Off-Campus Degree Programs for Midcareer Professionals

Off-campus, regional degree programs offered by California State University, Northridge (CSUN) through The Tseng College constitute the university’s primary response to the need for academic programs at various locations for individuals and organizations throughout the region who are unable to commit to study at the main CSUN campus.

CSUN’s off-campus programs meet all university accrediting standards and undergo the applicable review and approval processes. All offerings are subject to the same oversight by CSUN full-time faculty as programs offered in traditional formats.

Off-campus programs are offered in the cohort format, enabling CSUN to take the same program to multiple sites in response to local needs.

Learn as a Group

CSUN's off-campus, cohort-based degree programs are planned and scheduled for midcareer adults who are studying part-time while working and/or fulfilling family responsibilities.
In the cohort format, students enter the program as a group and move through a predetermined sequence of courses together.
In the cohort format, course content is integrated so that knowledge acquired in later courses builds on what has been learned in earlier ones.
Because of the integrated format, cohort-program faculty members enjoy the ability to plan and teach in ways that build on this prior learning.
Cohort students are guaranteed all courses in the degree program for the life of the cohort.
The "community of learning" that is created among cohort members and faculty typically increases student retention and speeds the time to successful degree completion.

See What Is Cohort-Based Programming for details.

Accreditation

California State University, Northridge is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Higher Education and Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. In California, CSUN is accredited by the State Board of Education. Additionally, many professional degree programs are accredited by national societies and associations.
In a comprehensive assessment, an accreditation team from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) noted that California State University, Northridge "continues to provide exceptional quality education to students of the San Fernando Valley and beyond. The university stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher education."

Instructional Excellence

Working with the relevant academic departments, The Tseng College selects the most accomplished instructors for each program. Tseng College programs are taught by CSUN faculty experienced in working with midcareer professionals, accomplished faculty from sister institutions, established authors, and widely recognized practitioners.