Sonoma State University, or SSU, located an hour north of San Francisco in California Wine Country was founded in 1960 as a teacher resource center called Sonoma State College. From its roots as a local liberal arts college, SSU has grown to offer 46 majors at the Bachelors level and 15 at the Masters level as well as offering one of the only Wine Business Institutes in the country. It is a member of the California State University System and is regularly named a “Best Regional University” by US News and World Report. Sonoma State University is the only member of the CSU system to be a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. SSU is and is one of the most popular choices in the CSU system. It also has the distinction of being named one of the “Most Wired” campuses by the Princeton Review.
Mission/Vision
The mission of Sonoma State University is to prepare students to be well educated men and women who have a foundation for “life-long learning, a broad cultural perspective and a keen appreciation of intellectual and aesthetic achievements.” The goal is to have graduates that are “active citizens and leaders in society, capable of pursuing fulfilling careers in a changing world and are concerned with contributing to the health and well-being of the world at large.” Academics are rooted in liberal arts and sciences to give students a well-rounded education. SSU structures programs to allow students to develop critical and ethical thinking through traditional programs while taking a global view through studies.
Campus Setting
Sonoma State University is located in Northern California Wine Country, approximately one hour north of San Francisco. Freshmen live in suite-style dormitories, while upperclassmen live in apartments. Campus housing is designed to resemble off campus living, while providing dining halls, recreation and other services students need.
Academics
Sonoma State University houses six different schools: Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, Education, Extended and International Education, Social Sciences, and Science and Technology. The University currently offers 46 majors and 47 minors for students seeking a Bachelor’s degree and 15 majors for graduate students.
The university also owns and operates the 411-acre Fairfield Osborn Preserve and the 3,200 acre Galbreath Wildland Preserve in Mendocino County. These sites provide unique research opportunities for students working toward degrees in natural sciences.
Athletics
The Seawolves of Sonoma State participate in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and are a member of Division II NCAA. Men can compete in baseball, basketball, golf, soccer and tennis. Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball and water polo. The women won the national championship for soccer in 1990, while the men won the national title for soccer in 2002 and golf in 2009.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Annual tuition at Sonoma State University is $16,372 for commuter students, $23,295 for California residents and $27,759 for non-resident including housing, books, and fees. Financial aid consisting of loans, scholarships and grants are available. Sonoma State University participates in the Middle Class Scholarship Act for qualified California residents.
Accreditation
Sonoma State University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the California State Board of Education. The School of Education is accredited at the state and national levels by CCTC and NCATE. The School of Business and Economics is accredited by AACSB-International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Many departments and programs are individually accredited.
Admissions
Sonoma State University has a highly competitive admissions process. Prospective students apply between October 1 and November 30 for admission for the next academic year.
All applications must submit a high school transcript with showing a grade of “C” or better in the required coursework, SAT and/or ACT test scores, have a competitive eligibility index score and meet any special criteria for impacted majors. Impacted majors have more stringent eligibility requirements and include majors such as nursing, criminal justice, kinesiology and biology. An application fee of $55.00 must be paid upon submission of the admission application.
For additional information regarding the admission requirements for Sonoma State University, contact the admissions office at:
Admissions Office
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Phone: 707-664-2778
http://www.sonoma.edu/admissions/
