2024-25 Catalog

Palm Desert Campus

Telephone: (760) 341-2883

Website: Palm Desert Campus

Mission Statement

The Palm Desert Campus of California State University, San Bernardino is a dynamic, student-centered learning community that aspires to create transformational opportunities that nurture and sustain the intellectual, environmental, economic, and cultural richness of the Coachella Valley. By collaborating with and investing in students, faculty, staff, and communities, together we strive to define the future.

General Information

More than 38 years ago, Coachella Valley civic leaders began to call for a local public four-year college. The group’s efforts lead to California State University, San Bernardino establishing a branch campus on the College of the Desert campus. From the beginning, the efforts were to serve Coachella Valley students locally with programs that met local needs. In 2002, a permanent campus was established on Cook Street.

The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus offers students the resources of a large, comprehensive university through the San Bernardino campus, and at the same time, the supportive environment of a small campus with small classes and more opportunities for contact with faculty.

Whether you are looking for a four-year degree, to enhance your professional skills, or complete one of our many degree, credential, or certificate programs, you will find everything you need at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus..

Facilities

The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is located on a 169-acre site off the I-10 freeway. The first building constructed and occupied in 2002 was the Mary Stuart Rogers Gateway Building, funded by the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation, the Berger Foundation, the City of Rancho Mirage and Florence Rigdon, a Rancho Mirage resident. Housing the university’s administrative offices, the building also has more than 3,000 square feet of classroom space, the 120-seat Richard and Janice Oliphant Auditorium, the campus bookstore, the Rancho Mirage Student Center and distance learning labs.

The second and third buildings, the Indian Wells Center for Educational Excellence and Indian Wells Theater, were occupied in 2005 and built largely with funds from the City of Indian Wells, The Annenberg Foundation, the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, Palm Desert National Bank, and Jean Hahn and John I. Hardy. The Indian Wells Center for Educational Excellence houses a variety of student services, including the Career Center, the Student Success Studio, the Porter Resource Center, Paws Radio and faculty offices. The Indian Wells Theater hosts many campus and community events throughout the year.

The Palm Desert Health Sciences Building, which is LEED Gold certified, opened in 2008. Donors for this building included all nine of the Coachella Valley’s municipalities as well as the County of Riverside, The Desert Healthcare District, the R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation, The Webb Foundation, Palm Desert National Bank, and many other community members. This facility houses the Helene A. Hixon Information Resource Center, biology and chemistry labs, nursing labs, the R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard Student Health and Psychological Counseling Center, the DEN Food Pantry, a Kinesiology lab, the Veteran's Success Center, as well as additional classrooms and computer labs.

These buildings include state-of-the-art classrooms, faculty offices, video conference classrooms, full computer and internet presentation capabilities in all classrooms, as well as computer laboratories for student research, and allow for study individually or in groups.

Admissions

To apply for admission to the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, students must complete the CSUMentor application online at Cal State Apply and have transcripts sent to:

CSUSB Palm Desert Campus

Office of Admissions

37500 Cook Street

Palm Desert, CA 92211

You can also watch the latest Palm Desert Campus video to learn more about the campus.

For further admissions information, please contact the PDC Admissions Team.

Freshman and Transfer Students

Jazmin Vera

(909) 537-8109, jazmin.vera@csusb.edu

Alissa Rocha

(909) 537-8147, alissa.rocha@csusb.edu

Graduate and Credential Programs

Visit the Meet the Counselors webpage for more information.

Commencement

Special Events and Guest Services - Commencement Office
(909) 537-7360

Participation in commencement activities is voluntary.

For dates and deadlines, please visit commencement.csusb.edu.

Master's and Doctoral Students

To participate in commencement, candidates completing a master's or doctoral degree must file a grad check AND meet the eligibility requirements specified by their program. For the specific requirements, candidates should consult their program coordinator.

Credential Students

Students who complete a Multiple Subject, Single Subject, Education Specialist Basic credential, Pupil Personnel Services, or Designated Subjects credential can participate in a Credential Recognition Ceremony rather than commencement. The Credential Recognition Ceremony on the San Bernardino campus will be held in May. Specific information can be obtained from the College of Education, Student Services Office, CE-102, (909) 537-5609. The Credential Recognition Ceremony on the Palm Desert Campus will be held in May at PDC. Specific information can be obtained from the Palm Desert Campus College of Education Office at (760) 341-2883.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers non-credit, university-level courses for adults age 50+ who love to learn, but without the stress of homework, tests, or grades. Through membership in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), you can experience the joy of learning about a wide range of topics in the arts, sciences, and humanities -- and some lighter courses just for fun. OLLI membership also gives you access to a variety of engaging discussion groups, interesting educational trips, and free member events. 

Financial Aid & Scholarships

The Palm Desert Campus has a financial aid consultant to assist with questions, applications, and other issues pertaining to financial aid and scholarships.

Edith Passi

(909) 537-8143, edith.passi@csusb.edu

The Palm Desert Campus offers many scholarships to PDC students. Visit the Scholarships webpage for a list of scholarships and for more information.

There are many scholarships administered by the CSUSB Financial Aid Office available for PDC students. They can be applied for online at the Financial Aid website beginning January through March 2nd of each year. You can also search for off-campus scholarship opportunities using the “Search” feature on My Coyote.

Palm Desert Campus Programs

Bachelor’s Programs

Credential Programs in Education

Certificate Programs

Graduate Programs

Doctoral Program

Academic Advising

Ruth Howell

(909) 537-8110, rhowell@csusb.edu

Oscar Moreno Castro

(909) 537-8203, oscar.morenocastro@csusb.edu

Pedro Saltipar

        (909) 537-8234, pedro.saltipar@csusb.edu

Services Include:

  • Review:

    • General Education (GE) requirements

    • Graduation requirements

    • Paws Report

    • University policies and procedures

    • Roadmaps

  • Undeclared advisement

  • Academic contracts

  • Check holds and to-do list

  • Plan classes for the next term

  • Build or check myCAP

  • Workshops

  • Stay on track for graduation!