Undergraduate Academic Program
2013-14 General Catalog
Planning Your Academic Program| Graduation Requirements | University Requirements | General Education Requirements | Evaluating Academic Performance | Advising: From Course Selection to Careers | Office of International Education | Field and Exchange Programs | Intercampus Visitor Program | Summer Programs| UCSC Extension | Intersegmental Cross-Enrollment
Planning Your Academic Program
Planning Your Academic Program
At UC Santa Cruz, the academic year is organized on the quarter system. Three quarters—fall, winter, and spring—constitute the regular academic year. Most UCSC courses are equivalent to 5 quarter credits and require approximately equal amounts of work: about 15 hours per week per course. You are normally expected to enroll in 15 credits each quarter; enrolling in a reduced or expanded course load requires special approval. If you maintain a B average at UCSC, you may enroll in more courses without special approval. For specific information on how courses are organized, see programs and courses.
You are normally expected to graduate in four years. To do so, you must pass an average of 45 credits per year, for a total of 180 credits. In order to complete certain majors with extensive course requirements, junior transfer students may need to spend more than two years at UC Santa Cruz.
The requirements for a bachelor’s degree are explained in the following section. Your adviser can help you plan a program that fulfills these requirements efficiently while meeting your own educational goals (see Advising: From Course Selection to Careers).
Here is what you can expect during four years at Santa Cruz:
During your freshman year, you complete your college core course and satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement. You also begin to take foundation courses for potential majors, along with courses that satisfy general education requirements.
If you are uncertain about your choice of major, you may intentionally explore different fields of study during your first two years at Santa Cruz by taking foundation courses that will help you both identify whether a major is a good fit for you and will satisfy prerequisites for declaring the major. You are expected to be declared in a major by the end of your second (sophomore) year; transfer students are expected to be declared in a major by the deadline in their second quarter at UCSC. Students interested in majors requiring heavy course prerequisites, such as music and most majors in the physical and biological sciences and engineering, should be certain they start the appropriate sequences in the first year; information is available through your major advising office.
During your junior and senior years at Santa Cruz, you concentrate on the upper-division requirements for your major and complete your comprehensive requirement, as well as complete your general education requirements. If you entered UCSC without having fulfilled the requirement in American history and institutions, you will need to do so before you graduate.
Transfer students should complete any lower-division requirements for their intended major that are offered at their current campus and may also find it helpful to complete courses that fulfill campus general education requirements. The Office of Admissions can help you select appropriate courses, and you should also consult with your community college adviser.
Graduation Requirements
To qualify for a bachelor’s degree, you must meet the following conditions, which are explained in more detail in the following sections:
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Earn a minimum of 180 credits, each with a grade of D or better (or Pass)
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Satisfy the university requirements in American history and institutions and in Entry Level Writing (English composition)
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Meet the UCSC residence requirement
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Satisfy each of the campus general education requirements with a course grade of C or better (or Pass)
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Satisfy requirements of your UCSC college
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Complete an approved major program, including its comprehensive requirement, with grades of Pass, C, or better in all courses satisfying major requirements. In some majors, courses graded Pass may not be used to satisfy major requirements.
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Have a grade-point average of at least 2.0 in all letter-graded courses taken at UCSC and other University of California campuses
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Have no more than 25 percent of your UCSC credits graded on a Pass/No Pass basis. This includes any credits completed in the Education Abroad Program or on another UC campus in an intercampus exchange program. Departments may require that some or all courses used to satisfy the major must be taken for a letter grade.
As a UC Santa Cruz student, you are responsible for selecting the courses necessary to fulfill graduation requirements and prepare for advanced study or a career. It is essential that you consult regularly with academic advisers about course selection.
Keep your own records, including not only records of your UCSC courses, grades, and progress, but also your transcripts from other institutions, admission test scores, transfer credit information, and performance evaluations.
Transfer students may be able to use some of the courses they completed at other schools to help meet the 180-credit requirement. (Semester-system credits can be multiplied by 1.5 to derive equivalent quarter-system credit.) The UCSC Office of Admissions determines which courses are transferable.
University Requirements
The Santa Cruz campus administers three requirements for graduation from the University of California: (1) American history and institutions, (2) Entry level writing requirement, and (3) UCSC residence. These requirements are described in detail below.
American History and Institutions
Every candidate for a bachelor’s degree must demonstrate a knowledge of American history and institutions. You may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:*
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By achieving a score of 550 or higher on the SAT Subject Examination in U.S. History
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By achieving a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in U.S. History, or by achieving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IBH History of the Americas Examination
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By satisfactorily completing a college-level course in U.S. history and institutions
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By certification of completion of the requirement on a transcript from an accredited California institution of higher education
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By completing an acceptable history or government course in high school that satisfies the subject requirement for admission to the university, described in Subject Requirements.
*Note: Alternatives for satisfying this requirement vary among the campuses of the University of California. If you plan to transfer to another UC campus, consult its general catalog for information on this point.
NOTE: The section below, Entry Level Writing and Composition, was revised post-publication on 11/25/13. The copy with strikethrough has been deleted, and the underlined copy replaces it.
Entry Level Writing Requirement
Every candidate for a bachelor’s degree must demonstrate an acceptable level of ability in English composition. Before your fourth quarter of enrollment, you must fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:
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By achieving a score of 680 or higher on the Writing component of the SAT Reasoning Examination
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By achieving a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in English Language or English Literature, or by achieving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IBH English Language A1 Examination
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By achieving a score of 8 or higher on the systemwide UC Analytical Writing Placement Examination
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By demonstrating an acceptable level of proficiency on UCSC’s Writing Placement Examination (given several times each year) and/or a portfolio of papers from an appropriate course (College Core, Writing 20, 21, or 23)
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Prior to first enrollment at UC, by completing at another institution an acceptable college-level course of at least four quarter credits, or the equivalent, in English composition with a grade of C or better.
- Score 680 or higher on the Writing section of the SAT Reasoning Test
- Score 30 or higher on the ACT Combined English/Writing test
- Score 3 or higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in English (Language or Literature)
- Score 5 or higher on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English: Literature (formerly IB HL English A1)
- Score 6 or higher on the International Baccalaureate Standard Level Examination in English (Language A)
- Complete with a grade of C or better an acceptable college course in English composition worth 4 quarter or 3 semester units
- Achieve a passing score on the UC Analytical Writing Placement Examination, given in the spring every year (freshmen who are admitted to UC will receive detailed information in April about the exam; nonresidents may take the exam in the fall after enrolling)
- Complete an appropriate English course at UC with a grade of C or better.
California high school seniors who have been admitted to UCSC must take the systemwide UC Analytical Writing Placement Examination, given in May, unless they have already satisfied the requirement.
Every candidate for a bachelor’s degree must be registered at UCSC for a minimum of three terms. In addition, of the final 45 quarter credits, 35 must be in regular courses of instruction that you have taken as a registered student at UCSC (including during the summer session). Courses taken through University Extension or the Intercampus Visitor Program do not constitute regular courses and therefore do not satisfy residence requirements.
The credit requirement for residence is applied differently to students participating in the Education Abroad Program (EAP) and the University of California in Washington, D.C. (UCDC), program. Students may satisfy the requirement in either of two ways. The first way is for students to complete 35 of their final 45 credits before leaving the Santa Cruz campus to participate in EAP or UCDC. In this scenario, students do not have to return to Santa Cruz for any additional course work after they have finished EAP or UCDC. The second way to fulfill the residence requirement is for students to complete 35 of their last 90 credits at the Santa Cruz campus, with a minimum of 12 credits completed at UCSC after their return from EAP or UCDC.
General Education Requirements
The general education requirements are designed to introduce you to various kinds of information, reasons for learning, and approaches to acquiring knowledge, as well as to promote responsible use of what is learned. Obviously, general education requirements alone cannot achieve these ends. You are urged to look for as many opportunities as possible to gain a richer understanding of your own cultural heritage and social situation; insight into countries, societies, and eras besides your own; proficiency in another language; understanding of the nature of ethical and moral choice; and expanded knowledge of science and technology. The formal requirements described here should be considered foundations for exploration.
New General Education Requirements for Students Entering Beginning Fall 2010
Complete list of Courses That Fulfill General Education Requirements
Beginning in fall 2010, all new students will be required to fulfill a new set of guidelines for general education requirements that were approved by the UCSC Academic Senate in 2009. Continuing students and transfer students may opt to change to the new requirements or fulfill the previous general education requirements, if catalog rights allow. See Catalog Rights for more information. Contact your college adviser if you have questions.
The general education requirements are meant to accomplish several goals:
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Provide students with a base of knowledge and skills that future learning can build on.
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Expose students to a broad range of disciplines and methodologies, to better prepare them for a world of complex problems and rapid changes.
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Enhance the abilities of students to approach problems in appropriately analytical ways.
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Prepare students to function as responsible and informed participants in civic life, considering pressing societal issues (such as the environment, the economy) productively and from a variety of perspectives.
Each area has a general education code associated with it, and only those courses carrying that code satisfy the requirement. The codes appear in the course descriptions in this catalog and in the “General Education” field on the MyUCSC Class Search page. See a list of courses that fulfill General Education requirements. The list is subject to change. Students should check the Schedule of Classes each quarter for the most up-to-date information. Students following the new general education requirements should review the requirements for their proposed or declared major(s) to ascertain whether some of their general education requirements will be fulfilled by completing their major. As a general rule, each course satisfies only one of the new general education requirements.
Cross-Cultural Analysis (CC code: one 5-credit course or equivalent). Courses in cross-cultural Analysis prepare students for a world with increased interaction and integration among peoples, companies, and governments. These courses encourage a broader and deeper understanding of cultures and societies outside the United States. Such courses might focus on an in-depth examination of one culture, or one aspect of such culture (for example, art, music, history, language). Alternatively, these courses help students develop skills of cross-cultural comparison and analysis. A third option comprises courses that explore topics that are inherently cross-cultural such as international relations or the processes of economic globalization. Whatever the approach, these courses all aim to help students develop the openness and sensitivity necessary for cross-cultural understanding.
Ethnicity and Race (ER code: one 5-credit course or equivalent). Courses in Ethnicity and race prepare students for a state and a world that are increasingly multiethnic and multiracial. Beyond familiarizing students with the culture and/or history of one or more ethnic or racial groups, these courses also aim to develop theoretical and practical understanding of questions such as (but not limited to): how categories of ethnicity and race are constructed; the role they can play in identity formation; how ethnicity and race have historically been used to justify forms of enforced inequality; and the contributions of people of various ethnicities to society and to political change. These courses are particularly concerned with how ethnicity and race may intersect with other categories, such as gender, class, or sexual orientation, to shape self-understanding and patterns of human interaction.
Interpreting Arts and Media (IM code: one 5-credit course or equivalent). Interpreting Arts and Media courses explore the complex ways in which information of all kinds is represented by visual, auditory, or kinesthetic means, or through performance. These courses build in-depth understanding of one or more forms of artistic media: that is, media in which nontextual materials play primary roles. They offer skills in the practice, analysis, interpretation and/or history of one or more of these media, as well as the ability to analyze the means by which they encode and convey information.
Mathematical and Formal Reasoning (MF code: one 5-credit course or equivalent). In a world in which much thinking and discourse is directed by emotion and association, formal or mathematical models teach the value of dispassionate analysis. Mathematical and formal-reasoning courses emphasize the development of mathematical, logical, and/or formal reasoning skills. Mathematics-based courses that satisfy this requirement are focused on teaching significant problem-solving skills, and are often oriented toward particular application areas. Other courses that satisfy this requirement train students in formal reasoning skills and/or in the construction and use of formal models. Formal reasoning domains include mathematical proof, logic, and applied logic. Some examples of formal models are: computer programming languages, generative grammars (from linguistics), supply and demand models, and formal music theory.
Scientific Inquiry (SI code: one 5-credit course or equivalent). Courses in Scientific Inquiry teach students about the essential role of observation, hypothesis, experimentation and measurement in the physical, social, life, or technological sciences. In these courses, students acquire key concepts, facts, and theories relevant to the scientific method. By the end of the course students should be able to articulate an understanding of the value of scientific thinking in relation to issues of societal importance.
Statistical Reasoning (SR code: one 5-credit course or equivalent). In today’s globalized, media-saturated information society, we are continually presented with—or asked to present—numerical data. Statistical-reasoning courses prepare students to interpret quantitative claims and make judgments in situations of statistical uncertainty. The goal of statistical-reasoning courses is to teach skills for effective reasoning about probability and the use of quantitative information. Students acquire an understanding of making informed decisions in the presence of uncertainty. Topics addressed in statistical-reasoning courses include ways of (mis)representing data; correlation vs. causation; statistical inferences; experimental design and data analysis; understanding orders of magnitude.
Textual Analysis and Interpretation (TA code: one 5-credit course or equivalent). Even in our current multimedia world, the written word remains a major vehicle of communication. Many fields, from literature and history to law, government, science and religion, depend heavily on the understanding and interpretation of written documents. Textual analysis and interpretation courses have as their primary methodology the interpretation or analysis of texts. The aim of these courses is to develop higher-order reading skills and to train students how to read attentively, to think critically and analytically, to produce and evaluate interpretations, to assess evidence, and to deploy it effectively in their own work. These abilities are not only necessary for academic success, but also for full participation in civic life at every level.
Perspectives (one 5-credit course or equivalent from any of the three following
categories):
Perspectives: Environmental Awareness (PE-E code). The interactions between people and the earth’s environments are subtle, complex, and influenced by a variety of natural, scientific, economic, cultural, and political factors. Courses satisfying the environmental-awareness requirement teach students about the complexity of particular ecosystems and/or people’s interactions with nature so that they will better understand the environmental issues and trade-offs that are likely to arise in their lifetimes.
Perspectives: Human Behavior (PE-H code). Courses in human behavior help students to prepare for a world in which many of the most pressing challenges (such as genocide, environmental degradation, poverty) are impacted by human thoughts, decisions, or practices. As well, they provide a kind of “owner’s manual” for students to assist them in understanding themselves, their roles (for example, parent, partner, leader), and their social groups (family, workplace, neighborhood, nation).
Perspectives: Technology and Society (PE-T code). The study of technology helps satisfy the need of society for knowledgeable people able to understand, participate, and guide the rapid technological advances that play such a vital role in our world. Technology and society courses focus on understanding technological advances, how they are developed, and their impacts on society.
Practice (one minimum 2-credit course from any of the three following categories):
Practice: Collaborative Endeavor (PR-E code). Students learn and practice strategies and techniques for working effectively in pairs or larger groups to produce a finished product. For example, students might learn specialized practical information such as how to use change-management software to monitor and manage changes initiated by multiple group members. Alternatively, they might learn basic information about leadership, teamwork, and group functioning, which they can incorporate into their own group process. What is common to all courses is that some instruction regarding the process of collaboration is provided, in addition to instruction specific to the academic discipline and the products being produced.
Practice: Creative Process (PR-C code). Creative-process courses teach creative process and techniques in a context of individual or collaborative participation in the arts, including creative writing. Courses may combine theory and experiment in the creation of a new artwork, or new interpretation(s) of an existing artwork. Creative-process courses include studies in individual or group creativity or improvisation, and/or ensemble rehearsal and performance.
Practice: Service Learning (PR-S code). Service-learning courses provide students with an opportunity to integrate their academic course work with community involvement. Such courses provide supervised learning experiences in which students reflect on, communicate, and integrate principles and theories from the classroom in real-world settings. Students gain valuable practical skills, while giving back to the community.
Composition (C1 and C2 codes) (Two 5-credit courses or equivalent): C1 and C2 typically are fulfilled by your college core course and Writing 2, Rhetoric and Inquiry. Students must complete the Entry Level Writing Requirement to satisfy the composition requirements.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The goal of this requirement is to ensure that students acquire the skills in writing and other forms of communication appropriate for their discipline. Students satisfy the DC requirement by completing 1 to 3 upper-division courses required for their major, totaling a minimum of 5 credits. The DC requirement must be taken at UCSC and is automatically fulfilled by the completion of major requirements.
| Pre 2010 General Education Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | General Education Code | Number of Required Credits |
| Introductions to disciplines-humanities and arts area* (from two different disciplines) | IH | 10 |
| Introductions to disciplines-natural sciences and engineering area* (from two different disciplines) | IN | 10 |
| Introductions to disciplines-social sciences area (from two different disciplines) | IS | 10 |
| Topical courses (one course from each of the three academic areas;appropriately designated college courses fulfill this requirement) |
T |
15 |
| Quantitative course | Q | 5 |
| Composition course | C or C1/C2 | 5–10 |
| Writing-intensive course** | W | 5 |
| Arts course | A | 5 |
| U.S. Ethnic minorities/non- Western society course |
E | 5 |
|
*For purposes of the general education requirements, humanities and arts are combined in one academic area, as are natural sciences and engineering. **The W requirement must be completed at UCSC—transfer courses do not apply to this requirement. |
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General Education Requirements for Students Entering Prior to Fall 2010
Designed to expose students to diverse subject areas, the general education requirements also stress a variety of approaches to acquiring knowledge. A description of the general education requirements and a complete list of current courses that satisfy general education requirements under the pre-2010 general education reform are included.
There are nine categories of general education requirements (see table above, Types of General Education Requirements). Each category has a general education code associated with it, and only those courses carrying that code satisfy the requirement. The codes appear in the course descriptions in this catalog and in the Schedule of Classes. A list of Courses That Fulfill General Education Requirements is included in the catalog. The list is subject to change and is updated quarterly. Students should check the Schedule of Classes each quarter for the most up-to-date listing of courses that fulfill general education requirements.
Some courses satisfy more than one general education requirement, so the total number of required courses may be 10 to 15.
Introductions to disciplines (IH, IN, and IS codes). These courses introduce a discipline’s content, scope, and methodology. Introductory courses from two different departments are required in each of three academic areas: humanities and arts (IH code), natural sciences and engineering (IN code), and social sciences (IS code). Only one language course may be used to satisfy an IH requirement, as all languages are considered to be part of the same discipline. Similarly, only one literature course may be used, and English (transfer) courses are considered to be literature. Only one of the two IH courses may be from the arts (art, film and digital media, history of art and visual culture, music, and theater arts). Transfer courses designated IN from Anatomy, Botany, Physiology, and Zoology Departments are considered to be “biology” courses for general education purposes.
Topical courses (T code). These courses expose students to introductory-level themes of broad social or intellectual relevance. Three courses are required, no more than one from each academic area. For information on which disciplines are in each area, see Arts; Engineering; Humanities; Physical and Biological Sciences; and Social Sciences. College core courses are labeled topical and carry the designation of the appropriate academic area.
Quantitative course (Q code). These courses provide methods for acquiring quantitative reasoning that involve use of advanced algebra, statistics, or calculus. One course is required.
Writing courses (C1, C2, and W codes). These courses stress explicit attention to the craft of writing. Having satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement by the end of your first year of enrollment at UCSC, you must complete two to three courses in writing. One of these must be a writing-intensive course (W code) that provides instruction and extensive practice in writing applied to a particular subject. For some courses, only certain sections are writing intensive (look for the “W” in the Schedule of Classes when enrolling). You must take this course at UCSC.
Students satisfy the other part of the writing requirement by passing two composition courses (C1 and C2 codes). You must fulfill the composition requirement prior to the seventh quarter of enrollment and before you can enroll in a writing-intensive course.
Arts course (A code). These courses provide the exposure to creative or artistic expression necessary for a liberal arts education. One designated arts course is required; most are offered through art, film and digital media, history of art and visual culture, music, and theater arts.
Ethnic minorities/non-Western society course (E code). These courses are intended to increase knowledge of ethnic minorities in the United States and non-Western cultures, improve cross-cultural awareness, and explore relationships between ethnicity and other aspects of a liberal arts curriculum. One course is required.
Courses of fewer than 5 credits. Students usually meet the general education requirements with 5-credit courses. Several related arts courses of fewer than 5 credits with the same code may be used to satisfy the arts (A) general education requirement if they total at least 5 credits.
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Examinations
Advanced Placement Exams (AP) and International Baccalaureate Higher Level Exams (IBH) Table
The university grants credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations on which a student scores 3, 4, or 5 and for International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IBH) Examinations on which a student scores 5, 6, or 7. The university does not grant credit for IB standard or subsidiary level exams. Students completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a score of 30 or higher receive 30 quarter credits. The credit is applied toward the total credits required for graduation and toward the UCSC campuswide general education requirements, as indicated in the table on pages 29–30, Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IBH) Examinations. Students should be aware that AP, IB, and college-level courses will not be granted duplicate credit. In these cases, the university will award credit for only one.
AP and IBH Examination Credit Toward Degree Requirements
Certain departments also allow prospective majors to obtain waivers for prerequisite courses. In all cases, a student should contact the particular department to discuss his or her plans with an adviser. Please note that approval is not automatic; a petition must be filed with most departments.
Credits for Transfer Students
General Education Requirements
Transfer students may apply courses taken at other institutions toward the general education requirements with two exceptions: The disciplinary communication course(s) (DC code) or the writing-intensive course (W code) must be taken at UCSC. Also, transfer courses are not applied to the topical requirement (T code), but topical courses are waived at entrance according to the following formula: 45–83.9 transferable quarter credits, one course waived; 84–104.9 transferable quarter credits, two courses waived; 105 or more transferable quarter credits, all three courses waived. If one topical course is required in residence at UCSC, it may be chosen from any of the three academic areas (humanities and arts, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences). If two are required, they must be from two different areas.
If you are currently attending one of the California community colleges, see the ASSIST web site at www.assist.org, or consult with the UCSC Office of Admissions or your current counselor to determine which college courses satisfy UCSC general education requirements.
Transfer students who have satisfied the general education or breadth requirements of another UC campus prior to transfer will be considered to have completed the UCSC general education requirements, with the exception of the DC requirement. Completion of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) prior to enrollment at UCSC will also be accepted in lieu of the campus general education requirements, with the exception of the DC requirement.
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a series of courses that prospective California community college transfer students may complete to satisfy the lower-division breadth/general education requirements at any University of California or California State University (CSU) campus (see the IGETC table below). This curriculum is the result of an agreement by the University of California, the California State University, and the California community colleges, aimed at simplifying the transfer process for community college students. The IGETC is intended exclusively for California community college transfers and is not an option for continuing UCSC students or for students transferring from four-year colleges or universities.
Students who complete the IGETC prior to transfer are not required to satisfy the UCSC lower-division general education requirements. For students who are partially certified, please consult the Office of Admissions. Courses used to satisfy IGETC must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better. A grade of Credit or Pass may be used if the community college’s policy states that it is equivalent to a grade of C (2.0) or better.
IGETC is not recommended for majors that require extensive course preparation, such as any major in the Jack Baskin School of Engineering or the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences.
Major Requirements and Course Prerequisites
Students who believe they have taken courses at other institutions that satisfy major requirements or UCSC course prerequisites should contact their major adviser for review.
College Requirements
You must fulfill the requirements of your college in addition to those of your major and of the university. Each college has established a core course, which all first-year students are required to complete. Students admitted as transfer students are exempt from the core course requirement but may take the course at their option on a space-available basis. College requirements are outlined below. The core courses are described more fully in the individual college descriptions.
College Eight
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College Eight 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: Environment and Society, fall quarter, or College Eight 80B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: Environment and Society, fall quarter or College Eight 80C and 80D, Introduction to University Discourse: Writing for Environment and Society, fall and winter quarters; and College Eight 81A, The Environment and Us, fall quarter.
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College Eight 81A, The Environment and Us, fall quarter.
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College Eight 81B, Fundamentals of Environmental Science, winter quarter.
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College Eight 81C, Designing a Sustainable Future, spring quarter
Note: College Eight 81A, and either 80A or 80B are mandatory for all incoming freshmen. College Eight 81B and 81C also satisfy many of UCSC’s general education requirements.
College Nine
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College Nine 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: International and Global Issues, fall quarter, or College Nine 80B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: International and Global Issues, fall quarter; or
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College Nine 80C and 80D, Introduction to University Discourse: International and Global Issues Writing Intensive, fall and winter quarters
College Ten
- College Ten 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: Social Justice and Community, fall quarter, or College Ten 80B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: Social Justice and Community, fall quarter, or College Ten 80C and 80D, Introduction to University Discourse: Social Justice and Community, Writing Intensive
Cowell
- Cowell 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: Imagining Justice Past and Present, fall quarter, or Cowell 80B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: Imagining Justice Past and Present, fall quarter
Crown
- Crown 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: Ethical Issues in Emerging Technologies, fall quarter, or Crown 80B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: Ethical Issues in Emerging Technologies, fall quarter
Kresge
- Kresge 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: Power and Representation, fall quarter, or Kresge 80B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: Power and Representation, fall quarter, or Kresge 80C and 80D, Introduction to University Discourse: Power and Representation Writing Intensive, fall and winter quarters
Merrill
- Merrill 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: Cultural Identities and Global Consciousness, fall quarter, Merrill 80B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: Cultural Identities and Global Consciousness, fall quarter
Oakes
- Oakes 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: Communicating Diversity for a Just Society, fall quarter, or Oakes 80B, Communicating Diversity for a Just Society, fall quarter, or Oakes 80C and 80D, Introduction to University Discourse: Commmunicating Diversity for a Just Society Writing Intensive, fall and winter quarters
Porter
- Porter 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: Writing Across the Arts, fall quarter, or Porter 80B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: Writing Across the Arts, fall quarter
Stevenson
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Stevenson 80A, Introduction to University Discourse: Self and Society, fall quarter, or Stevenson 80B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: Self and Society, fall quarter
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Stevenson 81A, Self and Society 2, winter quarter, or Stevenson 81B, Rhetoric and Inquiry: Self and Society 2, winter quarter
Major and Minor Requirements
To qualify for a bachelor’s degree at UCSC, you must complete the minimum requirements for a major program, as well as satisfy university, campus, and college requirements.
At UCSC, you have the option of pursuing a single major, a double major, or a combined major. The minimum requirements for an established major program are set by the sponsoring department. (If you are a transfer student, the department will determine which of your transferable courses may be used to satisfy major requirements.) The major involves substantial work in the discipline and requires no fewer than 40 upper-division or graduate credits. Only courses in which you earn a grade of Pass, C, or better satisfy major or minor requirements.
Declaring a Major
The field of interest you indicate on your application to UCSC does not automatically place you in a major. You are advised to declare your major as soon as possible. You are required to declare a major before enrolling in the equivalent of your third year.* You will not be allowed to enroll in classes for the equivalent of your third year until you have declared a major. Certain majors have a limit on the number of students they can serve. Be sure you are aware of all the necessary criteria for qualifying for the major. It is wise to apply for major status as soon as you feel sure of the field you wish to enter and have met admission requirements (if any) for the major you wish to pursue. Junior transfer students must declare a major during their second quarter at UCSC by the deadline printed in the Academic and Administrative Calendar in the Schedule of Classes.
You should determine the requirements for possible major choices as soon as possible because certain majors require substantial preparation, with many interlocking course sequences. If you intend to pursue such a major, you should start work toward it early in your undergraduate career. (Review majors that interest you in the Programs and Courses section.) Academic advisers can offer assistance in selecting courses appropriate to your individual needs.
*Note: This is the year you would become a junior given normal progress to degree. For example, if you transfer to UCSC as a beginning sophomore, it is your second year here.
Comprehensive Requirement
Every major at UCSC includes a senior exit requirement designed to integrate the knowledge and skills learned throughout the curriculum. This capstone requirement may be a senior thesis, senior seminar, comprehensive examination, or some other integrative experience designed for the major. Choices for satisfying this requirement are specified with the requirements for each major.
Minor Programs
See Fields of Study for undergraduate minors currently offered at UC Santa Cruz. Completion of a minor is optional. If you wish, you may complete more than one minor.
The sponsoring department establishes the course requirements for a minor. The minor involves substantial work in the discipline and requires no fewer than 25 upper-division or graduate credits. The minor appears on your official transcript but not on your diploma.
Additional Majors or Minors
To complete multiple majors and minors, you must fulfill all of the requirements for all majors and minors declared, including the comprehensive requirement for each major. In general, a single thesis may not be used for more than one major. You may count courses for more than one major or minor, as long as each major includes 40 upper-division credits not used to satisfy the minimum upper-division credits of any other major or minor, and each minor includes at least 25 upper-division credits not used to satisfy the minimum upper-division credits of any other major or minor.
The diploma of a student who has completed a double major in history and music, for example, would read “Bachelor of Arts with Majors in History and Music.”
Combined Major
A combined major allows you to complete a course of study involving two disciplines offered as regular programs at UC Santa Cruz.
Examples of combined majors include environmental studies/economics and Latin American and Latino studies/politics. A combined major is designed by faculty representatives from both disciplines. In general, fewer courses are required than for a double major, and students complete the comprehensive requirements as specified for each combined major. Combined majors currently available are listed in the footnotes in the Fields of Study.
The diploma of a student who has completed a combined major in environmental studies and economics, for example, would read “Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Environmental Studies/Economics.”
Individual Major
Students may also work with three faculty members to define an individual major specific to his or her academic goals. Proposals for individual majors require considerable effort to develop, and students are advised to consider double major, combined major, and major/minor alternatives. College advising offices can provide information on the individual major proposal and approval process.
Effective for all undergraduates who entered in fall quarter 1993 or after, students may follow the degree requirements from either the UCSC General Catalog published at the time of entering UCSC or subsequent catalog(s). Students need not follow a catalog in its entirety but may elect to follow different catalog years for their college requirements, university and general education requirements, requirements of their major(s), and requirements of any minor(s).
Catalog year will initially be set for the first year of enrollment at UCSC. Students may elect to follow requirements from other catalog year(s) when filing the Petition for Major/Minor Declaration. All requirements for graduation outlined in the catalog(s) selected must be met before graduation. Changing catalog year(s) for majors/minors is done by contacting your major adviser (for major requirements) or your college adviser (for college, university, and general education requirements).
Students transferring from other collegiate institutions may elect to meet as graduation requirements one of the following:
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those in effect at the time of transfer to UCSC;
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those subsequently established; or
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those in effect when the student entered a previous collegiate institution, provided that entry was not more than three years prior to the time of transfer to UCSC.
Students who seek readmission to UCSC after a break in attendance greater than two years (six regular quarters) must adhere to the graduation requirements in effect at the time of readmission or those subsequently established.
Students who entered prior to 1993 should see an adviser. Their catalog year(s) for graduation, whether the year they entered UCSC or subsequent year(s), will be decided at the discretion of their major department and/or their college.
Institutional Responsibility
Undergraduate students who have made significant progress toward a degree in a specific major can assume that a degree will be granted if they meet all catalog degree requirements and maintain continuous enrollment and progress.
Should UCSC find it necessary to discontinue a specific major, every effort will be made to allow currently enrolled majors to complete their degrees within a reasonable period of time. This may include (1) movement to a similar or related degree track; (2) substitution of requirements; (3) development of an individual major proposal; or (4) completion of courses at another University of California campus through the Intercampus Visitor Program. Students with questions concerning this policy should contact their major and college advising offices.
In all cases, any financial obligations are the responsibility of the individual student involved.
Evaluating Academic Performance
UC Santa Cruz has one of the more comprehensive systems for evaluating students’ academic performance of any research university in the United States. The evaluation system consists of two major components: the assignment of a final grade in the course and an accompanying evaluation of your performance.
Evaluations
Beginning fall 2010, undergraduate evaluations are at the option of the faculty. In each course for which you receive a grade of D or better (or P) an evaluation of your academic performance may be submitted. An evaluation may:
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Describe the strengths and weaknesses of your performance in the various areas of class activity (discussion, laboratory work, term papers, examinations)
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Assess your general understanding of the course content
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Recognize additional or particularly outstanding work
Evaluations are used at UCSC in academic advising, reviewing scholarship applications, and awarding College Honors and Honors in the major. Evaluations are a permanent part of your academic record. All students may request transcripts either with or without evaluations.
Grades
At the end of each course, you will receive one of the following grade notations:
A excellent
B good
C fair
D poor
F fail
P passing
NP not passing
I incomplete
IP in progress
W withdrawal
The grades of A and B may be modified by a plus (+) or a minus (-). The grade of C may be modified by a plus only. You will not receive credit for graduation in any course in which you receive a final grade of F or NP. The grades I and IP are temporary grades used in special circumstances. The final notation W indicates that you officially withdrew from the course before completing it.
Grade Points
Grade points are assigned to a letter grade as follows:
4.0 = A+
4.0 = A
3.7 = A-
3.3 = B+
3.0 = B
2.7 = B-
2.3 = C+
2.0 = C
1.0 = D
0.0 = F
The grades P and NP are not included in calculating your GPA and so are not assigned grade points. Courses in which the interim grades I and IP are assigned earn no grade points or credit until the interim grade is replaced by a final letter grade.
Grade-Point Average (GPA)
Undergraduates entering UCSC in fall 2001 and thereafter have a UCSC cumulative grade-point average calculated from UCSC courses, courses taken through the Education Abroad Program, and courses taken at another UC campus as part of the Intercampus Visitor Program.
A grade-point average is determined by dividing the number of grade points earned by the number of units attempted for a letter grade. In calculating your UCSC GPA, the interim grades IP and I are not included in the computation because you do not earn those credits until they are replaced with a final grade. (However, when checking for whether you have satisfied the 2.0 UC GPA requirement for graduation, these interim grades are included and counted as courses with grade F [or NP]).
If you repeat a course in which you have received a D or F, only the last grade recorded shall be computed in your GPA for the first 15 credits of repeated work. After the 15 credit maximum is reached, the GPA will be based on all grades assigned and total credits attempted.
Undergraduates who entered UCSC for the first time in or after fall 1997 and before fall 2001 have a UCSC cumulative grade-point average only if they have elected letter grades in at least two-thirds of the cumulative credits attempted. Undergraduates who entered UCSC prior to fall 1997 cannot have an official UCSC grade-point average calculated.
Pass/No Pass Option
Students in good academic standing may request to take specific courses on a Pass/No Pass basis. Students receive a P (Pass) for work that is performed at C level or better. Work performed at below a C level receives a notation of NP on the student’s transcript, and no academic credit is awarded for the course. Requests for Pass/No Pass grading must be submitted and confirmed by the Grade Option deadline printed in the Academic and Administrative Calendar. If you request P/NP grading in a course and you are later placed on academic probation, your P/NP grading request will be canceled.
No more than 25 percent of the UCSC credits applied toward graduation may be graded on a Pass/No Pass basis. This includes any credits completed in the Education Abroad Program or on another UC campus in an intercampus exchange program. Students must be careful about the use of the Pass/No Pass option. Some courses may only be taken Pass/No Pass, and therefore count against the 25 percent Pass/No Pass limit. Several majors require all or most major requirements to be taken for a letter grade; read the major requirements section carefully before using the Pass/No Pass option for any course in a major you are considering.
Incomplete
The notation I may be assigned when your work for a course is of passing quality but for which some specific required work has not been completed. You must make arrangements with the instructor before the end of the course in order to receive an Incomplete. To remove the Incomplete, you must submit the remaining course work and file a petition by the deadline printed in the Academic and Administrative Calendar (generally the end of the following quarter). If you do not meet the deadline, the Incomplete lapses to a No Pass or an F, depending on the grading option selected at the beginning of the quarter.
The notation IP (In Progress) is reserved for a single course extending over two or three terms of an academic year. The grade for such a course may be awarded at the end of the course and shall then be recorded as applying to each of the terms of the course. A student satisfactorily completing only one or two terms of a course extending over two or three terms of an academic year will be given grades for those terms. The grade option selected in the first quarter of the multiple-term sequence applies to all quarters of the sequence.
Grade changes (except for I and IP, as above) are allowed only to correct clerical or calculation errors by the instructor and must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the instructor in charge of the course within one year of the close of the quarter for which the original grade was submitted.
Student Responsibility
Students are responsible for using the Academic Information Systems (AIS) to set and confirm choices for grading options and for ensuring timely completion of all requirements. Students view their schedule at MyUCSC.
Course Loads
The usual course load for UCSC undergraduates is 15 to 19 credits, most often as three 5-credit courses and associated laboratories and sections. After instruction begins, students with a UCSC GPA of 3.0 may enroll in up to 22 credits without special approval and may seek approval for higher loads from their college advising office. Students in their first quarter or with a lower GPA must seek approval from their college advising office for enrollment in more than 19 credits.
College approval is required to carry fewer than 15 credits.
Academic Progress
Academic progress is a measure of the completion of courses with a D or better, or Pass. Colleges monitor academic progress to ensure you are progressing toward your degree, which must be earned within five years.
Minimum progress is based on length of time at UCSC. The minimum acceptable progress is completion of 36 credits for each academic year, 12 credits for each additional full-time term, and four-fifths of credits attempted for each part-time term. Progress is measured cumulatively, not term by term. For example, a full-time student must complete 48 credits by the end of the first quarter of the second year.
If you do not maintain minimum progress, your college may require you to take higher course loads, complete Summer Session courses, or make other adjustments to your study plan.
A separate financial aid satisfactory academic progress policy (FASAP) defines the GPA and progress requirements for remaining eligible to receive financial aid. Information can be found here.
Academic Standing
Academic standing is a measure of performance in completed courses. You must maintain a 2.0 UCSC GPA in order to remain in good academic standing.
If your UCSC term or cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 at the end of any term, you will be placed on academic probation for the next term. You will need to work with your college and major advisers to determine the best way to return to good academic standing. Be sure to take full advantage of the many learning support services available at UCSC.
If your UCSC GPA for any term falls below 1.5, or if you are on academic probation and your cumulative GPA at the end of a term is below 2.0, you are also subject to disqualification. This means that your enrollment at UCSC may be barred for a specific period of time, or you may be disqualified indefinitely from attending the University of California. In many cases, a specific study plan can be developed with your college that will enable you to remain enrolled at UCSC.
For students who entered UCSC prior to fall 2001, academic standing and progress are calculated differently. Contact your college office or see The Navigator for more information.
A separate financial aid satisfactory academic progress policy (FASAP) defines the GPA and progress requirements for remaining eligible to receive financial aid. Information can be found here.
Maximum Credits and Years
Students are expected to complete their degree objective(s) within four years, with maximum enrollment limits of at most 225 credits and five academic years (Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate units are not counted). Students who transfer with advanced standing are expected to complete their degree objective(s) within at most 135 UCSC credits and three academic years.
Colleges may make exceptions to the credit maximum for students in certain cases. Such exceptions are conditional on maintaining academic standing, minimal progress, and progress toward the degree objective(s).
Students in danger of exceeding the credit limit or the five-year or three-year limit may be required to modify their degree objective, such as by completing a major without a minor or double major, or completing a related major with fewer course requirements.
Repeating Courses
Undergraduates may repeat courses in which they earn a D, F, No Pass, or W. For an undergraduate to repeat a course more than once requires approval of the student’s college. A grade of W counts as an attempt. Courses in which a D or F is earned may not be repeated on a Pass/No Pass basis. Courses in which a grade of No Pass is earned may be repeated on the same basis or for a letter grade. For the first 15 credits of repeated courses, the original grade is excluded from the GPA, and only the grade from the repetition is used. After the 15-credit maximum is reached, all grades are included in the GPA. However, credit is not awarded more than once for the same course. The grade assigned each time the course is taken will be permanently recorded on the official transcript.
Academic Integrity
The university is dedicated to the unhindered pursuit of knowledge and its free expression. It is essential that faculty and students pursue their academic work with the utmost integrity. This means that all academic work produced by an individual is the result of the sole effort of that individual and acknowledges the contributions of others explicitly. It is the responsibility of students and faculty to be absolutely clear about what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or other violations of academic integrity. Violations of academic integrity by students result in both academic sanctions (e.g., failing the course) and disciplinary sanctions (e.g., suspension or dismissal). Consult Appendix G of the campus’s Student Policies and Regulations Handbook for more discussion and information.
Undergraduate Honors Program
UC Santa Cruz awards several honors for outstanding academic achievement.
Dean’s List Honors
Students will be eligible for quarterly Dean’s Honors if they have earned a minimum of 15 units that quarter, of which at least 10 are graded, with a term grade point average (GPA) equal or higher than that required for University Honors at graduation in their group* for the current academic year. The notation “Dean’s Honors” will appear on the transcript.
*Note: GPA thresholds for Baskin School of Engineering majors are calculated separately from those of majors in all other divisions.
Honors at GraduationHonors at graduation are awarded by the university and by the separate majors and colleges based on a review of their graduates’ academic records. In general, honors are limited to 15 percent of the graduating class. University Honors are based solely on the cumulative UC GPA. Faculty review for major and college honors may involve additional criteria.
University Honors
To be considered for University Honors at graduation, students must have completed 70 or more units at the University of California and have attained in their group* a UC GPA that places them in the rankings as follows: Summa Cum Laude, top 2 percent; Magna Cum Laude, next 3 percent; Cum Laude, next 10 percent. Each year and for each group, the registrar will calculate the GPA thresholds required for these levels of University Honors, based on the GPAs of recent graduates. The notation “University Honors” will appear on the diploma and transcript.
* Note: GPA thresholds for Baskin School of Engineering majors are calculated separately from those of majors in all other divisions.
Honors in the Major
At graduation, the department sponsoring a student’s major program may confer Honors or Highest Honors in the major. This notation appears on the transcript as well as on the diploma. In general, no more than 15 percent of the graduation class in a major will be awarded Honors at graduation.
College Honors
Some colleges review their graduating students for academic achievement and according to criteria set by the college faculty reviewers. In general, no more than 15 percent of the graduating class of a college will be awarded Honors at graduation.
Deadlines
To be considered for honors in the major or college honors, students must apply to graduate by the Registrar’s deadline.
Any student who has a reportable disciplinary sanction for a violation of academic integrity policies may be ineligible for any honors designation, at the discretion of the agency that awards the designation.
Undergraduate Honors Opportunities
First-Year Honors Program
The UCSC First-Year Honors Program offers a congenial and challenging academic home for a select group of well-prepared students at UC Santa Cruz. This enriched program of study includes special courses, seminars, colloquia, and other events during each quarter of the academic year. Qualified UCSC applicants who are offered admission to the university will be invited to apply to participate in the program.
Honor Societies
Many UC Santa Cruz students are members of departmental, professional, local, and national honor societies whose goals are to recognize and improve scholastic standing in an area of interest. Among these are Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest national society that advances scholarship and recognizes excellence in the liberal arts and sciences; Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society that recognizes students of distinguished scholarship, exemplary character, and dedication to service; the Golden Key International Honour Society, which provides recognition and leadership opportunities to top-performing students; and Psi Chi, which encourages, stimulates, and maintains excellence in scholarship, and advances the science of psychology.
Awards and Scholarships
UC Santa Cruz has a variety of scholarship and award opportunities that are designed to reward, encourage, and assist students in pursuing academic excellence and leadership roles. Students can find such opportunities through their colleges, departments, divisions, and various external agencies.
The Office of Undergraduate Education provides administrative support to a variety of prestigious scholarships and awards such as the Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Award, Deans’ and Chancellor’s Awards, Steck Foundation Award, Boren Scholarship, Donald A. Strauss Scholarship, Fulbright Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, and Rhodes Scholarship.
Transcripts
Academic records are maintained by the Office of the Registrar, which will issue an official transcript only on your authorized request.
For information on ordering transcripts, please refer to the following URL: registrar.ucsc.edu.
If you have outstanding financial obligations to the university, a hold may be placed on your transcript. Students may access their unofficial transcript on MyUCSC.
Transcripts for UCSC Extension courses should be requested from UCSC Extension Records, 2505 Augustine Drive, Suite 100, Santa Clara, CA 95054-3003, (408) 861-3700.
Privacy of Records
UCSC students are informed annually of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and its provisions. This act, which the institution follows, was designed to protect the privacy of education records and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the act.
UCSC policy explains in detail the procedures to be used by the institution for compliance with the provisions of the act. FERPA guidelines are available in The Navigator, the student handbook. The full text of the University of California policies applying to the Disclosure of Information from Student Records is online: registrar.ucsc.edu/records/disclosure/index.html.
Questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Office of the Registrar, 190 Hahn Student Services Building.
Advising: From Course Selection to Careers
Academic Advising
Academic advising at UC Santa Cruz aims to assist students in clarifying their educational goals and in developing academic plans to achieve them. The core of UCSC’s advising system is housed in the colleges and academic programs and is supplemented by advising and support services throughout the campus.
College academic advisers (some of whom are called “academic preceptors”) are generalist advisers who focus on orientation to the university, pre-major advising, academic success, and campuswide requirements such as general education and university requirements. Each college has an advising team that can provide you with individual and group advising and can refer you to resources and educational opportunities. You remain affiliated with your college advisers throughout your undergraduate career.
Staff advisers in UCSC’s academic programs (sometimes called “major advisers”) focus on areas related to a student’s major or minor. Major advisers can help you understand declaration and major requirements, and can assist you in planning a program of study. They can help you identify enrichment opportunities within the major and refer you to appropriate faculty advisers. Faculty advisers may serve as mentors in your field, recommending courses and helping you refine your educational goals. For transfer students and for students in many majors (such as those in the physical and biological sciences, engineering, and the arts), it is important to review information provided by major advisers prior to your first quarter on campus.
For help in assessing career interests and exploring and choosing career options, contact the Career Center. The staff also can assist you with choosing a major, résumé preparation, interviewing skills, applying for an internship, and job-search strategies.
If you plan to go on to graduate school, consult with faculty in your major. Faculty advisers are the best people to ask about the quality of graduate programs in your field of interest. In addition, the Career Center offers advising and workshops on applying to graduate school.
If you intend to pursue graduate study in a field not offered as a major at UCSC, you can often prepare for your intended program through one of the campus’s regular majors. You must plan your studies carefully, however, and advising will be especially important. The Career Center has information that will help prepare you for graduate and professional programs. The following are some fields in which UCSC alumni have pursued graduate study and successful careers:
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Business
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Conservation
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Film
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Finance
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Guidance and counseling
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Health fields
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High-tech industry
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Human resources
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Industrial and labor relations
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International relations
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Law
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Marketing
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Museum administration
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Public administration
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Urban planning
The Career Center includes advisers with specialized expertise in preparing for careers in medicine or another health-related field (including dentistry, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacology, physical therapy, public health, and veterinary medicine), and in preparing for careers in law.
A number of programs provide additional academic and comprehensive support services to students with specific needs. Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), Services for Transfer and Re-Entry Students (STARS), and the Disability Resource Center are described below. Counseling on personal and family issues is available through Counseling and Psychological Services. If you need assistance that is not listed in this section, consult The Navigator or check with your college advisers.
Your first step in accessing advising at UCSC is to attend Orientation.
Orientation
Orientation is an indispensable resource for all students. Students who attend Orientation feel better prepared, encounter fewer problems, and receive priority registration. Attending Orientation is one of the most important steps a new student takes in preparing for the transition to university life, providing the academic advising needed to make informed decisions about classes and majors, and the opportunity to get questions answered, and learn more about the university.
Orientation begins the process of academic advising and provides a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of UCSC. While at Orientation, students enroll in classes, learn to access campus resources, meet with college and department advisers, meet new and continuing students, learn about the many student organizations on campus, attend a resource fair, take pictures for their student ID card, attend breakout sessions, and gain valuable student life information. We urge students to attend Orientation to help facilitate their academic and personal success at the university.
Summer Orientation is held several times over the course of the summer and includes separate programs for first-year and transfer students, as well as a concurrent program for family members.
Fall Welcome Week, scheduled approximately five days prior to the beginning of fall quarter, is the next step in the orientation and advising process for new students entering fall quarter. It provides students with an opportunity to settle into life at UCSC, take advantage of important services, and continue their academic advising.
Students make their reservations for Summer Orientation online through the UC Santa Cruz portal at MyUCSC.
Questions can be directed to the Office of Campus Orientation Programs at (831) 459-5468, or via e-mail to orientation@ucsc.edu. Web: orientation.ucsc.edu.
Career Center
UC Santa Cruz graduates find success in many different career fields, and their superior education is the foundation for this success. The staff at the Career Center will help you link your educational experience to the world of work. The center provides a variety of employment and career-development services to help students obtain rewarding and successful careers.
Students are encouraged to visit the Career Center early during their first year on campus. The first step is to meet with a career adviser to begin developing a focused career plan. Simply sign up online for an advising appointment. Your career adviser will show you how to research and discover the many opportunities that are available to UC Santa Cruz students and graduates. Workshops offered by the Career Center include: Selecting an Internship; Résumé and Cover Letter Writing; the Graduate and Professional School Information Workshop; Applying to Law School; and special workshops on specific majors or career fields.
Your college experience is likely to include a part-time job or internship in your area of interest. The Career Center has hundreds of opportunities available. Off-campus and on-campus employment opportunities (both work-study and non-work-study) are posted on the Career Center’s web site. For your convenience, you may apply for on-campus jobs online.
An internship is one of the best ways to gain practical work experience in your area of interest. The Career Center has a database with hundreds of opportunities in a wide variety of career fields. While visiting the center, be sure to check out the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program (CUIP). This unique internship program is designed to give participants a professionally enriching work experience on campus in one of the university’s colleges, administrative units, or academic departments. For information, visit intern.ucsc.edu/cuip.
Another interesting and challenging position is the UC Student Regent, with an annual recruitment process. For information, e-mail larojas@ucsc.edu or visit the web: careers.ucsc.edu/jobs/regent.html.
The Career Center’s resource library contains material organized in the following manner: Career Exploration, Graduate and Professional Schools, Job Search, Career Fields, Internships, and Employer Information. A computer lab links you to the top career-development sites on the web. However, the most exciting online resource is the Career Advice Network database, which contains career profiles of UCSC alumni. The members of the network have volunteered to answer questions and give career advice pertaining to their particular career field. You may contact CAN members to obtain information on educational preparation, job responsibilities, résumé preparation, and tips on how to conduct your job search.
UC Santa Cruz students and alumni looking for full-time career opportunities need look no further than SlugQuest—an online site that lists job openings targeted to UCSC graduates. You may connect to SlugQuest on the Career Center web site. Another way to obtain a career position is to participate in the On-Campus Interview Program. Corporate recruiters visit campus every fall, winter, and spring to interview and hire students. The Career Center web site has a list of participating companies.
The Career Center sponsors several major events every academic year. The Graduate and Professional School Fair brings representatives from the nation’s top universities to campus to share information about their advanced-degree programs. Job fairs, which bring hiring companies to campus, take place several times a year. Students looking for a job or internship will want to come prepared with a great résumé. Other events include the Multicultural Career Conference, which brings students and alumni together to develop mentor relationships and explore careers.
The Career Center—located at the Bay Tree Building, Room 305, in Quarry Plaza—can be reached at (831) 459-4420. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Web: careers.ucsc.edu
Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP)
The Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) provide a variety of academic and personal support programs designed to improve the retention and academic success of first-generation college students from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. EOP helps to ensure these students successfully complete their undergraduate education and acquire the skills to prepare for graduate and professional school, as well as for future leadership roles. Below are the programs and services offered through EOP.
Advising Programs and Services
EOP Advising programs and services are designed to facilitate personal growth and development for the purpose of achieving academic and social integration, academic achievement, and exposure to opportunities beyond the baccalaureate degree. These programs and services include:
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Academic advising and personal counseling
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Time-management and study-skills development
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Referrals to resources, programs, and opportunities
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Peer advising
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Community events
Bridge Program
The main goal of the Bridge program is to deepen and personalize the UCSC experience. The program offers a select group of EOP students special academic and personal support to facilitate a smooth transition from high school to the university. This support fosters academic achievement and social integration into campus life, helping to ensure a successful first-year experience.
Support Services for AB540 Students
AB540 Student Services provides a broad range of support services designed to address the needs of AB540 students. These services are designed to address the gaps that AB540 students face within the university and enhance student achievement. Services provided to students include mentoring, community-building events and programs, personal advising, and student-based support.
Textbook Lending Program
This program is designed to assist students in obtaining required textbooks that they would not be able to purchase on their own due to cost. To receive textbook assistance, students must demonstrate financial hardship and must have exhausted all other forms of financial aid available to them. This includes all forms of loans (subsidized and unsubsidized).
Pre-Graduate Programs
EOP also sponsors two pre-graduate programs designed to increase the placement of EOP students in professional and doctoral programs and to encourage the pursuit of academic careers.
The Graduate Information Program (GIP) supports students seeking to pursue graduate and professional school education. Services include:
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Graduate and professional school advising
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Graduate school application and internship-related workshops
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Graduate school resource library and web site
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Trips to conferences and forums
The Faculty Mentor Program (FMP) is a two-quarter undergraduate research program designed to encourage and prepare students for future graduate study within the arts, humanities, and social sciences. FMP includes:
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Hands-on research apprenticeship with UCSC faculty
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Participation in a two-quarter undergraduate research seminar
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Library research skills development
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Graduate school application workshops and support
For information about any of these programs, please call the EOP office at (831) 459-2296 or visit eop.ucsc.edu.
MARC/MBRS Programs
The Division of Physical and Biological Sciences sponsors two National Institutes of Health grant programs: the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program and the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) Program. Though separately funded, the projects share a similar mandate: to increase the number of well-prepared ethnic-minority students who are admitted to graduate or professional schools in biomedical sciences. The program seeks students from groups that have traditionally been denied equal access to educational opportunities in the science professions.
Continuing students who have successfully completed specific introductory courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics are invited to apply for the MARC and IMSD programs, which begin in the summer and introduce students to program faculty, their research, and research techniques. After students successfully complete the summer program, they have the opportunity to work in a faculty lab for the following academic year. Financial compensation is available for laboratory research and participation in the summer program.
MARC and IMSD are run in conjunction with UC LEADS and CAMP, and we also work with other offices to help make the most of campus resources and provide practical assistance with the graduate school admission process. In addition, the staff maintains an information file on summer enrichment programs (which can provide you with vital research experience), conferences, professional development workshops, journal clubs, and seminar courses.
The program’s well-equipped student office provides additional academic support and a convenient place for students to meet. The staff encourages students to make use of this study space and assists them in learning to use the office’s personal computers.
For further information, contact the MARC, IMSD, CAMP and UC LEADS Office, 369–381 Thimann Laboratories, (831) 459-4770, or e-mail malika@ucsc.edu. Web: stemdiv.ucsc.edu.
Academic Excellence Program (ACE)
The mission of the ACE Program is to increase the diversity of students receiving bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by offering discussion sections for selected mathematics and science courses. These discussion sections replace registrar-scheduled secondary discussion sections for ACE students.
Helping students excel in gateway mathematics and science courses is our focus. The ACE sections provide a structured workshop setting where students learn by teaching each other. This collaborative method reinforces critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Enrollment in ACE is limited. A professional section leader with an academic background in the subject facilitates the workshops. In addition, undergraduate co-leaders/peer mentors who have excelled in the course assist the section leader. This brings the student-to-teacher ratio to approximately 12:1. Students also meet with a peer mentor, who shares study tips and techniques as well as opportunities for undergraduate teaching and research internships. Other opportunities available through ACE include office hours, study groups, and career counseling. ACE students join a community of STEM scholars dedicated to academic excellence and success.
The program received the 1999 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. This award, presented by the White House and administered by the National Science Foundation, is given to individuals or programs that have demonstrated outstanding and sustained mentoring efforts for students underrepresented in science, mathematics, and engineering.
Applications are accepted quarterly for the upcoming term. Priority is given to students who are studying STEM disciplines and who are first-generation college students. For more information, visit the web site: ace.ucsc.edu.
Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP)
Also known as the MESA Engineering Program, MEP is the university-level component of Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA), a statewide program of the University of California Office of the President. At UC Santa Cruz, MEP is supported by the Baskin School of Engineering. Its goal is to promote the retention and graduation of a diverse population of students, especially those from groups that remain the most underrepresented in engineering studies.
MEP provides academic and personal support for engineering students who are first-generation college students, are the first in the family to pursue engineering or computer science studies, or are from a low-income (limited financial resources) or educationally disadvantaged background. MEP’s academic learning community supplements students’ undergraduate experience and encourages them to continue their education into graduate school. MEP has a strong support system and engages students’ full participation in a variety of services and activities. These include academic advising, personal counseling, tutorial services, drop-in assistance, individual and small-group study, study-skills workshops, peer-support networks, community-building activities, scholarships, and an engineering Summer Bridge program for a select group of entering first-year students.
MEP’s well-equipped study center and computer lab provides 24-hour access to computer workstations and printer, textbooks, individual lockers, and a place for students to gather and study. Students who have participated in pre-university service programs (e.g., Early Academic Outreach, Upward Bound, MESA, Talent Search, Puente, DEEP, Smith Scholastic Society) are encouraged to apply to MEP.
For further information, call (831) 459-2868, visit the web site mep.soe.ucsc.edu, or drop by the School of Engineering Undergraduate Affairs Office, 231 Baskin Engineering Building.
Services for Transfer and Re-Entry Students (STARS)
Services for Transfer and Re-Entry Students (STARS) offers a broad range of personal and academic support services for all transfer and re-entry students (undergraduates 25 years and older, graduate students 29 years and older), students who are parents regardless of age, and military veterans. These services include admissions information; orientations for new students; academic seminars courses; study-skills workshops; tutorial services; informal academic advising; drop-in assistance; social, recreational, and cultural programs; scholarships; newsletters; and study centers with computer workstations. STARS also acts as a clearinghouse for information about campus and community resources for UCSC’s large transfer and re-entry student populations.
STARS oversees two resource centers housed in different locations on campus. All current and prospective re-entry and transfer students are invited to visit. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. STARS’ main offices are in the Academic Resources Center, Rooms 206 and 216. STARS at Kresge is located at the entrance to Kresge College.
Veterans Education Team Support (VETS) is a STARS program for veterans returning to school. In this peer mentor program, veterans meet each other and receive assistance as they navigate admission and transition into university life. Ongoing personal and academic support and outreach to prospective students are also offered.
The Smith Renaissance Scholars Program, which helps foster and former foster youths pursue their educational goals, is affiliated with STARS.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCSC, a UC/community organization dedicated to continuing education, is also under the STARS umbrella. The organization hosts monthly meetings with university faculty, offers courses taught primarily by emeriti faculty, and coordinates a wide variety of peer-led interest groups. Some members take campus courses for a minimal fee through UCSC Extension’s Concurrent Enrollment.
For further information regarding all the STARS programs, call (831) 459-2552. For current programs and activities, visit the STARS web site.
Part-Time Program
If you are unable to attend the university full-time because of family obligations, employment responsibilities, or a medical condition, or you are in your final quarter before graduation, you may qualify for the Part-Time Program. This program enables students to pursue a bachelor’s degree part-time in any major offered at UC Santa Cruz. To participate, undergraduate students must file a Part-Time Program application by the appropriate deadline. Full-time students normally take three 5-credit courses per quarter; part-time students may enroll in a maximum of 10 credits.
Students approved for enrollment on a part-time basis pay the same fee as full-time students but pay only one-half of the tuition. Part-time nonresidents pay one-half of nonresident tuition. Financial aid awards may be affected by enrolling part-time. Students who use the part-time fee reduction may not also use the UC employee reduction. Applications for undergraduates are available from the Office of the Registrar, 190 Hahn Student Services Building. For more information, call (831) 459-4412, or e-mail registrar@ucsc.edu. More information is available on the Web: registrar.ucsc.edu/enrollment/part-time-program/index.html.
Simultaneous Enrollment with Other University of California Campuses
Undergraduate students enrolled at UCSC may enroll, without formal admission and without payment of additional university fees, in courses at another UC campus on a space-available basis at the discretion of the appropriate campus authorities on both campuses.
Students must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for the Simultaneous Enrollment Program: completion of a minimum of 12 credits at the home campus as a matriculated student, enrollment in a minimum of six credits and fees paid for the current term at UCSC, be in good academic standing, and demonstrate appropriate academic preparation as determined by the host campus.
Applications for undergraduates are available at the Office of the Registrar, 190 Hahn Student Services Building or online. For more information, call (831) 459-4412 or e-mail registrar@ucsc.edu. More information is available on the Web: registrar.ucsc.edu/forms/students/simultaneous-enrollment.pdf
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
The campus accommodates students with documented disabilities and welcomes their attendance at UCSC. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides the following to help meet the needs of students with disabilities: counseling and advising; assistance with enrollment; testing accommodations; alternative media such as audiobooks; adaptive equipment loans; notetaker and interpreter services; and liaison and referrals to appropriate resources, services, and agencies.
The Disability Resource Center is located at 146 Hahn Student Services Building and can be reached by phone at (831) 459-2089 (voice) or by e-mail at drc@ucsc.edu. Web: drc.ucsc.edu/
Campus access for people with mobility impairments. Transportation and Parking Services, in coordination with the DRC and Cowell Student Health Center, provides accessibility maps, vans equipped with wheelchair lifts that can transport students throughout campus, and authorization to use disabled or medical parking spaces for the disabled, which are adjacent to all campus buildings. Most buildings on campus have wheelchair-accessible ramps, modified rest rooms, and other facilities. If necessary, classes are rescheduled to meet accessibility needs.
Questions and concerns can be directed as follows:
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Education/program accessibility should be addressed to the director of the Disability Resource Center, at (831) 459-2089 (voice).
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Facility or transportation access should be directed to Facilities Access Coordinator (831) 459-3759 (voice).
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Computing access to the campus should be directed to IT Accessibility Coordinator (831) 459-2410.
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Accommodating job applicants or current employees with disabilities should be directed to (Disability Management Coordinator, Benefits Office (831) 459-4602 or Assistant Director for EEO, Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (831) 459-3676.
ROTC and Military Affairs
Students interested in participating in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) have the option of attending AFROTC classes at San José State University while taking other academic classes at UC Santa Cruz.
San José State University supports a wing of AFROTC with cadets from San José State University, Santa Clara University, Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz, and many local community colleges. The Air Force ROTC program is designed to provide instruction in leadership, management, and national security studies along with military education and training. This prepares the cadet for assignment to positions of responsibility and importance in the modern Air Force. Instruction is conducted on and off campus. This program offers all eligible students the opportunity to obtain an officer's commission in the United States Air Force while earning their college degrees.
Program Overview
Our faculty brings a wealth of experience and diversity to the program. Instructors are Active Duty Air Force officers from various career areas and provide students with a first-rate academic education and military training experience. Each faculty member also acts as a student advisor to guide students through the program and help them reach the goal of an officer’s commission in the United States Air Force.
College students wishing to commission as an Air Force officer through ROTC may enroll in a three-, three-and-a-half-, or four-year program. Students attend Air Force ROTC classes along with other college courses and receive elective academic credit. AFROTC courses are sequenced by subject area for specific and logical reasons. Please see www.sjsu.edu/depts/AFROTC/homepage.html for course information. After successfully completing all requirements, the cadets are commissioned as Air Force officers with a four-year active duty service commitment.
For information on the Air Force ROTC program, contact the Department of Aerospace Studies, AFROTC Det 045, One Washington Square, Industrial Studies Building, Room 214, San José State University, San José, CA, 95192-0051. Phone: (408) 924-2960. E-mail Det045@maxwell.af.mil or visit the web site: www.sjsu.edu/depts/AFROTC/homepage.html. Students may call or inquire about program prerequisites, scholarship availability, and class schedules at the Department of Aerospace Studies.
Undergraduate Research
At the best research universities, professors bring knowledge and creativity from their cutting-edge research into the classroom, integrating the canon of the discipline with its future directions. UC Santa Cruz takes this further with a special tradition of undergraduate research outside the classroom. UC Santa Cruz, its departments, and faculty offer undergraduates many ways to get involved in research and creative activities. These opportunities develop advanced skills and insights and an early introduction to the nature of graduate studies. Research projects can help students launch careers, secure admissions to top graduate schools, and truly impact society.
Many majors incorporate research in their senior comprehensive requirement, with options or requirements of a senior thesis, capstone project, or other creative endeavor based on students’ individual research. Other opportunities for undergraduates exist through structured internships or research programs, by joining ongoing faculty research or creative projects, or by developing their own projects under faculty supervision. The next sections discuss a sampling of UCSC’s international education, field-study, and exchange programs, which enable students to deeply enrich their undergraduate experience and education as they learn by doing.
UC LEADS
After being selected as UC LEADS scholars, students begin a two-year program of scientific research and graduate school preparation guided by individual faculty mentors and program staff. Scholars are provided with an excellent opportunity to explore their discipline, experience a research environment, and improve their opportunities for future study in their chosen field. Each scholar is mentored by a member of the UC faculty who assists the student in designing a plan of research and enrichment activities tailored to his or her individual interests and academic goals. Scholars attend the annual statewide symposium and receive funding to participate in another STEM conference of their choice each year.
The UC LEADS program is headquartered in the STEM Diversity office, along with MARC, IMSD and CAMP. To learn more about eligibility requirements and the UC LEADS program, visit graddiv.ucsc.edu/prospective/ugradopps.php or email STEM Diversity Director, Malika Bell: malika@ucsc.edu.
California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP)
CAMP is a statewide initiative that aims to support and retain underrepresented undergraduates to achieve their degrees in the biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
By integrating research and undergraduate education, CAMP creates a cohesive set of experiences that fully prepares undergraduates for graduate education and influences career choices. CAMP programs motivate participants through cooperative learning, internships, faculty mentored research, and travel to professional conferences
The CAMP program is headquartered in the STEM Diversity office along with MARC, IMSD and UC LEADS. To learn more about eligibility requirements and the CAMP program, visit graddiv.ucsc.edu/prospective/ugradopps.php or email STEM Diversity Director, Malika Bell: malika@ucsc.edu.
National Science Foundation Research Experiences
UC Santa Cruz faculty host four National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) sites. These events typically are 9–10 week summer programs and provide housing and a stipend. The UCSC programs include the Chemistry Department’s SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) program and a separate international REU in Thailand (www.chemistry.ucsc.edu/), as well as the School of Engineering’s SURF-IT (Information Technology, surf-it.soe.ucsc.edu). There are hundreds of other NSF REU programs nationwide (www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu), and faculty and advisers can help you apply.
International Education
The International Education Office (IEO) encompasses UCSC Programs Abroad and International Scholar and Student Services (ISSS).
For further information, contact the International Education Office, 104 Classroom Units Building, (831) 459-2858, e-mail: oie@ucsc.edu, Web: oie.ucsc.edu.
Programs Abroad
Programs Abroad offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to study through the University of California, Education Abroad Program (EAP) at 115 host universities and colleges in 34 countries as part of their regular UCSC academic program. The program serves students at all UC campuses and is administered by the University Office of the Education Abroad Program in Santa Barbara: eap.ucop.edu.
Additionally, UCSC Programs Abroad assists students participating in study-abroad opportunities through UCSC directly, through other UC campuses, and through privately sponsored organizations.
UCSC seeks to bring these programs within reach of all students. Extension of studies up to 15 quarters is possible when participating in a program overseas. Students receiving financial aid can apply their award to most programs abroad.
International Scholars and Students
The International Scholar and Student Services (ISSS) office serves as the official campus liaison to the U.S. government agencies that have jurisdiction over immigration matters. ISSS assists international faculty, scholars, and students with visa and immigration issues while they are at UCSC. In addition to preparing the necessary documents to apply for a U.S. visa, ISSS assists students, scholars, and faculty in maintaining their legal status while in the United States. ISSS also provides orientations, travel, and employment workshops, and information and referrals regarding financial, personal, cultural, and academic concerns. ISSS serves more than 1,000 international clients and their accompanying family members who come to the campus each year.
Fulbright Grants for Graduate Study and Research Abroad
The Division of Undergraduate Education facilitates the Fulbright annual awards competition for the Graduate Study and Research Abroad Program for currently enrolled UCSC students. Web: http://honors.ucsc.edu.
Field and Exchange Programs
UCDC Program at the UC Washington Center
The UCDC Program at the UC Washington Center in Washington, D.C., supervises and supports students who pursue internships and academic study in the nation’s capital. The program is open through a competitive application process to students in all majors who will have upper-division status by the quarter in which they participate. (Physical and biological sciences and engineering majors are eligible to participate in their sophomore year with department approval.) Students enroll for fall, winter, or spring quarter, earn 12 to 17 course credits, and continue to be registered as full-time students. (In addition, see Residence.) Applicant selection is based on academic record, a written statement, letters of recommendation, and in some cases a personal interview.
Financial-aid eligibility is maintained, and students who are eligible for financial aid may qualify for a Washington D.C. Scholarship to help cover supplemental costs.
Students live in the UC Washington Center with students from all the participating UC campuses. This provides a social and intellectual community throughout the quarter.
Interested students with strong academic records are encouraged to apply. For further information, contact the UCDC coordinator in 5 Merrill College, email ucdc@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-2855. Web: politics.ucsc.edu/undergraduate/ucdc/index.html.
Intercampus Visitor Program
UCSC students may take advantage of educational opportunities at other campuses of the University of California through the Intercampus Visitor Program. This program enables you to take courses not available at Santa Cruz, to participate in special programs, or to study with distinguished faculty at other campuses.
To qualify for participation in this program, you must be in good standing after completing at least three quarters in residence at Santa Cruz. Each host campus establishes its own criteria for accepting students from other campuses as visitors. You must also have the approval of your college. Consult with your department about how courses taken at the host campus may apply to your major requirements.
Applications are available online here. Additional information is available from the special programs coordinator in the Office of the Registrar, (831) 459-4412. The application form contains a great deal of useful information about the program and how and when to file; please read it carefully. A nonrefundable application fee of $70 is due when the application is filed.
Domestic Exchange Programs
UCSC has exchange programs with the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and the University of New Mexico (UNM). UNH is located near the New Hampshire seacoast in the picturesque colonial town of Durham, a little more than an hour from Boston, Massachusetts. UNM is located in Albuquerque, a city of approximately half a million population, situated on the banks of the Rio Grande. Both schools give students the opportunity for an educational experience in an entirely different environment.
While enrolled in the exchange program, students maintain their status at UCSC, and they are expected to return to complete their studies following enrollment at UNH or UNM. Both universities are on the semester system and students may participate in one semester or the entire academic year.
Participants are selected from among students who are in good academic standing. Selection for 2014–15 will take place during winter quarter 2014. Each department of study determines the applicability of UNH and UNM courses toward requirements for the major. Letter grades earned while at UNH and UNM will not be calculated into the UCSC GPA or the UC GPA. Further information is available from the exchange program coordinator in the Office of the Registrar, by phone at (831) 459-4412, and on the Web.
Intersegmental Cross-Enrollment
This program permits a student who is currently enrolled in a California community college or a California State University campus and who meets certain eligibility criteria to enroll in one undergraduate course at UCSC each term, on a space-available basis. A student is qualified to participate in this program if he or she meets the following requirements:
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has completed at least one term at the home campus as a matriculated student and is enrolled in at least 6 credits at the home campus during the term in which he or she seeks to cross-enroll;
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has a grade-point average of 2.0 for work completed;
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has paid tuition or fees required by the home campus for the academic term in which he or she seeks to cross-enroll;
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has appropriate academic preparation as determined by the host campus, consistent with the standard applied to currently enrolled students;
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is a California resident for tuition purposes at the home campus; and
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has not previously been admitted to and registered at UCSC.
Applications are available online at registrar.ucsc.edu/forms/students/crossenrollment.pdf. The application form contains a great deal of useful information about the program and how and when to file. Please read it carefully.
Field Programs
Many UCSC students complement their major programs with field experience or off-campus internships, which also provide opportunities for students to become involved in public service activities in the local community and throughout the world. Most of the field programs described below are open to students in a range of majors, although some are restricted to students pursuing a designated area of study. Students in all majors may apply for internships sponsored by the Career Center.
In addition to the off-campus placements provided by the programs described below, independent field study is available through some UCSC colleges and departments. Public service activities can be arranged through field programs
Community Studies Field-Study Program
Community Studies is the oldest interdisciplinary undergraduate program at UCSC. Its hallmarks are a focus on social justice and a distinctive pedagogy that integrates classroom learning with an extended six-month field study. Not only is the full-time field study a requirement of the major, it is the centerpiece of a core curriculum through which students prepare for, then immerse themselves in,a setting where they participate in and analyze the social justice work of an organization. Upon return from field study, students have the opportunity tointegrate topical and experiential learning ina capstone project (usually a senior essay) that uses their field notes as a key source for analysis.With the guidance of faculty and program staff advisers, Community Studies students choose field placements related to one of the program’s areas of focus: either health justice or urban political economy. Most field placements are in California, although students have completed their field studies throughout the U.S. and around the world. Field placements have included community health clinics, women’s and feminist organizations, immigrant-rights centers, media and policy advocacy organizations, homeless resource and support groups, sustainable development projects, queer and transgender organizations, neighborhood or workers’ collectives, civil rights groups, community food security programs, legal clinics, community-based cultural organizations, programs for seniors, tenant or labor unions, HIV/AIDS advocacy groups, harm reduction programs, government agencies and the offices of elected officials, and still other organizations with a social justice mission. As political, economic, cultural and technological landscapes shift, so do the needs and venues for social justice organizing. Throughout its history Community Studies has been noteworthy for being attuned and responsive to the dynamics of social justice work and related innovations in field-study opportunities.
The practical experience gained from the six-month field study provides graduates with many choices. About half go on to graduate work in education, urban studies, public health, public administration, social work, planning, law, policy studies, medicine, nursing, or academic disciplines like sociology, anthropology, and politics. Others enter the work world directly, in many cases continuing with non-profit agencies like those in which they did their field study. Community Studies graduates are also social entrepreneurs, community organizers, program directors, public officials, teachers, therapists, librarians, social workers, news directors, union officials, labor organizers, forest management consultants, reporters, youth workers, and artists. According to a recent alumni survey, almost 100 alumni have founded nonprofit social justice organizations, and many more have served on nonprofit boards and/or in executive director positions.
The field study program is open to Community Studies majors only. The entire major usually takes two years to complete. More information about Community Studies can be found at communitystudies.ucsc.edu.
Economics Field-Study Program
The Economics Department offers its majors the opportunity to integrate their academic knowledge with career-related work. The field-study program places students in internships under the supervision of a faculty sponsor and a professional in the workplace. Students can select from a wide variety of field placements such as accounting firms, community nonprofits, government agencies, brokerage firms, marketing agencies, banks, and businesses in Santa Cruz and beyond. Students apply and prepare for field study a quarter in advance. Acceptance into the field-study program is determined by academic standing, class level, and successful completion of Economics 100A, 100B, and 113 (see Economics courses). Students may earn a maximum of 10 credits and complete up to two quarters in a field placement.
Along with the training and supervision by a professional in the workplace, students receive guidance from a faculty sponsor who directs their academic project. Completion of this project and the job supervisor's evaluation of performance earn the student credit. Economics Field Study (course 193 or 198, see Economics courses) does not satisfy an upper-division requirement for the major and is available on a passing/not passing (P/NP) basis only.
Interested students should make an appointment or stop by the Economics Field-Study Office: 401 Engineering 2 Bldg.; call (831) 459-5028; or e-mail econintern@ucsc.edu. Web: economics.ucsc.edu
Environmental Studies Field and Internship Program
Open to all UCSC students, the Environmental Studies Field and Internship Program is an integral academic component of the environmental studies major, and it augments the research and professional development of undergraduate students (see Environmental Studies). Interns are placed, individually and in groups, in both on-campus and off-campus agencies, where their work often results in publications and resource documents, and in many cases serves as the primary basis for policy formation within a particular agency or organization. Placements have included research for small businesses; learning all aspects of running an organic farm; writing policy documents for state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and planning departments; assignments as natural history interpretive guides for state and national parks; and apprentice positions with consultants, architects, solar-energy designers, agroecologists, and teachers. Student intern placements are also obtainable working with coffee growers, teachers, and agricultural specialists in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Mexico.
Part- and full-time placements are available, and students may receive 2 to 15 course credits for their work. Each student’s placement is supervised by a team of supporters: a faculty adviser, field sponsor, and the internship coordinator. Students spend 12 to 15 hours each week on their assignments for every 5 credits they receive.
Internships and fieldwork are designed to complement a student’s course work and are available for both lower- and upper-division credit. Often, the internship leads to a summer job or employment after graduation. Qualified environmental studies majors may undertake a senior internship to fulfill the department’s comprehensive requirement. In addition, internships provide a fieldwork component for some environmental studies courses. Undergraduates are also afforded ample opportunities to intern on faculty and graduate-student research projects.
Further information is available from the Environmental Studies Field and Internship Program Office, 491 Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, (831) 459-2104, e-mail: ckrohn@ucsc.edu. Web: envs.ucsc.edu/internships
Global Information Internship Program
The Global Information Internship Program (GIIP) is an instructional program at UCSC sponsored by the Center for Global, International and Regional Studies (see CGIRS). Guided by administrative and technical support from staff and faculty, GIIP is organized as a student-managed service-learning program that transfers the benefits of information technology to the world’s excluded majority. The program places highly motivated interns—trained in social science and information technology—with nongovernmental organizations and civic groups in the U.S. and abroad. GIIP’s mission is twofold: to upgrade the informational capacity of excluded communities while nurturing a new generation of information-savvy student leaders committed to advancing the public good.
GIIP interns acquire their skills by enrolling in 140 hours of instruction in Sociology 30A-B-C over a nine-month period. Sixty hours of technical training consists of computer-based instruction. The other 80 hours are devoted to working on projects involving one of GIIP’s six themes: Global Justice, Women’s Empowerment, Sustainable Environments, Human Rights, Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Education and Social Enterprise.
For more information, visit: sociology.ucsc.edu/undergraduate/programs-internships/giip.html or call (831) 459-1572.
Health Sciences Internship Program
A requirement of the Human Biology major, the Health Sciences Internship Program offers students a unique opportunity for personal growth and professional development. Paired with a professional mentor, students spend one quarter interning in a health-related setting. Placement opportunities cover a broad range, from individual physicians to community clinics and hospitals, hospices, non-profits, and public health agencies. The Health Sciences Internship Coordinator works with students to prepare them for their internship and maintains a list of appropriate placements. Junior and senior health sciences majors only are eligible to apply. Applications are due two quarters in advance. For further information, contact the Health Sciences Internship Coordinator, Caroline Berger, at (831) 459-5647 or cmberger@ucsc.edu.
Latin American and Latino Studies Field-Study and Internship Opportunities
All majors are strongly encouraged to undertake either (1) a field study in Latin America, the Caribbean, or a Latino/a community in the U.S.; or (2) formal academic study abroad through the Education Abroad Program (EAP). These paths are the best ways to improve language skills, explore the nature and direction of specific academic and career interests in relation to Latin American and Latino studies, and deepen cross-cultural understanding and relationships based on personal experience.
Field studies comprise independent, community-based study projects for academic credit, done under faculty sponsorship and arranged on an individual basis. Students can do full-time field study for one quarter for full academic credit, part-time field study scheduled in conjunction with formal course work at UCSC, or field study as an extension of the Education Abroad Program (EAP). Projects vary widely, but students who want to develop a field-study proposal are expected to prepare for it by acquiring fluency in the appropriate language, prior cross-cultural experience, and upper-division course work on the region and/or topic that is to be the focus of the study.
Students who wish to pursue a full-time field study are advised to speak with their faculty advisor to assess their eligibility and preparation, as well as to receive needed guidance, ideally a quarter or two in advance.
Many of the students who have done full-time field study have developed a senior thesis based on that work. Students who pursue a part-time field study are highly encouraged to discuss their plan with their faculty advisor as well.
Local opportunities for internships and field study in Latino/a communities on California’s Central Coast are numerous. Credit for up to three upper-division courses may be applied toward the major from field study; however, course credit from field study and study abroad combined may not exceed three upper-division courses. Students should check the Latin American and Latino Studies Department web site for further information regarding the field-study process and course credit. A listing of local field-study programs and petition forms are available at the LALS Department office, 32 Merrill Academic Building.
For more information, contact the LALS office at (831) 459-2119 (aalvares@ucsc.edu).
Psychology Field-Study Program
The Psychology Field-Study Program provides qualified students an opportunity to integrate what they have learned in the classroom with direct service to a community agency. Each year, more than 200 students develop new skills and clarify personal and professional goals by working as interns in schools, criminal justice programs, and mental health and other social service agencies, where they are supervised by a professional within that organization. Psychology faculty members sponsor field-study students, helping them to synthesize their intern experience with psychology course work and guiding them through an academic project.
Junior and senior psychology majors in good academic standing are eligible to apply for this competitive program. There is a minimum commitment of two quarters. Information can be viewed on the web at psychology.ucsc.edu/undergraduate/field-study/index.html. Interested students should attend an information meeting, held every quarter, for a general overview and application. The schedule for each quarter is posted at the start of instruction.
Education Field Programs
The M.A. in Education/California SB 2042 Preliminary Teacher Credential program provides students with necessary credential preparation for K–12 teaching in the California public schools. Preparation is offered for the Multiple Subject Preliminary credential (grades K–6), and the Single Subject Preliminary credential (grades 7–12), in the following subject areas: English, math, social science, and science. Students may also pursue a Bilingual Authorization in Spanish.
Students pursuing the Education M.A./California Preliminary Credential must complete an extensive student teaching course sequence. Student teaching placements are restricted to enrolled students.
The student-teaching sequence consists of five courses: Education 200, 201, 201A (single subject only), 202A, B, and C. The first and second quarters of the sequence involve part-time placements in public schools in Santa Cruz County, as well as a few schools in North Monterey County. The third quarter of student teaching is a full-time experience in which students gradually take over full responsibility for the daily instructional program of the classroom in which they are placed. Substantial fieldwork is also incorporated in other courses required for the teaching credential.
The minor in education is an undergraduate program in which students explore the history of educational thought and philosophy, the politics and economics of education, learning theory and pedagogy, and issues of cultural and linguistic diversity. As a part of the six-course minor sequence, students engage in field study in schools through Education 180, Introduction to Teaching.
For more information, see Education, or contact the Education Department, 2140B McHenry Library Building, (831) 459-3249. E-mail address: education@ucsc.edu; Web: education.ucsc.edu
M.S. in Computer Engineering (Network Engineering)
The Department of Computer Engineering offers a distance-learning version of its M.S. in computer engineering, with a concentration in network engineering, in collaboration with UCSC Extension. Required and elective courses are presented in Silicon Valley using real-time video technology and faculty in person. This part-time University of California M.S. degree program can be completed in three years. For further information, contact msce@soe.ucsc.edu.
Summer Session Courses and Programs
UC Santa Cruz Summer Session offers students an opportunity to make progress on their degrees in courses that are often smaller than in the regular academic year. A broad range of courses is included in the curriculum, with a slight emphasis on offering required and upper-division courses.
Two sessions are offered. While most courses are five weeks, some courses are longer to ensure that the material can be taught effectively and learned successfully. Tutoring and other academic support is available. Additionally, special programs (e.g., the Dickens Project) are offered through summer session.
Registration fees are the same for California residents and nonresidents. Students may enroll in several classes, with a recommended maximum of 15 credits per session. Comprehensive information, including an application, is available on line at summer.ucsc.edu. Alternatively, call (831) 459-2524.
UCSC Extension in Silicon Valley
University of California Extension is the year-round continuing-education service linking the University of California with the people, corporations, and communities of the state.
UCSC Extension is located in Santa Clara and primarily serves adults who live and work in the south bay, peninsula, and east bay communities, as well as on the central coast. Programs are open enrollment and include both classroom-based and online courses spanning multiple weeks and scheduled on workday evenings and weekends. Certificate programs focus on advanced professional education and are oriented toward immediate application in the workplace. While most certificates can be completed within one year, course work is graded and substantial, typically involving lectures, readings, presentations, and final projects or examinations. The key program areas at UCSC Extension Silicon Valley are:
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Business and Management
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Engineering and Technology
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Applied and Natural Sciences
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Education
Extension programs are open to any adult but cater to those who hold undergraduate and graduate degrees and who would benefit from additional university-level professional study. The instructors are degreed working professionals with decades of expertise in the fields that match the subject areas they teach. In some cases, they are faculty from UC and other educational institutions.
Lab-based and classroom sessions are held at UCSC Extension’s Santa Clara facility or online.
UCSC Extension also offers professional education programs on a contract basis to local corporations and agencies through its academic departments, which also deliver management, engineering, bioscience, and education courses and certificates on site.
Regularly enrolled UCSC students may obtain degree credit for Extension courses numbered 1–199. Upon submission of the Extension transcript to the Office of Admissions, the course credit may be applied toward a bachelor’s degree at UCSC. Extension courses numbered other than 1–199 are not applicable to a UCSC degree. However, many Extension courses are recognized for graduate degree credit by other universities. Check the Extension catalog for details. Comprehensive program descriptions and course offerings are listed on the web at ucsc-extension.edu. To be placed on the mailing list for a catalog, call (408) 861-3700. The mailing address for UCSC Extension Silicon Valley is 2505 Augustine Drive, Santa Clara, California 95054-3303.
Open Campus/Concurrent Enrollment
Concurrent Enrollment through Extension is a cooperative arrangement between UC Santa Cruz and UCSC Extension Silicon Valley that enables members of the public to enroll in one or two regular UCSC undergraduate or graduate courses per quarter for credit. The program is administered by UCSC Extension Silicon Valley, and course credit granted appears on a UCSC Extension Silicon Valley transcript. Participants must meet certain criteria outlined in the Concurrent Enrollment application. An application fee is charged for each quarter of enrollment in addition to course fees. A first-time application filed at least one week prior to the first day of instruction for the quarter has a $65 fee; subsequent applications filed at least one week prior to the first day of instruction for the quarter have a $20 fee. Applications filed later than one week prior to the first day of instruction for the quarter have a $100 fee.
Concurrent Enrollment through Extension may be used as a path toward a part-time or full-time degree program or as a way of studying subjects of personal or occupational interest. Credit earned through this program may be used toward degree requirements, when applicable, if participants subsequently seek admission to the university and are accepted.
Seniors 62 and older pay reduced fees and do not pay the application fee. Financial aid is not available to participants in the Concurrent Enrollment program.
For further information and to obtain the application packet, contact UCSC Extension Silicon Valley, 2505 Augustine Drive, Suite 100, Santa Clara, CA 95054-3003, (831) 861-3700 or go to www.ucsc.edu-extension.edu/open-campus.
Revised: 11/25/13
