Cal State LA has once again earned national recognition for graduating Latino students who go on to earn the Ph.D. in science and engineering fields.
Among bachelor’s and master’s granting institutions in the continental U.S., Cal State LA is number one for producing Latino doctorates in areas such as chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics, computer sciences, biological sciences, and engineering, according to data compiled by the National Science Foundation.
The University also leads the nation in preparing Latinas for the Ph.D. in science and engineering. Among bachelor’s and master’s granting colleges and universities, Cal State LA tops the list, according to the NSF.
“The latest report is further proof that Cal State LA is changing the face of science and engineering across the nation,” said William A. Covino, president of Cal State LA. “This also speaks to the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty and staff.”
The most recent findings cover 2008 through 2012 and were published in the NSF report, Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2015. The report provides statistical information about the participation of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering education and employment. The data come from surveys conducted by the NSF, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
“The developing story from these data is the exceptional role that Cal State LA plays in training research leaders of the future, but also the important role that the entire California State University system plays in this venture,” said Carlos Gutiérrez, professor of chemistry and director of the Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE) Programs at Cal State LA.
The NSF placed the University among the top 50 U.S. institutions for producing Latino doctorates in science and engineering.
Alumni of Cal State LA’s MORE Programs were the largest contributors to the University’s success. In the past decade, between 70 percent of MORE undergraduates and 85 percent of MORE master’s students have entered Ph.D. programs at universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UCLA and University of California, San Diego – Scripps.
“Cal State LA students continue to demonstrate that talent is broadly distributed among all populations,” Gutiérrez said. “Cal State LA faculty, administrators, and staff demonstrate that we have the capacity to create an environment for student success at the highest levels.”
MORE Programs are funded by grants from the NSF, National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the American Chemical Society. All programs focus on preparing students for success in graduate programs leading to the Ph.D.
