Educational Institutions

California State University, Los Angeles

Founded in 1947, Cal State Los Angeles is a comprehensive university offering high-quality programs in more than 50 academic and professional fields. With six schools and nearly 50 academic departments and divisions, the campus enrolls some 19,000 students and has one of the most diverse student populations in the country. The park-like campus, which opened in the 1950s, encompasses nearly 200 acres and sits on a plateau that once housed one of California's 36 original adobes. Among the university's most notable recent achievements was the first-place victory of its student-built solar-powered vehicle, Solar Eagle III, in the prestigious North American solar car race, Sunrayce 97.

Puente Learning Center

Founded in 1985, the nonprofit Puente Learning Center blends traditional and computer-assisted learning for children, adolescents and adults seeking to enhance their skills. Some 2,000 students from ages 3 to 83 come to the center's 40,000-square-foot facility each day to take tuition-free courses on a first come, first served basis. Programs include preschool readiness, after-school enrichment, high school tutorials, adult education, parenting, and job training. The center also offers workplace training to employers.

University of Southern California

An important part of the neighborhood since the 1950's, USC's 31-acre Health Sciences Campus is home to the region's first and oldest medical and pharmacy schools. The Keck School of Medicine of USC has gained prominence for its research in cancer, gene therapy, the neurosciences and transplantation biology, and is renowned for its programs in patient care. The School of Pharmacy is recognized as a model for progressive pharmacy programs nationwide. In addition, the School of Dentistry, one of only eight private dental schools in the nation, has specialty clinics on the campus.

The campus also houses the Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, one of only five sites in the country to offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. The Department of Nursing is recognized nationally for its curriculum for students in clinical areas. The Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy was ranked number one in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 1998.