History
Founded in 1857, San José State University is the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast. Also known as San Jose State and SJSU, San José State University is part of the California State University system.
The SJSU Campus
San José State's 154-acre main campus occupies a rectangle in downtown San Jose, California, bordered by San Fernando Street to the north, S. Fourth Street to the west, San Salvador Street to the south and S. Tenth Street to the east. The four oldest buildings, remnants of the original 19th Century campus, are Tower Hall, Morris Dailey Auditorium, Washington Square Hall and Dwight Bentel Hall. The current campus contains more than 50 major buildings (23 academic buildings, 7 residence halls) on 19 city blocks. The main entrance is at Fourth and San Carlos streets.
The 62-acre South Campus, approximately 1.5 miles south of the main SJSU campus, is the site of Spartan Stadium, other athletic fields, Spartan Village student housing and overflow parking.
Facilities
San Jose State University boasts a year-round, Olympic-sized swimming pool that is Northern California's largest. The Event Center has basketball and racquetball courts, a small weight room and a climbing wall and hosts rock concerts and other events. The Student Union features a bowling alley, a cafeteria, bookstore and game room.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
New eight-story city/university library at the corner of Fourth and San Fernando Streets is first in the nation to be funded, managed and operated by a city and a major university. The $177.5 million cooperative project between the city of San José and San Jose State University opened in August 2003.
Campus Village Housing Complex
A $375-425 million housing complex to replace older dorms will double San Jose State University's residential student capacity and provide short-term faculty housing when it opens in fall 2005.
Art Metal Foundry
Chicano Resource Center
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
Martha H. Cox Center for Steinbeck Research
Disability Resource Center
Instructional facilities at San José International Airport
Moss Landing Marine Labs
Natalie & James Thompson Art Gallery
Nuclear Science Facility
Phyllis Forward Simpkins International House
Academic Programs
Through its eight colleges, San Jose State University offers 65 masters' degrees with 29 concentrations. SJSU's colleges are:
Applied Sciences & Arts
Business
Education
Engineering
Humanities & the Arts
Science
Social Sciences
Social Work
Number of faculty (2003): 1,590
SJSU enrollment (2003): 28,932
Media
The Spartan Daily school newspaper was founded in 1934 and is published five days a week when classes are in session. KSJS, 90.5 FM, is San Jose State University's radio station. Broadcasting with 1500 watts, KSJS is a student-training ground that features electronic, urban, jazz, subversive rock and rock en espanol, as well as public affairs programming.
Faculty members of note
- E. Michael Gorman, Fulbright Scholar award winning assistant professor of social work honored for his work against the spread of AIDS in Tunisia
- Rudy Rucker, science fiction author and professor of computer science
- Randall Stross, author of eBoys, Microsoft Secrets and Steve Jobs and the NeXT Big Thing
- Yosh Uchida, head coach, SJSU Judo Team, 1964 U.S. Olympic Judo Team
Alumni of note
- Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac
- Ben Nighthorse Campbell, U.S. Senator from Colorado
- Christopher Darden, prosecutor of O. J. Simpson case
- Dian Fossey, gorilla expert and ethologist
- Jeff Garcia, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns
- Krazy George Henderson, professional cheerleader, pioneer of the audience wave
- Mike Honda, Congressman
- Jessica McClintock, fashion designer
- Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel and inventor of Moore's Law
- Gaylord Nelson, U.S. Senator and Governor of Wisconsin
- Ryan Suarez, professional soccer player, defender for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
- Tommie Smith, 1968 Olympic gold medallist and record holder in track, known for his raised fist "Black Power" salute on the medal stand with fellow bronze medalist John Carlos.
- Tom and Dick Smothers, comedians known as "The Smothers Brothers"
- Amy Tan, novelist
- Peter Ueberroth, head of 1984 Summer Olympics, Time 1984 Man of the Year and commissioner of Major League Baseball (1984-9)
- Bill Walsh, football coach
- David Willman, reporter, winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize
- Hamza Yusuf, Islamic scholar
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