You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.

Campus

The University.

In 1911, California State University, Fresno began with 150 students as a two-year state normal school that largely prepared teachers for their profession.

Today, at the threshold of a new century, this university is a stimulating center of intellectual and cultural activity, dedicated to academic excellence, integrity, and freedom. With more than 22,000 students registered, the university recognizes its commitment to develop qualified professionals who will become tomorrow's leaders in every walk of life.

California State University, Fresno offers challenging and innovative programs in the liberal arts and sciences, in the professions, in applied fields, and in special and interdisciplinary areas. Departmental programs provide unusual and exciting opportunities for a proficient and enriching university experience.

The excellence of our faculty is documented in a variety of ways, including recognition from national and international associations. Ninety percent of the full-time tenured track faculty hold doctoral degrees in their areas of study. However, the most important characteristic of our faculty is their ability to care about students and their willingness to give of their time on an individual basis.

The Campus.

Under a dense canopy of 4,000 trees, the campus sits at the northeast edge of Fresno, against a backdrop of the beautiful Sierra Nevadas. The campus was officially designated as an arboretum in 1978. Its parklike setting creates a beautiful environment for making new friends and pursuing a quality education.

The 388-acre main campus features more than 46 traditional and modern buildings. An additional 34 structures are on the 1,011-acre University Farm, which is considered one of the most modern and best equipped agricultural facilities in the West.

Outstanding research facilities (computer, engineering, electronics, and industrial technology laboratories) are complemented by cultural and recreational facilities. The campus has two student unions, indoor and outdoor theaters for drama and music, and swimming facilities. Students can make use of many individual and team sport facilities, a baseball stadium at Beiden Field that seats 6,575 spectators, a football/soccer stadium that seats more than 41,031, and Bulldog Diamond, a 5,467-seat softball stadium.

The Downing Planetarium features a computer-controlled Spitz A3P star projector and a main theater which seats 74 under a thirty-foot dome. The facility includes a teacher resource center and presents multimedia shows on a daily basis.

The 73,000-square-foot, three-story Science II building is the latest addition to campus. Located immediately east of the Downing Planetarium, Science II includes lecture halls and instructional labs for earth and environmental sciences and psychology classes, as well as space for more than 100 faculty offices. The facility includes graduate research and special instructional areas for the physics department to support the research needs of the Downing Planetarium.

Smittcamp Alumni House is a 10,000-square-foot, two-story structure that houses the Alumni Association's offices and serves as the university's visitor information center. The building includes conference rooms, a kitchen, reception and social areas, a chapter/volunteer resource center, garden courtyards, and an alumni library.

The Save Mart Center at Shaw and Chestnut avenues is a 13-story facility with 16,000 seats. It serves as the new home for Fresno State basketball, volleyball and wrestling, as well as a venue for events. The facility also has state-of-the-art classrooms, computer labs, and conference rooms.

One of the newest facilities on campus is the 92,000 square-foot, two-story Student Recreation Center, which houses a fitness center (with cardio equipment and free weights), a jogging and running track, two aerobic and dance studios, two racquetball courts, four full-size courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton, plus locker rooms and showers. Also in the complex are the Leon and Pete Peters Educational Center and the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The campus is fully accessible and students with mobility impairments will find the naturally flat terrain easy to navigate.

Features

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