California Miramar University (CMU), is a nationally accredited private proprietary institution of higher learning and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. CMU offers programs through both distance education and classroom instruction. The university is based in San Diego, California. The school was named Pacific Western University and was located in Los Angeles, California from 1977 to 2005. On June 6, 2009, California Miramar received accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), and on December 18, 2009, CMU was awarded a second accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). Both DETC and ACICS are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education as official accrediting bodies. Prior to 2007 CMU received approval to operate from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE).