Student Life & Belonging
Get Connected at Cal State LA
Your experience at Cal State LA is about more than earning your degree and maintaining your immigration status. It is also an opportunity to build relationships, explore new interests, develop professionally, take care of yourself, and become part of the Cal State LA community.
Start Here
Make Cal State LA Your Community
International students are encouraged to take advantage of the many academic, cultural, leadership, career, wellness, and community opportunities available across the University.
Joining a student organization, attending an event, meeting faculty, participating in research, volunteering, or simply spending more time on campus can help you build connections and make the most of your experience in Los Angeles.
Belonging & Involvement
Find Your Community
One of the best ways to meet people and build a sense of belonging is to get involved outside the classroom.
Center for Student Involvement
Connect with recognized student organizations, leadership opportunities, campus programs, and events. Whether you want to join an existing organization or explore something new, CSI is a great place to begin.
Campus Events & Social Opportunities
Cal State LA hosts social, cultural, recreational, educational, and community events throughout the year. Explore opportunities to meet other students and experience campus life.
University-Student Union
The U-SU is one of the centers of student life at Cal State LA, with events, programs, recreation, meeting spaces, cultural programs, and other opportunities to connect.
Associated Students, Inc.
ASI is Cal State LA's student government. Students can participate in campus governance, serve on committees, advocate for student interests, and develop leadership skills.
Cross-Cultural Connection
Connect Across Cultures
Cal State LA is home to students from many cultures, communities, identities, and life experiences. International students are encouraged to build relationships both within and beyond their own cultural and national communities.
The University's Cross Cultural Centers and student organizations provide spaces for community, dialogue, cultural learning, identity exploration, social connection, and campus engagement.
Academic Growth
Explore Research, Scholarship & Academic Support
Build relationships with faculty, strengthen your academic skills, and take advantage of resources that can help you succeed now and prepare for what comes next.
Student Research Opportunities
ORSCA connects students with research opportunities, faculty projects, research programs, workshops, and other resources across the University.
Undergraduate Research Hub
Undergraduate students can learn how to get started, find faculty research, explore research programs, and connect with the broader Cal State LA research community.
Graduate Studies
The Office of Graduate Studies and Graduate Resource Center provide writing support, professional development, funding information, workshops, and graduate research resources.
Center for Academic Success
CAS provides academic support including tutoring, writing assistance, and study-skills workshops.
Library Research Support
Cal State LA librarians and Student Research Consultants can help you develop research topics, find and evaluate sources, use databases, and understand citation practices.
Career & Community
Build Your Career and Connect with Los Angeles
Career Center
The Career Center can help you explore career options, prepare résumés and cover letters, practice interviewing, find career events, and search for jobs and internships.
Community Engagement & Service
The Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good connects students with volunteer, service-learning, and community-engagement opportunities throughout greater Los Angeles.
Important Information for F-1 Students
Immigration rules apply to employment and many internship or practical-training experiences. Before beginning employment, an internship, paid community service, or another off-campus work experience, make sure you understand whether authorization is required.
Health & Well-Being
Take Care of Yourself
Adjusting to university life and living in another country can be exciting, challenging, and sometimes stressful. Asking for support is a normal part of taking care of yourself and succeeding academically.
Student Health Center
Health care, health education, and wellness services for eligible Cal State LA students.
Counseling & Psychological Services
Confidential mental health support, including counseling and same-day triage services.
YOU@CalStateLA
A confidential online well-being platform designed to help students manage stress, set goals, improve well-being, and connect with campus resources.
When You Need Support
Get Help When Life Gets Difficult
Academic success can be affected by challenges involving food, housing, finances, family responsibilities, or other unexpected circumstances. Cal State LA has resources to help.
Eddie's Essentials
Food-security resources, emergency housing assistance, financial wellness support, and other basic-needs services. Eligibility requirements may vary by program.
Office of the Dean of Students
The Dean of Students can help connect students with support when personal or unexpected circumstances are affecting their ability to succeed at the University.
Live & Explore
Make Los Angeles Home
Living in Los Angeles involves more than exploring the city. Learn about transportation, housing, everyday essentials, neighborhoods, safety, local culture, and ways to experience Los Angeles and Southern California beyond the usual tourist destinations.
Your Perspective Matters
Bring Your Global Perspective to Cal State LA
As an international student, you contribute knowledge, experiences, languages, perspectives, and connections that enrich the Cal State LA community.
Engage beyond the classroom and beyond your own national or cultural community. Attend events. Join organizations. Meet students whose experiences are different from your own. Talk with faculty. Participate in research. Volunteer in Los Angeles. Share your perspectives and learn from others.
Global learning happens when people with different experiences encounter one another, ask questions, work together, and build relationships. You are an important part of that experience at Cal State LA.
International Students & Scholars Office
Questions About Your F-1 or J-1 Status?
Campus offices can help with academics, careers, health, involvement, and student life. Questions about maintaining F-1 or J-1 status, employment authorization, travel, SEVIS, Forms I-20 or DS-2019, or other status-related requirements should be directed to ISSO.
International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)
Library Palmer Wing, Room 4053
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 323-343-3170