Governor Signs SB 724 into Law
Measure enables CSU campuses to offer
independent Doctor of Education degree

Contact: Jason Foster
SDSU Marketing & Communications
Tel: (619) 594-2585/ Cell: (619) 992-0772
foster@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005 -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 724 into law today. The new law grants California State University campuses the authority to independently offer a doctoral degree in education.

SDSU officials hailed the governor’s action as a major step forward in meeting a rapidly growing statewide need for highly trained, senior-level education professionals to serve as administrative leaders for public schools and community colleges.

"California’s K-12 and higher education systems exist in one of the most vibrant and challenging academic environments in the nation," said SDSU President Stephen L. Weber. "We need more qualified educators who are ready to meet those challenges so that our children will be prepared to thrive and contribute to our state’s quality of life. Now more educators around California will have affordable access to advancing their knowledge and skills with a doctorate."

CSU campuses will now be able to offer an Ed.D. – a doctorate in education designed to prepare the degree holder for high-level professional practice. Prior to the bill’s signing, the state’s 45-year-old Master Plan for Higher Education only allowed CSU campuses to offer doctoral degrees jointly in partnership with a University of California campus or private university. Many education leaders viewed this requirement as an unnecessary bottleneck that made it difficult to pursue the doctoral degree.

The University of California system remains the only public university system in the state allowed to independently offer Ph.Ds and other doctorates in law or medicine.

SDSU currently offers 16 joint doctoral degree programs, including an Ed.D in educational leadership with UC San Diego and Cal State San Marcos, and an Ed.D with the University of San Diego.

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 offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 72 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU’s nearly 33,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct faculty contact and an increasing international emphasis that prepares students for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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