June 15, 2004
In this issue:
  
New! Sociology B.A. Degree-Completion Program
If you or someone you know has completed 60 or more units of lower-division 
coursework in sociology and never had the time to earn the bachelor’s degree, CSUN’s
new sociology degree-completion program may represent a long-awaited opportunity. 

Courses are scheduled on evenings and weekends at the College of the Canyons (COC) in Santa Clarita to accommodate midcareer adults with family and work responsibilities. 
This program is cohort-based, which means that students are admitted as a group 
and move through the program together, taking courses in the same sequence. 
Advantages of this approach include instruction that builds more directly on prior courses 
and the creation of a stronger “community of learning” among cohort members and 
faculty than is possible in typical degree programs. As a result, cohort programs often
increase student retention and speed time to successful degree completion.

The CSUN program – offered through The Tseng College in collaboration with the
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences – takes just two years to complete. Courses
start in spring 2005. The deadline for application is October 5, 2004.

For more information on the CSUN B.A. in Sociology at COC, contact 
simin.bahmanyar@csun.edu, senior program development director at The Tseng College. 

A new, cohort-based version of CSUN's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is coming to COC in January 2005. Watch your "ExL Insider" for details.

 
MPA Graduations and Growth Trends

Speaking of CSUN's MPA program, the class of 2004, which graduated on June 2, was the largest in the program’s 28-year history, with more than 100 members. Three years
ago, 45 classes were scheduled during the academic year. The number of MPA classes
scheduled for the 2004-2005 academic year, exclusive of cohort classes, is 65. 

According to program co-director and co-founder Dr. Warren Campbell, among the many changes in the public administration field has been a rise in opportunities for women managers. Reflecting this trend, 60 percent of CSUN’s 2004 MPA graduates were women, compared with 52 percent three years ago and 39 percent in 1994. 

 
Second Fundraising Certificate Class Graduates
This spring, 12 students earned their Certificates in Advanced Professional Development
in Fundraising and Institutional Advancement. They constituted the second class to 
graduate since the program’s inception in 2001. All of the graduates were either working professionally or as volunteers in the fundraising and development field during their course of study. Their employers included churches (Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Winnetka); educational institutions (Los Angeles Leadership Academy; The Learning 
Center in Encino); hospitals and healthcare organizations (Valley Presbyterian Hospital; 
The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the ALS Association); and civic organizations (Boys
and Girls Clubs of Bakersfield; Los Angeles Conservation Corps). Valley Presbyterian 
also sponsored a fundraising internship in the certificate program for a grant writer who
wanted to branch into other areas of fundraising and development. Another of the 
graduates earned her certificate at the same time that she was completing her bachelor’s degree. Congratulations to the graduates and a nod of appreciation to their employers!
  
Summer Learning Opportunities for International Students
The Intensive English Program (IEP) at The Tseng College offers three types of learning 
opportunities for international students during the summer term. Registration for all
programs is now open.

Summer English Experience – This three-week program for English-language students at any level (minimum age: 16) combines instruction in speaking and listening, conversation, and American culture with “real-life English” experiences at various local venues and field trips to popular Southern California attractions, such as Disneyland and Universal Studios.

Program Dates: July 26-August 13
Orientation meeting: July 27
Application deadline: July 16
Program Costs: $100 application fee (nonrefundable) 
$2,350 program fee (including dormitory residence and breakfast and dinner daily)
$1,495 program fee (without dormitory residence and meals)
 
College Preparatory Program – This intensive, four-week program prepares students for university study in the United States. Classes meet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a one-hour break for lunch. The curriculum covers academic skills, including critical reading, academic writing, research, listening, note-taking and making oral presentations; and university orientation, including an overview of the American university system, guidance in application and registration procedures, a tour of the Oviatt library, and an introduction to student social and support organizations. Students also have the opportunity to take elective courses in related areas in the afternoons.

Program Dates: July 19-August 13
Orientation: July 20
Application deadline: July 2
Program Costs: $100 application fee (nonrefundable)
$2,725 program fee (including dormitory residence and breakfast and dinner daily)
$1,585 program fee (without dormitory residence and meals)
 
Intensive TOEFL Program – This four-week intensive program prepares students to perform successfully on the Test of English as a Foreign Language examination. Classes meet for four hours per day. Instruction time will include at least four hours per week in the computer lab for practice on the CBT (computer-based test) version of the TOEFL. In addition to TOEFL study and practice, students will have the opportunity to improve their English skills through guided activities and supervised “real-life” situations.

Program Dates: July 19-August 13
Program Costs: $100 application fee (nonrefundable)
$2,725 program fee (including dormitory residence and breakfast and dinner daily)
$1,585 program fee (without dormitory residence and meals)
 
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