San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University is a public university in San Francisco (commonly known as San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU). The university offers 118 separate bachelor's degrees, 94 master's degrees, and 5 doctoral degrees as part of the 23-campus California State University system, along with 26 teaching certificates from six academic colleges.

 

In 1899, the university was founded as a normal state-run school for teacher training, gaining state college status in 1921 and state university status in 1972. Located in the southwest part of the city, less than two miles from the Pacific coast, is the 141 acre campus. San Francisco State has 12 varsity athletic teams that participate, many as members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, at the NCAA Division II level.

 

Academic Mission and Goals

San Francisco State University honors its origins from the heart of a diverse city, supports intellectual and personal growth, promotes equality, and inspires the courage to lead, build, and innovate.

 

SF State is a big urban public university located in one of the great cities in the world. The University provides extensive, rigorous, and integrated academic programs that enable students to participate in open-minded inquiry and reflection, building on a century-long tradition of dedication to quality teaching and wide access to undergraduate and graduate education. SF State encourages its students, faculty, and employees to fully interact with and grow and share information with the community.

 

SF State equips its students to face the demands of the 21st century, motivated by the diversity of our society that includes many first-generation college students, and the courage of an academic community that seeks to break down conventional boundaries. With the unwavering dedication to social justice that is fundamental to the university's work, SF State prepares its students with a global perspective to become effective, ethical, committed citizens.

 

Athletics

The intercollegiate athletics teams of the school, known as the Gators, play in NCAA Division II and are part of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (wrestling competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference). SF State fields twelve sports: cross country for men and women, soccer for men and women, volleyball for women, basketball for men and women, baseball for men, wrestling, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and softball.

 

Three Major League Baseball players have been developed by SF State, two of whom became All-Stars (former Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson, and former Brewers and Red Sox outfielder Tommy Harper). One player has joined the professional ranks of the soccer program. Jared MacLane played in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in the Elite First Division soccer.

 

Thirteen National Football League stars, including Billy Baird, Elmer Collett, Maury Duncan, Carl Kammerer, Douglas Parrish, and Floyd Peters, were also created by The Gators. As Offensive Coordinator of the team in 1981, Mike Holmgren got his college coaching career. In 1995, the football program ended.