both right!

Another member of this board (Sunnie) recommended the program to me and has been incredibly helpful in sharing her experiences with me. I've learned about several schools through other responses to my request for information, and I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me.

Any info on CSUH would be helpful -- even if it's not good news!

Thanks!

Regards,
Susan

 

CSUH is located in the San Francisco Bay
Silicon Valley region. I used to work in that area several years ago and never heard anything bad about CSUH. It is surrounded by schools such a UC Berkeley, Stanford, San Jose State, SF State, and U of Santa Clara. Normally Cal State students have to pass a Grad Writing Test before one can graduate so make sure that this does not present a logistics problem to you. Good luck.

 

All CA college students have to do that writing test. I live in VA and took the test right here at the college where I work. You just need someone to proctor the test -- it is timed. That's all there is to it.

 

Hi Sunnie!

Did you have to take the writing test before you were formally accepted into the program?

I know - thanks to you - that it's possible to take courses while your application is being processed, so I'm not in a panic over getting this writing test out of the way immediately, but I'm also wondering if the nice folks at CSUH will help me find a testing location or if I'll have to do it on my own.

I'm sure I'd be able to arrange to take the test at Thomas Edison State College, because they schedule their own tests every month anyway, along with CLEP, DANTES, and who knows what other exams as well...

Thanks (again!)

Susan

 

No, but it seems like everyone around me has. A coworker takes classes there, the young woman at my local Starbucks goes there. It's popular in the Bay Area.

I am born and raised in the Bay Area, and remember CSUH from its infancy. I got my BA from another CSU nearby: SFSU. CSUH is right across the San Mateo-Hayward bridge from my home and I used the CSUH library some when I was a distance-ed student.

Reputation and academics:

USNews doesn't like it as much as SFSU or SJSU. They give SF State a 3.3 in 'academic reputation', and CSUH gets 2.6. But a lot of that is just a popularity contest. CSUH is smaller, newer and face it, it's in Hayward and not in San Francisco. Schools in lesser known or unpopular locations can probably lose half a dozen percentage points in academic reputation because of lower (apparent) name recognition. How many people really know anything about SF State? But everyone knows SF, so they *think* they have heard of it. But with Hayward they say "what?"

A more accurate assessment would come
from students that have studied at CSUH as well as at other schools and can compare. I have met many, and the consensus seems to be that there is no real difference between SF State, SJ State and CSUH. The variation between departments and (especially) between instructors is far greater than that between schools.

BTW, philosophy was my major and CSUH has long been known for an excellent philosophy department. Anthropology is supposed to be good, as is geology. Its business departments are very well known in the Bay Area and attract hordes of adult students at night. CS is up and coming, as you would expect. And all the CSU's are strong in education. The CSU system has produced more California public school teachers than all the rest of the colleges and universities in the state combined.

One difference is that CSUH seems to have smaller classes than SFSU, and definitely smaller departments (in most cases). So it often offers fewer courses in each department, but probably more personal attention. Another difference that is far more relevant to DL is that CSUH is on the quarter system and SFSU is on semesters. I hate quarters.

CSUH has had a few prominent graduates. The only one that immediately comes to mind is former Oakland mayor Elihu Harris. But you could look up more.

Campus and facilities:

Hayward is a large lower middle class suburb. Though it is in the Bay Area it is less Silicon Valley yuppies in expensive cars than warehouses, railroad sidings and immigrants. But CSUH is in the rich side of town, in the hills on the east side. Expensive homes all around, which raises the tone but removes any student atmosphere. To find cafes and stuff, you need a car. But Hayward is Siberia for students, they all go to Berkeley to hang out.

The location is actually great in some ways. CSUH calls itself the most beautiful campus in the CSU system, which may be a stretch but it is up there. The campus is on a hilltop with a spectacular view of Hayward below and San Francisco bay in the background. Since the campus is relatively new and was built mostly at once, most of its buildings match and have an architectural coherence you don't find at many universities. Garin regional park is adjacent to the campus beyond the dorms: hillside hiking trails. It may be a good place for partying, depending on the park rangers.

Facilities are very ample compared to the student enrollment. People used to the overcrowding on the small SF State campus are amazed by the open spaces at CSUH. Halls you don't have to be a football lineman to navigate, a large library where you can actually find quiet spots.

All in all, I like CSUH. As do most of the people I meet here in the Bay Area. But it may not be as well-known the farther away you get. That's probably why it kept the "CSU" title rather than taking the "State University" title more popular in San Francisco and San Jose. It's that name recognition thing.

I mentioned the CSU "Open University" program in another post. I'm thinking of taking some classes that way at a local CSU. Could be at CSUH if there is anything that jumps out at me from their class schedule. So there's an outside chance I may be taking classes there myself, soon.

 

The writing test (WST) can be taken anytime during the first half of the program. I didn't take it till my last quarter Didn't even know about it till then!

Bill has given an outstand review of CSUH. We flew out there from VA for my graduation last month -- my first visit to CA. Spent a week sightseeing after graduation.

BTW, CSUH is moving in the direction of semesters rather than quarters in another year I think. Don't know how that will affect students who began on the quarter system when the change takes place -- probably they will be able to finish on the quarter system.

 

Hi Bill!

Thanks for giving me a Californian's perspective on CSU-Hayward. I have definitely decided on the CSU program, and as soon as I post this message, I'm off to register for my first class.

I really appreciate hearing the "local" point of view, because I don't know anyone who attended CSU, and it's a little strange signing up for something as important as a master's program without even visiting the campus.

I live in NJ, and there are colleges and universities everywhere I turn, but none offer a fully online program that interests me, and I can't take the time to sit in a classroom for a year or two in order to complete a degree. Besides, I'm very spoiled by having completed the last 2 years of my Bachelors degree independently through Thomas Edison State College, and the idea of doing the "classroom thing" again after all these years (don't ask how many years!) just doesn't appeal to me.

Thanks again for your help!

Regards,
Susan