HIGHER LEARNING VARIED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CAN CHANGE CAREERS OR BOLSTER HOBBIES.

Byline: - Lisa Van Proyen

Whether it's a quick class to brush up on a foreign language, a fun lesson in the art of winemaking or courses leading toward a career in aviation or oceanography, the San Fernando Valley's varied educational institutions cater to all needs.

Community colleges are highly accessible throughout the San Fernando Valley. They offer two-year certificates or transfers to other institutions, including a handful of local private universities.

Los Angeles Valley College in Valley Glen transfers more students to UCLA than any other community college statewide. And Pierce College in Woodland Hills, noted for its fast-track honors program, marks the largest feeder school to California State University, Northridge.

Hundreds of courses are offered at CSUN - the San Fernando Valley's only four-year public university, which saw a record 32,070-student enrollment last fall. This marks the fourth-highest enrollment figure among the 23 statewide campuses, said Carmen Ramos Chandler, CSUN spokeswoman.

Despite the high figures, Chandler said, the student-to-instructor ratio remains about 20-to-1.

You still have the opportunity to have a face-to-face talk with your professor several times per week, she said.

To help the region deal with a burgeoning student population, California State University, Channel Islands, in Ventura County opened last fall for 2,000 students, most transferring from CSUN.

The Channel Islands campus, on the site of the former Camarillo State Hospital, plans to specialize in several studies, including biotechnology, environmental science and computer use for animation and graphics, university officials said.

By 2025, the newest CSU expects to serve 15,000 full-time students, said Peggy Hinz, university spokeswoman.

``Recruitment was extremely successful. Our goal is to make sure that we're growing in a quality way,'' Hinz said.

CSUN officials echo that sentiment, adding two new departments to the 353-acre campus last year, including Child & Adolescent Development and Environmental and Occupational Health, Chandler said.

Peter Bellin, the chair of the new Environmental and Occupational Health department, said he anticipates more than 100,000 jobs opening up nationwide within the next few years in the area of food inspection and hazardous waste, due to concerns of bioterrorism and contamination of food and water supplies.

His job, he said, is to prepare students to work within four years.

``We do try to center on the students. We try to give them a practical education so they can get out there and do their jobs. I think the employers appreciate that,'' Bellin said.

CSUN offers 59 bachelor's degrees and 41 master's degrees, with online courses steadily increasing, Chandler said.

``Year after year, the College of Education produces more teacher credential candidates than any other public university statewide,'' she said. ``Our reputation really lies in our ability to train teachers.''

CSUN is also home to the largest deaf student population at any mainstream campus nationwide, with 400 such students.

The campus makeup consists of students from more than 70 countries.

``We have an incredibly diverse student population. There's no majority on campus. It's really a mix. We're becoming a destination campus,'' Chandler said.

Here is a list of some local universities and colleges

California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, [phone]. The university was founded in 1958, and until 1973 was called San Fernando Valley State College. Annual fee to attend: $1,944 (includes state university fee, plus other miscellaneous costs, such as student health and association fees). Student-to-instructor ratio: 20:1. University president: Jolene Koester. Web site address: www.csun.edu.

Cal State University, Channel Islands, 1 University Drive, Camarillo, [phone]. The 670-acre campus, a converted state hospital, opened last fall for 2,000. Annual fee to attend: Still under consideration. Student-to-instructor ratio: N/A. University president: Richard R. Rush. Web site address: www.csuci.edu.

California State University, Bakersfield, Antelope Valley College Campus, 43909 30th St. W., Lancaster, CA 93536 [phone]. Housed on the Antelope Valley College north campus, CSUB offers bachelor and master degree programs, teacher credential programs, and other certificate programs. Web site address: www.csubak.edu

Los Angeles Valley College, 5800 Fulton Ave., Valley Glen; [phone]. The 105-acre campus was founded in 1949 and serves nearly 20,000 students. Associate degrees are offered in such areas as accounting, cinema arts, real estate, respiratory therapy, oceanography and urban studies. About 60 occupational certificates also are available. Strong programs of study include media arts, nursing and child development. Cost to attend: $11 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: 35:1. The freshman transfer rate to two- or four-year colleges: 29.8 percent. College president: Tyree Wieder. Web site address: www.lavc.edu.

Mission College, 13356 Eldridge Ave., Sylmar; [phone]. The newest of the colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District, this 22.5-acre campus was founded in 1975 and serves 8,900 students. Some strong programs include multimedia, administration of justice, child development, life sciences and culinary arts. Cost to attend: $11 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: 27:1. Transfer rate: 32.4 percent. College president: Adriana D. Barrera. Web site address: www.lamission.edu.

Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills; [phone]. Founded in 1947, the 426-acre campus serves about 18,500 students. Pierce is noted for its fast-track honors program in which no student completing the program has ever been turned down by the University of California, Los Angeles. The college is on the 15-week semester plan and is one of the largest feeder schools to California State University, Northridge. The college offers more than 100 areas of study, including chemistry, business and technology. Fee to attend: $11 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: 38:1. Transfer rate: 29.9 percent. College president: Darroch Young. Web site address: www.piercecollege.edu

Glendale Community College, 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale; [phone]. Founded in 1927, the 53-acre campus now serves 17,074 students and offers such major fields of interest as culinary arts, aviation mechanics, biology, business and economics, computer science and computer engineering. The college is also affiliated with California Institute of Technology for one-year scholarships and summer internships for math and science students. Fee to attend: $11 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: about 25:1. Transfer rate: 17 percent. College president: John A. Davitt. Web site address: www.glendale.cc.ca.us

Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark, [phone]. Founded in 1967, the 134-acre campus serves about 15,000 students. The college offers 1,500 classes in 100 areas of study, including an exotic animal program offered at only one other college in the nation. Fee to attend: $11 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: n/a. Class sizes range from 25 to 40 per class. Transfer rate: 18.9 percent. College president: James Walker. Web site address: www.moorparkcollege.net

College of the Canyons, 26455 N. Rockwell Canyon Road, Valencia; [phone]. Founded in 1969 and now one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state, College of the Canyons is recognized for its technical advancement, professional programs and learning excellence. In order to serve the growing population of the Santa Clarita Valley, a 4,500-square-foot satellite facility is slated to open this year in Canyon Country, with four classrooms and a computer lab. Student-to-teacher ratio: 23:1. Transfer rate: 29.2. College president: Dianne G. Van Hook. Web site address: www.coc.cc.ca.us.

Antelope Valley College, 3041 W. Ave. K, Lancaster 93536; [phone]. Antelope Valley College is a California community college that offers associate in science and associate in arts degrees and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges. Technical, trade, business, allied health and service programs are offered for the occupational student. College president: Daniel Larios. Web site address is www.avc.edu.

Cerro Coso Community College, 3000 College Heights Blvd., Ridgecrest 93555-7777; [phone]. Cerro Coso is a California community college that offers 25 associate in science and associate in arts degrees. It also offers distance learning degrees through its online program. Web site: www.cerrocoso.edu.

California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks; [phone] for undergraduates, [phone] for graduates. The university was founded in 1959 and serves more than 2,800 students. CLU is a 290-acre campus with an emphasis in liberal arts and professional studies. Rooted in the Lutheran tradition of Christian faith, the university encourages critical inquiry into matters of both faith and reason. Graduate centers are also located in Woodland Hills and Ventura. The college offers 34 majors and 29 minors. Average annual tuition cost: $18,060 (undergraduate). Graduate students pay $425 per unit for MBAs and financial planning degrees. All other graduate programs cost $370 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio is 15:1. University president: Luther Luedtke. Web site address: www.clunet.edu.

California Institute of the Arts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia; [phone]. Established in 1961 by Walt and Roy Disney, CalArts is the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of the visual and performing arts. It offers programs in art, music, dance, film/video, theater and creative writing, leading to bachelor's or master's degrees. CalArts president: Steven Lavine. Web site address: www.calarts.edu.

Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock; [phone]. The college was founded in 1887 and is one of the nation's few leading liberal arts colleges in an urban setting. The 120-acre campus is home to 1,796 students, with the top five major fields of study being economics for business and management, English and comparative literary studies, art history, psychology, and diplomacy and world affairs. Tuition and fees: $32,307. Student-to-instructor ratio: 12:1. University president: Ted Mitchell. Web site address is www.oxy.edu.

The Master's College, 21726 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall; [phone]. Founded in 1927 as Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary, the 100-acre college was renamed in 1985. The four-year college is a liberal arts school with a biblical world view taught in all courses, which range from accounting to print media to social science and theology. Annual tuition: $7,760. Student-to-instructor ratio: 16:1. College president: John MacArthur. Web site address: www.masters.edu.

Woodbury University, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank; [phone]. The 22-acre campus was established in 1987 and serves 1,700 students. It offers 15 courses of study, including its flagship programs in business and management and architecture and design. Average tuition: $19,331. Student-to-instructor ratio: 16:1. University president: Kenneth Nielsen. Web site address: www.woodbury.edu

ITT Technical Institute, 12669 Encinitas Ave., Sylmar; [phone], or [phone]. A career college, ITT's 30,000-square-foot office on 3.5 acres in Sylmar was founded in 1982 and serves about 600 students. The college offers two-year associate degree programs and a bachelor's program. Some of the major courses of study include information technology, computer electronics and computer visualization technology. Tuition range: $240-330 per credit hour. Student-to-instructor ratio: 20:1. College president: Nader Mojtabai. Web site address is www.ITT-tech.edu.

University of Phoenix, 5955 De Soto Ave., Suite 200, Woodland Hills; and 1202 W. Ave. J, Lancaster, 93534; [phone]. Geared for the working person, the college is the nation's largest private, accredited university, with 107 campuses and learning centers in 20 states. The 33,000-square-foot Woodland Hills facility offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees; the Lancaster campus, bachelor's and master's. Some of the college's major fields include business, accounting, education, health care and technology. Annual fee to attend: $370-$424 per credit hour. Student-to-instructor ratio: n/a. Web site address: www.phoenix.edu

Chapman University, 40015 Sierra Highway, Suite B-160, Palmdale, CA 93550 [phone] and 140 Methusa Ave. 95, MSS/DPEE, Edwards AFB, CA 93524-1400 [phone]. Bachelor and master degree programs offered. Web site address: www.chapman.edu.

West Coast Baptist College, 4020 E. Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster, CA [phone]. Web site address: westcoastbaptist.edu.

Biola University, Thousand Oaks campus, 625 W. Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks, CA; [phone]; Web site address: biola.edu.

Phillips Graduate Institute, 5445 Balboa Blvd., Encino, CA 91316 [phone]; Web site address: pgi.edu.

- Daily News

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photo, box

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(color) Cal State Northridge

John McCoy

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Here is a list of some local universities and colleges (see text)