California Southern University - CalSouthern University Scam "University" - Front University to Get Tuition Payments and Sell Textbooks Santa Ana California

I graduated from Calsouthern University in 2007. The person from Beverly Hills who posted the false statements appears to be someone who has a personal issue with the school. I had many classmates who I conversed with, and the faculty gave timely feedback. I even conversed on the phone with them. This report posted here about Calsouthern University located in Santa Ana, CA is absolutely false and unjustified. I continue to have contact with faculty at the school and with the President of the university. It is a great school and the School of Behavioral Sciences is outstanding in quality of education.

Visit the university's webpage and view the "front" students and graduates' testimonials. The majority of the students are here in the USA.

Tony

I am a graduate of California Southern University, School of Behavioral Sciences.  I spent 5 years pursuing and eventually obtaining a Psy D.  At no time did I have ANY interaction with anyone, instructor or otherwise, who weren't native English speakers.  I spoke with instructors and other students on-line and over the phone on a regular basis.  
  I got both my undergraduate and master's degree from well-known "brick and mortar" schools.  California Southern's PsyD program was the most academically rigorous program I had attended.  As for spending $1,000.00, well, I don't know what this poster spent $1,000.00 on, because the program costs a great deal more than that.
  I was never pressured to buy textbooks from CalSouthern--I was free to buy them on-line, from Amazon or from anyone I chose.  I spoke with instructors on a regular basis, as well as the Dean of my department, financial aid people, the librarians and admissions.  Everyone I spoke with was well educated, kind and, not that it matters, American. 
  I would ask this poster to provide evidence about student interactions being "monitored by people in either India or the Philippines."  Sounds like he/she might have been calling At & T instead of CalSouthern.  I never, in 5 years, EVER spoke to anyone who sounded like they were from India or the Philippines.  That's patently ridiculous.
  I have NO idea what this poster is talking about or what school he/she got roped into attending.  But I can say with some authority it WASN'T CalSouthern.
  And no, I don't work for the University.  I'm just a very satisfied alumni.

I was shocked to see this complaint. I graduate Magna Cum Laude From Southern California University for Professional Studies in 2003 with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology before the institution changed it's name to Cal Southern. My experience was very positive. I found the program challenging, life changing and interactive. My Faculty Mentors were wonderful clinicians, Professors and availed themselves to me via email, telephone and through written modality. My program existed before "online courses" were developed to the degree that they have evolved presently. My program of study was totally distance learning. I was not obligated to buy books from Cal Southern/SCUPS and purchased my texts from a variety of sources. The course guides and Syllabi were well developed. The exams were challenging. My program was writing intensive. As a nationally recognized specialist in my field I felt compelled to clarify my experience and defend the institution which has assisted me in growing professionally, personally, and spiritually. Unfortunately, it appears that the individual who complained about this institution possesses an aversion to people who potentially are nationalized citizens and/or bi-lingual. I wonder how one can equate email responses as "non-native" or "broken english?" This notation is concerning and appears to include derogatory reference and application of negatives to nationalized citizens, resident aliens and/or any person that this individual deems inadequate based on race, language and overall differences. That is very sad.  As a Professor, I find communication with peers and students diverse and different via email rather than through face to face interaction. As a Professor who teaches in both the traditional modality of lecture as well as through rigorous online course structure [not associated with this university] I find communication through online learning as well as the diversity of adult and non-traditional learners amazing and interesting.

Furthermore, the individual indicates they paid $1,000.00 for their program. It is my recollection to concur with some of the other rebuttals that my program was more costly as would be any doctoral program and if one desires to set such a goal, one should understand the fiduciary responsibilities and outcomes associated with such an undertaking. Lastly, as a result of completing this program I have been able to work towards advanced and specialized credentialing and licensure in my state. I maintain a growing private practice and employ 5 therapists at the Master's and Doctoral level as independent contractors. My assumption regarding the basis for the complaint is that the individual did not realize how different and intensive distance and online learning is and/or was unable to use time management effectively to successfully complete his/her program.

This school is not regionally accredited, and that is a very big deal. If you look it up online (regional vs national accreditation), you'll see why. I work for a university and we cannot hire faculty from this school nor can we accept students' transfer credits.  Why would you earn a degree from a school that isn't academically recognized?

This school is not regionally accredited, and that is a very big deal. If you look it up online (regional vs national accreditation), you'll see why. I work for a university and we cannot hire faculty from this school nor can we accept their students' transfer credits.  Why would you earn a degree from a school that isn't academically recognized?

I graduated from CalSouthern, when it was still called Southern California University, with a BBA (1994) and an MBA (1998).  The education I received was excellent.  Back then, it was all through the mail.  My instructors were excellent and I learned allot.  The point is, that when you are working online or through the mail, you have to be self directed.  Most people have difficulty with this concept, because most people are not, by nature, self directed.  CalSouthern is not better or worse than the University of Phoenix.  All these universities popped up, due to the fact that not everyone was able, or willing to attend a traditional college or university.  For me, it worked well with my family life, as, at that time, my wife worked evenings and I had responsibility for our children.  I worked day shift as an RN.  Any program you enter, traditional, or otherwise, is only going to be as fruitful as you want it to be.  And, not everyone is going to have a wonderful experience.  Things happen.  In that case, it's better to move onto another college or university that you can be comfortable with.  There isn't a university or college in existence, that hasn't had a complaint.  I think the biggest ripoff in the world is traditional universities and colleges, where you don't even have the real professor teaching the class.  I've been in tratitional universities and colleges where a tape recorder was put in front of the class and you had to take notes.  There was no one to ask questions of.  Let's be honest, colleges and universities, in general, are a waste of time for many people.  Millions graduate from these institutions and jobs are not available for them in their chosen specialty.  These days, most are graduating without any prospect of a job, period.

I'm sorry that this person had a bad experience with CalSouthern, but my experience was the total opposite.  One more thing I'd like to discuss is the price of higher learning.  Traditional colleges force students to go deep in debt.  By the time one graduates, you have so much debt that you may never be able to pay it back.  CalSouthern is a reasonably priced school that the average person can afford, without going into debt.  Was my MBA successful?  Well, it provided me with enough knowledge to create a business that was purchased by a national company for millions of dollars.  They bought the business, because I was making money, at a time when most of my peers, in the same localities, were operating in the red.  I was  not only making money; I was blowing the competition out of the water in quality.  Without the knowledge I received from my education, I don't think would have been able to do as well as I did.  Now, I've started a new company and work a full time job as an RN (two full time jobs).  I have multiple patents on medical devices.  I'm a successful product of a non-traditional school, known as CalSouthern University. 

I really can't believe this report - it's shocking!! I just graduated from CalSouthern and I can say that it was the best academic experience of my life for sure!! My Doctorate degree was very solid and I personally met many of the faculty when I went to the university last year - beautiful (and very large) campus I might add!

The university is Nationally accredited now (DETC accreditation) and has been for almost two years. It is recognized by most licensing bodies and many many graduates have gone on to become licesnsed in their area of practice. I am friends with 4 local students who are North American born and raised and we have met and become friends in real life not just
online; not that it should matter where they are born unless you are racist.

Anyway, I owe a debt of gratitude to this university for the excellent education I have received as a and I felt obligated to set the record straight. The writer of this post obviously has some personal issue with the university that led them to make up this ridiculous story, maybe they couldn't handle the academic requirements of the university?!

I am not educated very much about accreditation, however, I thought that California Southern University was accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council.  Is this not appropriate?

Also, I noticed via internet "research" that there is a listed unaccredited "diploma mill" called "cal southern" that is based in another country (source: wikipedia.org "List of unaccredited institutions of higher education").  It is common for diploma mills to market with names that are similar to more legitimate places.

I am searching for a PsyD program and I came across California Southern University.  I hope the complaint is not true as i find it disturbing.

I am a Professor at the school and know first hand the original complaint is untrue, just as others have stated who have earned valid degrees from the institution. Based on Rip Off Report’s own guidelines posted below this response, an original poster cannot remove his or her complaint.

I have been in their offices and see how they operate. Maybe the original poster has the school confused with another one. Holli you asked about accreditation and DETC. Yes they are accredited and this is a valid, nationally recognized accreditation. You can read more about DETC’s accreditation process online. A mill is an UNaccredited  institution that grants degrees without
ensuring students are qualified. This is not the case with this school. This is a solid choice for the program you are looking at and I would recommend that you call 800  477  2254 Ext. 1 and talk with their advisers.
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7. What if the original author asks us to remove a report? Why doesn't Ripoff Report have to take a report down when the author requests this?

There are many reasons why Ripoff Report does not remove reports even if the original
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Second, as stated above -- as a matter of policy, Ripoff Report does not want big companies
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The complaint against California Southern University (CalSouthern) is not true, misleading, deceptive, slanderous, and bias.  I am currently an active student in a program at California Southern University.  I am pursuing a doctorate education.  My acceptance into the program was based on my past academic achievements and other admission requirements. I attended a traditional university for two years on a doctorate level, and there are no comparisons between the qualities of education that I received at the traditional university and at Cal southern. Calsouthern’s curriculum is by far the best.  The curriculum is excellent; the expectations are high; and the on-line resources are abundant.

Additionally, I attended (on campus) another top ranking university.   I would place Cal Southern University’s faulty, visiting Web-Seminar lecturers, learning materials (selection of text books), and other support staff on the top of the list for distant learners Cal Southern is supportive of diversity, and encourages students to learn how to be culturally competent. Yes, the
faculty and students are from different ethnic groups from all over the world, which makes this educational experience even more exciting. There are no obstacles in the way of acquiring a lifelong goal at Cal Southern University.  Cal southern is about learning, and success. 

This university is not about taking advantage of students for monetary gains—tuition is made manageable.  I have purchased my books from various places. In fact, CalSouthern’s Book Store will buy back my books at almost the original price, (that is if they are returned in excellent condition) if I decide to do so.  However, I prefer to keep my books, for future references.  When I called the store to get assistance on my first book purchase, I was informed about the buy back option, and was encouraged to use a promo key word to get a discounted percentage off of my books if I purchased them anywhere else. I was informed and given names of other places that I could save money.  

Lastly, California Southern University is accredited (The university is listed among accredited colleges). The,  professors are accessible, qualified, respectful, and professional.  Professors keep in touch, and contact me when it is necessary, and I contact them. I feel like I am supported to acquire my goals at Cal Southern.  I can only image how wonderful my on campus learning experience would be (the location is on-line and can be viewed on the map). I am looking forward to a visit in the future to California Southern University, located in Irvine, California.  I am looking forward to graduation day, gliding down the aisle, and floating up the stage to collect my degree! I am fascinated by my experience as a distant learner, and I feel honored to be a student at CalSouthern.  Anonymous, July, 2011.
    

I feel sorry for the Beverly Hills author who was so unsatisfied with the educational process at California Southern University.  My experience was quite different and perfectly suited to my busy schedule and personal requirement for academic rigor.  When I walked with my class last month, I know my classmates were as satisfied as I have been and we all experienced the demands not only of our program, but the challenges in navigating the new world of online education.  Maybe it wasn't a good fit for the disgruntled Beverly Hills student, but as for this single mother who wanted to maximize her available dollars and translate that into a solid foundation for a career in psychology, I believe I got the bargain of the century!  To each their own life experience, I guess...  

I am a current student in the JD program at Cal Southern. While you may be correct that there are only a few students in each class at a particular time, the posts are there from previous students...see the dates there? Your ranting and wild theory leads me to think that you simply did not do the work and/or did not want to do the work. Also, they have a book store associated with teh school, but they also say you can use whatever other source you have to buy books. I suggest trying (half.com/ebay) you can even sell them right back to somebody when you are done. I will state unequivocally I am a living breathing student in their JD program and I will be taking the Cal-Bar Exam in about a year. Also I have several professors that I have contacted "in the flesh" as you say and I have even managed to find them through their own law firm websites outside of the school.... I seriously doubt the truthfullness of your statements and I will suggest in the future you just put in the necessary work and not go online and post some garbage because you failed to do the work.

I've attended brick and mortar universities and the fact is that they could care less about their students.  Instructors/professors are no where to be found, usually on coffee breaks, socializing, or working on getting published.  At California Southern University, you're not only a student, but you are a customer.  This is something brick and mortar schools forgot a long time ago, which is why distance universities are flourishing.  I think it's fair to say that CSU is no worse than any other, brick and mortar, or online.  We all get out of a program what we are willing to put into it.  As well, people who are not self motivated need to attend a brick and mortar institution.  As for my experience with CSU, all my instructors and counselors spoke English and were very helpful; more helpful than their brick and mortar counterparts.  As for this complaint, it's old news that seems to keep popping up all over the Internet.  So, I felt we needed to keep things "fair and balanced."  I love CSU and feel it was the very best educational experience of my life. 

I am a 2005 graduate of Cal Southern University, with doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

I had a five year relationship with this school and was never, ever, subjected to the things the person who felt ripped off by the University went through. Every interaction with the University was totally professional, no one I ever met or spoke with was a non-native English speaker and my fellow students, while Some were from other countries, were all professional and pleasant. The faculty were all educated at the places found on their CV's (I checked) and every class was very well planned and well facilitated. Moreover, the classes were beamed from their buildings in Santa Ana. Where this disgruntled student got the idea they were being scammed by someone in India is beyond me. Frankly, that's bizarre. The school has a lovely campus in Santa Ana and anyone is free to visit. Visit Southern California University either in person or on Facebook.

I received a wonderful, useful education at Cal Southern at half the cost of The University of Phoenix. As a college professor, I would-and have-suggested this University to others who are unable to attend a traditional brick-and-mortar school. I owe a great deal of my success to California Southern University.

I am not employed by California Southern. I am just a very thankful and successful graduate of their program.