One of the oldest institutions in the 23-member California State University system, San Francisco State University (SFSU) a public comprehensive university located in the heart of one of the most-populous cities in the United States, San Francisco.

The institution was founded in 1899 as San Francisco State Normal School, becoming the first ‘normal school’ in the country to require a high school diploma for admission. In 1923 the first bachelor’s degree was awarded and in 1953 the university moved to its current campus near Lake Merced.

During the 1960s there were a number of campus protests in response to both campus policies and issues including the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. In 1969, after a lengthy strike led by the Black Student Union and the Third World Liberation Front, the university authorities came to an agreement with the students which led to the establishment of the School of Ethnic Studies, which still stands today.

Today the main university campus is located on a 144-acre site. There are six academic colleges based around the study of business, education, health and social studies, science and engineering, liberal and creative arts, and ethnic studies.

SFSU offers  bachelor’s degree courses in 77 academic areas, as well as an array of master’s degree courses and two doctorial level programs.

Several internationally recognized actors have graduated from SFSU, including Dana Carvey (Wayne’s World), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), Annette Bening (American Beauty), and Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development).