Best of All Worlds
We’re a place where students discover a Learn by Doing path to careers, passions and purpose, working alongside faculty who are experts and innovators in science, math and education.
Big Meets Small in the Best Ways
We combine the connected community of a small program with the world-class opportunities of a large institution, while offering resources and support to help each student succeed, lead and find their path. Experience all of this in the idyllic setting of California’s Central Coast that we call home.
Bailey undergraduates learn, discover, innovate and achieve at a level usually experienced only in graduate or doctoral programs. They work closely with expert faculty in our exceptional state-of-the-art facilities, including the new Frost Center for Research and Innovation, lab and classrooms on the ocean at the Cal Poly Pier and many other modern and cutting-edge spaces.
Learn by Doing infuses all our hands-on, real-world learning and research experiences. From particle acceleration research at CERN in Switzerland, to marine chemistry field studies in French Polynesia, to a mobile health unit providing services to under-represented local communities — our students learn, do and make a difference both near and far.
The Bailey College is on the rise. Our reputation as one of the nation’s premier institutions for undergraduate research grows each year. With the finest and best-equipped facilities in our college’s history as well as the resources needed so that each of our students has opportunities to collaborate with faculty in research and innovation.
We’re fortunate to have funding to support students with scholarships, fellowships, internships, programs and more thanks to generous contributions from alumni, donors and industry partners.
We’re known for our close-knit culture that feels like a family. We care deeply about nurturing each student’s personal growth and professional path. Many resources are available that prioritize well-being, along with a strong support system to ensure no student feels alone on their academic journey.
Through curricula grounded in essential lectures and intensive lab work, our faculty and student relationships grow into familiar connections and focused collaborations, side by side in small and productive settings. Conversations happen, ideas are shared, and students are mentored by someone invested in them.
This is the Teacher-Scholar Model and it’s the foundation of Learn by Doing and a key factor in our students’ success as leaders, change-makers and dedicated stewards of their future communities.
Mission and Vision
The Bailey College of Science and Mathematics plays a role in every Cal Poly student’s academic journey, with each undergraduate completing coursework in math or science. We are dedicated to enriching that experience and supporting student success at Cal Poly and beyond.
Our Vision
As a foundational college, we engage in the education of all students arriving on campus. Our fundamental commitment is to promote their learning, understanding and appreciation of the disciplines within science, mathematics and education. We strive to demonstrate how our scholarly activities are connected to society and culturally relevant. The knowledge we impart matters with the most pressing issues facing our world. We are responsible for and take great pride in the success of all Cal Poly students.
Our Mission
We prepare our students to lead the workforce, to matriculate in premier graduate programs, and to grapple with and solve the most complicated issues facing society.
Degrees and Programs
Majors, Minors and Certifications
Our college spans across nine different departments, offering 13 undergraduate degrees, eight graduate degrees, 14 minors and five baccalaureate certifications.
Premier. Hands-On. Real-World.
Undergraduate Research
The Bailey College is known as one of the nation’s premier institutions for undergraduate research. Unmatched research opportunities are available to all our students throughout the year, collaborating side-by-side with faculty who lead in their field. Undergrads gain valuable hands-on experiences that reveal passions and prepare them for future professional and academic pathways.
Learn more about undergraduate research
Read the latest issue of Undergraduate Research magazine
Bailey College By-The-Numbers
View or download our Facts and Figures flyer to see data and learn more about research, mentorship, funding and student academic success in our college.