What Is UCLA Known For?

The University of California-Los Angeles, UCLA, is known for being a large public university with strong academic, cultural, research, health and sports programs. The university is located in the Westwood Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, covering 419 acres about 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It is one of 10 campuses in the UC system.

UCLA was founded in 1919 with the merging of the University of California and Los Angeles Normal School. It moved to the Westwood campus in 1929. Its colors are blue and gold and its mascots are Joe and Josephine Bruin. The Bruins compete in the Pacific 12 Conference, in NCAA Division I. UCLA’s motto is “Fiat Lux,” or “Let there be light.”

UCLA offers more than 2,900 courses, 129 undergraduate majors and 126 graduate programs. It has 11 professional schools, including the David Geffen School of Medicine, Fielding School of Public Health, School of Law, and School of Theater, Film and Television. Popular majors include biology, economics, history and sociology. UCLA has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter due to its strong liberal arts and sciences program.

As of 2014, approximately 28,674 undergraduates and 13,138 graduates are enrolled in the university, with 98 percent attending full-time. It has a teaching staff of more than 4,000. UCLA admits approximately 22 percent of applicants and has a 4-year retention rate of 69 percent.

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