Mission
San Francisco State University's mission is: To create and maintain an environment for learning that promotes respect for and appreciation of scholarship, freedom, human diversity, and the cultural mosaic of the City of San Francisco and the Bay Area. To promote excellence in instruction and intellectual accomplishment. To provide broadly accessible higher education for residents of the region and state, as well as the nation and world.

Affiliation
SFSU is part of the largest system of higher education in the country granting bachelor's and master's degrees, the California State University (CSU). The 23 campuses served 414,000 students in fall 2003.

Accreditation
SFSU is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Motto
"Experientia Docet" (Experience Teaches)

School Colors
Purple and GoldM

Mascot
The 'Gator (alligator)

Athletic Teams
Men: baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming, outdoor track & field, wrestling
Women: basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field (indoor & outdoor), volleyball

Academic Calendar
Two 16-week semesters: late August through December; late January through late May; and a summer semester: June through August.

Degree/Program Offerings
SFSU awards bachelor's degrees in 118 areas of specialization and master's in 96. It offers a Ph.D. and Ed.D. in education with a concentration in special education, jointly with UC Berkeley. In addition, SFSU offers an M.S. in physical therapy and a doctorate in physical therapy science in conjunction with UC San Francisco. It also offers 27 credential programs and 34 certificate programs.

Academic Colleges
Behavioral and Social Sciences
Business
Creative Arts
Education
Ethnic Studies
Health and Human Services
Humanities
Science and Engineering

Size of Main Campus
106 acres, located in the southwest corner of San Francisco, at 1600 Holloway Avenue (corner of 19th Avenue).

On-campus Housing
For freshmen and sophomores, SFSU has two traditional residence halls, Mary Park and Mary Ward halls. The Towers, also for freshmen and sophomores, is a newly renovated apartment building slated to open for fall 2004. Apartment living for upper-division and graduate students is available at The Village at Centennial Square. University Park apartments and townhomes are open to all members of the campus community.

Off-campus Centers

• Downtown Center (College of Extended Learning) 425 Market St.
  
• Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, Marin County on the San Francisco Bay
  
• Sierra Nevada Field Campus, Sierra foothills
  
• Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (with six other CSUs), Monterey Bay