Welcome to UCSC

2011-12 General Catalog

Welcome to UC Santa Cruz. Whether you’re here for undergraduate or graduate study, you are beginning an extraordinary chapter of your life. Your years here will be transformational, and I encourage you to take advantage of all that UCSC has to offer.

The stunning natural beauty of our campus is a compelling backdrop for your educational journey. Our redwood forests, expansive meadows, and breathtaking views of the Monterey Bay are unmatched. Prepare to be inspired by your surroundings.

But you will quickly learn that UC Santa Cruz is much more than a pretty place.

Our distinguished faculty make this a dynamic university. They provide classroom experiences that challenge, inspire, and reward students, and they conduct outstanding research that expands the bounds of knowledge. More than 60 percent of UCSC undergraduates gain hands-on research experience during their years here. Faculty are your partners on this educational pathway, and their dedication will help you achieve your goals.

Your fellow students are another invaluable resource. Together, you will share experiences and create lifelong memories. In residence halls, classrooms, laboratories, performance halls, and field sites, the diversity of our student body will enrich what you learn—and how you learn it.

This campus is known as a place where artists work with computer scientists, biologists collaborate with engineers, and environmentalists team up with educators. Our researchers reach across the borders of traditional disciplines to form creative collaborations that have produced some of UCSC’s proudest achievements. I hope you will bring an adventurous spirit to your studies, delving into unfamiliar territory to expand your horizons.

I congratulate you on choosing UCSC, and I welcome you to our community of proud Banana Slugs. I look forward to congratulating you again at graduation, when you join the

distinguished family of UCSC alumni.

GEORGE BLUMENTHAL

Chancellor

Revised: 8/1/10