Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States. Often referred to as simply L.A., this Pacific coast city has a metropolitan area of 4,850 square miles with a population in excess of 16, 000,000. Best known for movies and music, Los Angeles is also a center for science, technology and culture.

Los Angeles was officially founded in 1781, as a part of New Spain, by a small group of settlers. By 1777, it had its very lengthy name, "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula," ("The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels on the River Porciúncula"). New Spain attained independence from the Spanish Empire in 1820 and continued under Mexican rule until the Mexican-American War gave sovereignty to the United States.

The arrival of railroads and the discovery of oil in the late 1800s help Los Angeles to grow even more. Further development was aided by the discovery of oil in 1892, and by the early 1920s, Los Angeles became the supplier of 25 percent of the world’s petroleum. The introduction of the motion picture and aviation industries increased development even more. In 1932, Los Angeles proudly hosted the Olympic Games, an honor that would be repeated in 1984. Today Los Angeles is a well known center for research and education as well as entertainment.

A college student looking for an internship or a recent college graduate looking for an entry level job might want to consider L.A. for its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. But it can also be appreciated for its many species of exotic flowers, dunes, wetlands and hillsides, which are just great for those who enjoy camping, hiking and fishing.

Sports enthusiasts will love the fact that L.A. is home to two NBA basketball teams, an NHL hockey team, a Major League Baseball team and a Major League Soccer team. Recent college graduates with families can enjoy taking their families to Disneyland, Griffith Park or the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. With a largely Hispanic population, L.A. is a city replete with cultural and ethnic diversity.

Students looking for a quality college or university should research what Los Angeles has to offer. There are several public, private and community colleges from which to choose.

*California State University Long Beach (CSULB) – here a student can major in Corrections and Criminal Justice, Management Information Systems and Psychology.

*California State University Northridge (CSUN) – the most popular majors are Genetic Engineering, Nuclear Medicine, Nursing, Nutrition and Business.

*University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) –offers major courses of study in Economics, Political Science and Government, and Psychology.

*University of Southern California (USC) – offers majors in Business Administration/Management, Communications Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric, and Psychology.

*University of California Riverside – has Business Administration/Management and Psychology as its most in-demand majors.

*California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) – has majors in Business Administration, Liberal Studies and Multiple Subject (Elementary) Credential.

*California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) – offers Business Administration, Education and Nursing among its many other majors.

*Loyola Marymount University – offers students majors in Business Administration/Management, Communications, Journalism (and related fields) and Psychology.

Los Angeles has many other colleges and universities in addition to the ones listed above:

California Institute of Technology
Antioch University – Los Angeles Campus
Southern California University of Health Sciences
Pepperdine College
Otis College of Art and Design
American InterContinental University
Art Center College of Design
Alliant Internatiional University
Southwestern University School of Law
American Film Institute
Charles R. Drew University
Southern California Institute of Architecture

The “City of Angels” has many opportunities for recent college graduates looking for entry level employment and college students seeking quality internships The five largest are as follows:

Kaiser Permanente – This health care provider employs more than 30,000 L.A. denizens. It offers recent college graduates entry level jobs in such areas as accounting, human resources, operations and research.

 Northrop Grumman Corporation – The second largest company in Los Angeles is and Aerospace/Defense design and manufacturing company that offers internships and entry level positions in such areas as electronics systems, information technology, space technology and human resources.

 Boeing Company – Engineering and science students rank this aerospace high technology company as an ideal employer for college students seeking internships. This company has also been recognized as a top employer for recent college graduates seeking entry level employment in engineering, business, manufacturing and quality assurance.

Kroger Company – A leading grocery retailer, the Kroger Company supplies close to 14,000 Angelenos with employement in such areas as pharmacy, manufacturing, information systems and store management.

University of Southern California – A world renowned research university, USC offers employment in human resources, teaching, information technology and, of course, research.

With its temperate weather and richly diverse culture, Los Angeles is a great place for students seeking a quality higher education or internship and for recent college graduates seeking entry level employment in a place that provides something for everybody.

*Population statistics courtesy of Census 2000.