California Southern University — Attraction in Chandler

I graduated from this university in 2021. While my own experience was average, it was positive enough that I recommended the school to my sister. Unfortunately, her experience has been extremely disappointing and deeply concerning.

From the start, she has faced major problems with the program. Academic advisors change constantly, leaving students without consistent guidance. The school rarely advocates for its students, and communication seems to occur only when payments are due, creating the impression that financial concerns outweigh academic support.

The most troubling issue has been her doctoral project. After years of research on a non-threatening topic related to immigration and the mental health impacts individuals experience through this work, she had her topic approved by her chair, Dr. Yates. Then, after years of effort, she was abruptly told she could not continue because the university was “afraid of the government.” Forcing her to abandon years of work was devastating, both emotionally and academically.

Despite her compliance in submitting a list of alternative topics, her chair refused to engage with her further. When she attempted to escalate her concerns, she was denied the opportunity to speak with the dean of the Behavioral Health Program or anyone else in leadership. Her advisor repeatedly told her only to “keep emailing the chair,” creating a cycle of avoidance, delay, and what felt like deliberate gamesmanship rather than meaningful guidance.

This treatment is unjust, unfair, and unprofessional. It makes the program feel less like a true educational institution and more like a business transaction that exploits students financially while disregarding their academic progress and well-being.

Because of these issues, I intend to file a formal complaint on my sister’s behalf. Students deserve honesty, transparency, and academic integrity—none of which she has received.

I strongly urge the university to review its practices, hold faculty accountable, and implement meaningful changes so that future students are not subjected to the same unnecessary hardship. At present, I cannot in good conscience recommend this...

When I decided to attend Cal Southern University, it was based on the recommendation of a family member who had graduated successfully and had an overall positive experience. Encouraged by that, I began my journey in 2019.

For the first two to three years, my experience was strong. I had supportive professors and helpful advisors, and I was able to complete my coursework successfully. The problems began once I entered the doctoral program. After taking a short break and returning to continue my doctoral project, I was told my topic—which had already been accepted—was suddenly denied because of a list of restricted topics that I never received. This happened 17 days into the start of the project.

I was pressured to quickly submit a new topic within three days, without the proper time for research. I complied and submitted all assignments as required. However, after submitting, I waited 40 days with no response from my mentor. My advisor worked hard to escalate the issues and was truly supportive, but there was little to no support from higher levels of administration. Requests to speak with the program director were denied, and all communication was forced through the advisor.

Overall, this has been an uphill battle filled with miscommunication, lack of transparency, and delays. I am very disappointed and saddened, as I have invested years of my life into this program only to be left with unresolved issues at the most critical stage of my doctoral journey.

My recommendation: Do your own thorough research before committing to this university. Reviews matter, and I wish I had looked deeper into them...

The PsyD program offers a rigorous and pragmatic curriculum, demanding a high level of commitment. I selected CSU's PsyD Program because of its practical and interesting courses, which significantly enhanced my knowledge and practical skills in areas such as motivation, cognition, psychopathology, psychopharmacology, neuropsychology, and research methods. The professors are responsive, knowledgeable, and hold high expectations, contributing to the program's intensity.

The faculty of the PsyD program is highly reputable and active in the field, bringing practical experience to the forefront. I took a class from a professor who is indeed a renowned author of a commonly used psych assessment, adding significant credibility to the program. The courses are intentionally designed to prepare the students for the dissertation process. The statistics course required the students to compose a mini research paper from scratch, with the professor providing step-by-step guidance and feedback throughout.

The academic advisors do change often and the students need to be proactive. As a virtual program, it requires a strong sense of self-discipline and motivation, reflecting the prevalent trends in modern education. Students are expected to meet weekly reading, discussion, and assignment deadlines consistently, and those unable to do so will likely find this program less attractive and challenging to complete. The stringent requirements emphasize the program's commitment to maintaining...