San Diego State College
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region.
Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to become a nationally ranked research university. Each year, SDSU provides more than 30,000 students with the opportunity to participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis, preparing them for a global future.
In the Beginning
Serving the San Diego region has always been a core part of SDSU’s mission. Founded March 13, 1897, San Diego State University began as the San Diego Normal School, a training facility for elementary school teachers. Seven faculty and 91 students met in temporary quarters over a downtown drugstore before moving to a newly constructed 17-acre campus on Park Boulevard.
The curriculum was limited at first to English, history and mathematics, but course offerings broadened rapidly under the leadership of Samuel T. Black, who left his position as state superintendent of public instruction to become the new school's first president. Black served from 1898 to 1910.
From 1910 to 1935, President Edward L. Hardy headed a vigorous administration that oversaw major changes to the fledgling institution. In 1921, the Normal School became San Diego State Teachers College, a four-year public institution controlled by the state Board of Education. In that same year, the two-year San Diego Junior College, forerunner of today's local community colleges, became a branch of San Diego State, creating a union that lasted until 1946.
1931 Relocation
By the 1920s, San Diego State was already beginning to outgrow its Park Boulevard location, and San Diegans launched a campaign to build a new campus on the city's eastern border. In February 1931, students, faculty and staff moved into seven Mission-style buildings surrounding a common area still known as the Main Quad.
Four years later, the Legislature authorized expansion of degree programs beyond teacher education, and San Diego State Teachers College became San Diego State College. Also in 1935, Walter R. Hepner took the helm as president, beginning a 17-year tenure.
The college continued to grow over time, reaching an enrollment of more than 25,000 students during the administration of Malcolm A. Love, who served as president from 1952 to 1971. The SDSU Library is named after Love.
In 1960, San Diego State became part of the newly created California State College system, now known as the California State University system. In 1963, just months before he was assassinated, President John F. Kennedy gave the commencement address at san Diego State.
In the early 1970s, with legislative approval, San Diego State College became San Diego State University.L eading the institution during the 1970s were Acting President Donald E. Walker (1971-1972), President Brage Golding (1972-1977), Acting President Trevor Colbourn (1977-1978) and President Thomas B. Day, whose tenure spanned from 1978 to 1996.
In 1996, Stephen L. Weber became the university's seventh president, presiding over the university's terrific gains in student preparation and graduation, philanthropy, research and other areas of excellence.
In 2011, Elliot Hirshman was named SDSU's eighth president.
SDSU Today
Beginning its 115th academic year in fall 2011, San Diego State University can take pride in more than a century of achievement in education, research and service.
With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, SDSU has grown into the largest institution of higher education in the San Diego region and one of the largest in California. SDSU is increasingly becoming a top choice for undergraduates as evidenced by the record number of applications received each year.
Renowned for its academic excellence, the university is home to top-ranking programs in education, international business, social work, speech-language pathology, biology and public administration. Overall, San Diego State students can choose from 85 undergraduate majors, 76 master's programs and 19 joint doctoral degree programs and two independent doctoral degree programs.
https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/home/history.aspx?
Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to become a nationally ranked research university. Each year, SDSU provides more than 30,000 students with the opportunity to participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis, preparing them for a global future.
In the Beginning
Serving the San Diego region has always been a core part of SDSU’s mission. Founded March 13, 1897, San Diego State University began as the San Diego Normal School, a training facility for elementary school teachers. Seven faculty and 91 students met in temporary quarters over a downtown drugstore before moving to a newly constructed 17-acre campus on Park Boulevard.
The curriculum was limited at first to English, history and mathematics, but course offerings broadened rapidly under the leadership of Samuel T. Black, who left his position as state superintendent of public instruction to become the new school's first president. Black served from 1898 to 1910.
From 1910 to 1935, President Edward L. Hardy headed a vigorous administration that oversaw major changes to the fledgling institution. In 1921, the Normal School became San Diego State Teachers College, a four-year public institution controlled by the state Board of Education. In that same year, the two-year San Diego Junior College, forerunner of today's local community colleges, became a branch of San Diego State, creating a union that lasted until 1946.
1931 Relocation
By the 1920s, San Diego State was already beginning to outgrow its Park Boulevard location, and San Diegans launched a campaign to build a new campus on the city's eastern border. In February 1931, students, faculty and staff moved into seven Mission-style buildings surrounding a common area still known as the Main Quad.
Four years later, the Legislature authorized expansion of degree programs beyond teacher education, and San Diego State Teachers College became San Diego State College. Also in 1935, Walter R. Hepner took the helm as president, beginning a 17-year tenure.
The college continued to grow over time, reaching an enrollment of more than 25,000 students during the administration of Malcolm A. Love, who served as president from 1952 to 1971. The SDSU Library is named after Love.
In 1960, San Diego State became part of the newly created California State College system, now known as the California State University system. In 1963, just months before he was assassinated, President John F. Kennedy gave the commencement address at san Diego State.
In the early 1970s, with legislative approval, San Diego State College became San Diego State University.L eading the institution during the 1970s were Acting President Donald E. Walker (1971-1972), President Brage Golding (1972-1977), Acting President Trevor Colbourn (1977-1978) and President Thomas B. Day, whose tenure spanned from 1978 to 1996.
In 1996, Stephen L. Weber became the university's seventh president, presiding over the university's terrific gains in student preparation and graduation, philanthropy, research and other areas of excellence.
In 2011, Elliot Hirshman was named SDSU's eighth president.
SDSU Today
Beginning its 115th academic year in fall 2011, San Diego State University can take pride in more than a century of achievement in education, research and service.
With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, SDSU has grown into the largest institution of higher education in the San Diego region and one of the largest in California. SDSU is increasingly becoming a top choice for undergraduates as evidenced by the record number of applications received each year.
Renowned for its academic excellence, the university is home to top-ranking programs in education, international business, social work, speech-language pathology, biology and public administration. Overall, San Diego State students can choose from 85 undergraduate majors, 76 master's programs and 19 joint doctoral degree programs and two independent doctoral degree programs.
https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/home/history.aspx?