Claremont Graduate University

What is the history of Claremont Graduate University?

Claremont Graduate University (CGU) was founded in 1925 as Claremont Graduate School. It developed as a graduate-focused institution within The Claremont Colleges, a consortium of separate colleges and universities in Claremont, California.

The institution later adopted the name Claremont Graduate University. Its history explains a distinction that matters to applicants: CGU is not the graduate division of one of the neighboring undergraduate colleges. It is a separate university with its own admissions processes, degrees and academic programs, although students can use some shared consortium resources.

What are the faculties and departments at Claremont Graduate University?

Claremont Graduate University concentrates on master's, doctoral and selected credential or certificate programs rather than bachelor's degrees. Its academic offerings span the humanities, social sciences, education, management, public health, information systems and related interdisciplinary fields.

Academic units include the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management, the School of Arts & Humanities, the School of Educational Studies, the School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation, and the School of Community & Global Health. Representative areas of study include business administration, economics, psychology, education, history, religion and public health. Applicants should use the current program directory to identify the school responsible for a particular degree: requirements and available concentrations can differ substantially across programs.

CGU's place in The Claremont Colleges may also give graduate students access to consortium-wide courses and resources. Access to a particular course is not automatic; registration depends on program rules, prerequisites, space and approval.

What is the location of Claremont Graduate University?

CGU is in Claremont, California, in eastern Los Angeles County. Its campus sits among the other Claremont Colleges near Claremont's downtown district, in a suburban setting rather than a large urban campus.

The location gives students access to shared academic facilities while placing them within commuting distance of employers and cultural institutions across the Los Angeles region. The Claremont Metrolink station provides a rail option for some trips, but commute times and transit convenience depend on a student's destination and schedule. Applicants considering an evening program, internship or off-campus job should evaluate the trip at the hours they would actually travel.

What is the mission and vision of Claremont Graduate University?

CGU presents its educational purpose as graduate-level study that connects research, teaching and practice across disciplines. Its emphasis on collaboration reflects its graduate-only focus and its position within The Claremont Colleges.

For a prospective student, the useful question is how that approach operates in a specific program. A research doctorate, professional master's degree and teacher-preparation pathway can offer quite different combinations of coursework, supervised practice and independent research. CGU is a private, nonsectarian institution; applicants do not need to share a religious affiliation to study there.