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Bills

AB 2572: California State University: joint degrees.

  • Session Year: 2025-2026
  • House: Assembly
  • Latest Version Date: 2026-03-16

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-04-08: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

Existing law sets forth the missions and functions of Californias public and independent segments of higher education, and details the ways in which their respective institutions are to be differentiated. Existing law specifies that the California State University (CSU) shall offer undergraduate and graduate instruction through the masters degree in the liberal arts and sciences and professional education. Existing law authorizes the CSU to award undergraduate and graduate degrees jointly with international institutions of higher education. Existing law vests the University of California (UC) with the sole authority in public higher education to award doctoral degrees in all fields of learning, except that the CSU may award doctoral degrees jointly (1) with the UC in selected fields, (2) with independent institutions of higher education if the proposed doctoral program is approved by the California Postsecondary Education Commission, and (3) with international institutions of higher education if, among other things, the doctoral degrees are for professional or applied doctoral degrees that do not duplicate UC doctoral degrees, and the CSU complies with a specified review and approval process, as provided.

This bill would authorize the CSU to award doctoral degrees jointly with one or more independent institutions of higher education without approval by the California Postsecondary Education Commission. The bill would also authorize the CSU to award undergraduate and graduate degrees jointly with one or more independent institutions of higher education. The bill would authorize the CSU to jointly award doctoral degrees with accredited international institutions of higher education without (1) limiting it to professional or applied doctoral degrees that do not duplicate UC doctoral degrees, and (2) complying with the specified review and approval process.

Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that public programs of postsecondary education be made available to qualified persons throughout the state, including areas of substantial existing or projected population that are isolated from a campus of the California State University. Existing law requires the Trustees of the California State University to consider establishing a permanent, state-supported off-campus center on state-owned property in the County of Contra Costa, the purpose of which is to continue to offer education programs at the upper division and graduate levels.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to this provision.

News Coverage:

AB 2572: California State University: joint degrees. | Digital Democracy