San Diego State University - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

San Diego State students seem genuinely pleased with the quality of the teaching at the University. Most of the professors are known for their openness to students and their willingness to engage in discussions outside class. For the most part, professors offer open office hours to help guide you in the class or discuss and answer questions about lecture. Professors generally want students to learn and succeed when the students are willing to meet them with willingness. Captivating a student’s attention in a classroom is brought through room size. When classes are set in huge lecture halls, students are less likely to attentively listen, and it becomes harder for them to stay engaged. Many lower-division courses are taught in much larger class settings than those of upper division. Students are generally more interested in their upper-division courses. Professors do their best to engage students, whether teaching in a small classroom setting or a large lecture hall.

Class size ratio at San Diego State is for the most part solid. The school could use improvement with the quality of teaching in its introduction and lower-division courses. Many classes are taught by graduate students rather than professors, and it is not a strong introduction to San Diego State University. The school needs to make sure that professors have passion— if they don’t, the students won’t. Since there are an excessive amount of students attending the school, the common majors are impacted. Therefore, students must have a certain overall GPA, making it competitive to get into your major. Overall, most of the professors know what they’re doing, love what their doing, and genuinely care about their students.

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Students Speak Out

SDSJD says: San Diego State University 2015 English Language and Literature

Some of the teachers are pretty... Some of the teachers are pretty cool, but it seems like it's hard to come across a teacher that actually teaches you something. Even the really cool ones are only cool because they are friendly but most of the time the stuff they tell me doesn't really stick. Maybe it's because I'm an English major and all we do is talk about the endless amounts of books we read. Our school is known for its business program, and I'm not sure what else. 12345 Academics: March 12, 2009 Report

SDSSL says: San Diego State University 2014 English Language and Literature

Most of the teachers I've had so... Most of the teachers I've had so far are pretty cool actually, although the school is nothing special academically. Supposedly the business program is great, but I am skeptical. The school seems like any other public university—too many GEs that students can cruise through without learning anything. The workload isn't bad, but there's a lot of reading for English majors, and you always have to take BS classes that no one wants to take and are useless. 12345 Academics: March 05, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Teachers are knowledgeable and... Teachers are knowledgeable and understanding. They genuinely care for their students. My classes are appealing simply because I like my major. You have to enjoy what you want to do with your life to find your classes attractive. The teachers sometimes make classes interesting as well. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Almost all of my teachers have... Almost all of my teachers have been really good, but there are the occasional boring ones that make it hard to sit through lectures. However, the ones who make the classes interesting are not few in numbers, and they end up making the experience worthwhile. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers here at San Diego... The teachers here at San Diego State always seem like they try too hard to make class entertaining, as well as intellectually stimulating. Classes are interesting when I’m into the topic, such as human behavior or sea anemones. Otherwise, they are just a class I have to try and pass so I can get my degree. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

SDSU is the only university of the California State University system to be designated a “Doctoral University II” by the Carnegie Foundation.

SDSU’s American Language Institute is the largest university-based English as a Second Language (ESL) learning program in the U.S.

SDSU ranks number two among doctoral institutions nationwide for students studying abroad as part of their college experience, according to the Institute of International Education.

SDSU is the largest university in San Diego, and the third largest in California.

KPBS, which is owned and operated by SDSU, is rated among the top 10 public broadcasting stations located in the United States.

SDSU is ranked among the nations best undergraduate business programs according to U.S. News and World Reports.

SDSU is ranked #19 in the nation among universities for entrepreneurs in the U.S. by Entrepreneurs magazine.

SDSU is ranked #10 in the nation for bachelors degrees conferred to ethnic minorities.

Sample Academic Clubs
Advertising Club, American Marketing Association, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Field Biology Club, Hospitality and Tourism Management Association, Linguistics Student Association, Organization of Women in International Trade, Political Science Research Club, Pre-Law Society, Public Relations Student Society of America (PSSR), Student Nutrition Organization, Undergraduate Social Work Association

Best Places to Study
Love Library, East Commons, the grassy knoll around Scripp’s Cottage

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Brennan Wasan
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Major: Communications

Life without music could never be imagined.

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