About Us > Why California State University, Northridge (CSUN)?

CSUN is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In 2012, the WASC Commission stated, “The Commission commends CSUN for becoming a model learning organization characterized by collaborative and evidence-based planning, decision making and problem solving. Among its accomplishments during this review are its deep understanding of the characteristics and needs of CSUN students, which has led to programs and activities that promote student success. As noted by the team, the foundation at CSUN could not be stronger.”

In addition to WASC, many programs at CSUN also carry additional accreditation from national and international associations and organizations for programs in specific fields. These special accreditations are an important indicator of institutional quality for anyone choosing a university because they confirm that the institution is able to meet the very rigorous standards of review and consistent quality set by many different and demanding field-specific accrediting organizations. They are a key indicator of the depth and breadth of a university’s commitment to quality over time. CSUN has been awarded 28 special accreditations in specific fields.

Here, faculty view each program as an educational whole, working from start to finish to ensure the learning experience is powerful, comprehensive and focused on professional success.

Working as a creative team with leading practitioners, faculty develop programs in a cohort format, resulting in the development of a collaborative student community. Under this format, you’ll proceed with the same classmates from the start of your program to the finish. With this group of professionals and industry experts, you’ll move toward graduation, building a network along the way and setting the stage for advancement in your field.

Our faculty engage in some of the world’s most important scholarship and research – studying cancer, artificial intelligence, public health, social policy and more. Most also possess extensive experience in the real world, with backgrounds in some of the nation’s largest companies and agencies.

When you enter our programs, this expertise is in every course, lecture, and assignment.

In addition to scholarly and professional work, faculty place an equal importance on teaching excellence, ensuring you graduate on time and enter the field prepared for professional practice. This focus on teaching and student achievement keeps class sizes smaller than one might expect at a large university.

Many of our professional programs are offered fully online, providing maximum flexibility of when and where to study. These programs unite students from across the nation and around the globe. In our online programs, you’ll benefit from studying with counterparts in a variety of locations and working environments. And through the cohort format, you can build a cohesive and supportive learning community with your peers.

Like our on-campus programs, online degrees and certificates appear on official university transcripts – and your diploma, when you finish, will look no different than if you had achieved it in person. By choosing online, you earn the same respected education; the only difference is in how you attend.

CSUN recognizes that the demands of many professions require advanced coursework that draws on the expertise of faculty from more than a single field or discipline. In response, we work with faculty in numerous disciplines to give graduates a professional advantage. This capability also allows us to develop innovative programs that address changing needs in the economy.

For example, the Master of Arts in Music Industry Administration was designed and is taught by faculty from the Department of Music in the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication along with faculty in the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics.

Another example is CSUN’s Master of Arts in Diverse Community Development and Leadership. The faculty who designed and teach in this fully online program come from a wide range of disciplines, including business, gender and women's studies, political science, journalism, and sociology. Cross-disciplinary and multidisciplinary programs such as this respond to the evolving needs of the global landscape.

In most of our professional programs, you’ll take only one course at a time. This lets you focus on the demands of each without distraction. Typically, these programs feature two courses per term in back-to-back, eight-week formats. Scheduling is year-round, meaning the typical master’s degree can be completed in less than two years.

At CSUN, we offer the outstanding support services typically found only at very high-priced private and/or for-profit universities. On your first day as a student, a program management team is assigned to you. These specialists can help you with all administrative matters, giving you time to focus on your course work and your career. Programs also feature an academic lead, or faculty director, who is available to assist you with any academic issues – from grades and assignments to professional opportunities. This faculty member also teaches in the program.

Read more about our global alumni network.

Read more about Accreditation and licensure.

Tuition for our degree programs is typically below that of private and for-profit providers. Because programs for midcareer professionals are not funded with state dollars, the university can invest in features of high value to midcareer professionals that might not otherwise be possible. These include time invested in curriculum design, ongoing program reviews and updates, team teaching and field projects, online and off-site program delivery, cohort formats, extensive support services and more.