Office of the Registrar
University of California, Santa Cruz General Catalog

Undergraduate Academic Program

Planning Your Academic Program

A t 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. For specific information on how courses are organized, see the Introduction to 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. You may exceed four years with the approval of an academic adviser from your college.

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 Subject A requirement. You also begin to fulfill the general education requirements, which expose you to a range of disciplines, and you may begin courses in your field.

If you are uncertain about your choice of major, you may explore several fields of study during your first two years at Santa Cruz. You are expected to declare your major by the end of your sophomore year. 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 a timely manner; contact the department for advising.

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 find it helpful to complete courses that fulfill campus general education requirements—as well as any lower-division requirements for their intended major that are offered at their current campus—before coming to Santa Cruz. 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:

  • Earn a minimum of 180 credits, each with a grade of D or better (or Pass)
  • Satisfy the university requirements in American history and institutions and in Subject A (English composition)
  • Meet the UCSC residence requirement
  • Satisfy each of the campus general education requirements with a course graded C or better (or Pass)
  • Satisfy the requirements of your UCSC college
  • 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.
  • Have a grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all letter-graded courses taken at UCSC and other University of California campuses
  • 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 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 (see Advising: From Course Selection to Careers).

Keep copies of your own records, including your transcripts from other institutions, admission test scores, Transfer Credit Summary, UCSC quarterly academic record reports, 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 credits.) The UCSC Office of Admissions determines which courses are transferable.

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University Requirements

The Santa Cruz campus administers three requirements for graduation from the University of California: (1) American history and institutions, (2) Subject A: English composition, 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:†

  • By achieving a score of 550 or higher on the College Board SAT II: Subject Test in American History
  • By achieving a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in American History, or by achieving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IBH History of Americas Examination
  • By satisfactorily completing a college-level course in American history and institutions
  • By certification of completion of the requirement on a transcript from an accredited California institution of higher education
  • By completing an acceptable history or government course in high school that satisfies the subject requirement for admission to the university.

*Foreign students with an F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visa are exempted from the American history and institutions requirement at the time they declare their candidacy for graduation. You can verify your exemption by bringing your passport to the Office of International Education, 205 Classroom Unit Building. Call (831) 459-2858 for more information.

†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.


Subject A: English Composition

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:

  • By achieving a score of 680 or higher on the College Board SAT II: Subject Test
    in Writing
  • By achieving a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in English, or by achieving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IBH English Language A1 Examination
  • By achieving a score of 8 or higher on the UC systemwide Subject A Examination
  • By demonstrating an acceptable level of proficiency on UCSC’s placement examination, given several times during the year
  • Particularly for transfer students, by completing at another institution an acceptable college-level course of at least 4 quarter credits, or the equivalent, in English composition with a grade of C or better

California high school seniors who have been admitted to UCSC must take the universitywide Subject A examination given in May, unless they have already satisfied the requirement.

Residence

Every candidate for a bachelor’s degree must be registered at UCSC for a minimum of three terms. (A term is a fall, winter, or spring quarter in which a student completes 6 or more credits. Each UCSC Summer Session in which you complete at least 2 credits is the equivalent of half a term’s residence.) 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. No more than 18 of the 35 credits may be completed in 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.

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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; and an understanding of the nature of ethical and moral choice. The formal requirements described here should be considered foundations for exploration.

There are nine categories of general education requirements (see table below, 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. See the list of Courses That Fulfill General Education Requirements. The list is subject to change. You should check the Schedule of Classes each quarter for the most up-to-date information.

Some courses satisfy more than one general education requirement, so the total number of required courses may be 9 to 14.

Types of 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 designatedcollege courses fulfill this requirement)

T

15
Quantitative course Q 5
Composition course C 5
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.

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, history of art and visual culture, film and digital media, 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; see also the list of Courses That Fulfill General Education Requirements. 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 (C and W codes). These courses stress explicit attention to the craft of writing. Having satisfied the Subject A requirement by the end of your first year of enrollment at UCSC (see above for a description of the Subject A requirement), you must complete two 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 through a placement exam or by passing a composition course (C code). Writing 1, Composition and Rhetoric, is the usual course. You must fulfill the composition requirement 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, history of art and visual culture, film and digital media, 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. For additional ways to pursue these topics, see Ethnic Studies.

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

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 at left, Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IBH) Examinations.

AP and IBH Examination Credit toward Degree Requirements

Certain departments also allow prospective majors to obtain waivers for prerequisite courses. (Please see table below). In all cases, a student should contact the particular department to discuss his or her plans with an adviser as soon as possible. Please note that approval is not automatic; a petition must be filed with most departments.

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Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IBH) Examinations, 2003–04

AP credit earned with a score of 3, 4, or 5 is applicable toward the total credits required for graduation and the UCSC campuswide general education (GE) requirements as indicated below. Please note restrictions. IBH credit requires a score of 5, 6, or 7. If AP and IBH exams are taken in the same subject area, credit is limited to one exam.

Subject Exam Quarter Credits General Education Requirements

IBH Visual Arts

AP Studio Art
Drawing, 2-D Design, or 3-D Design

8

8

Satisfies the A.

Any AP exam satisfies the A. Maximum of 8 credits granted for all AP exams.

AP Art History

8

Satisfies one IH* and the A.

IBH Biology or AP Biology

8

Satisfies one IN.

IBH Chemistry or AP Chemistry

8

Satisfies one IN.

IBH Classical Greek or IBH Latin

AP Latin: Virgil or Literature

8


4

Either IBH exam satisfies one IH**.


Either AP exam satisfies one IH**. Both earn credit.

IBH Computer Science

AP Computer Science
A
AB

8


2
4

Satisfies one IN.


AB exam satisfies one IN. Maximum of 4 credits granted for both AP exams

IBH Economics

AP Economics
Microeconomics or Macroeconomics

8


4

Satisfies one IS.


Either AP exam satisfies one IS. Both earn credit.

IBH English Language A1

AP English
Language and Composition or Literature and Composition

8


8

Satisfies one IH**, Subject A, and the C.

Either AP exam satisfies one IH** and Subject A. AP score of 4 or 5 satisfies the C. Maximum of 8 credits granted for both AP exams.

AP International English Language

0

 

AP Environmental Science

4

Does not satisfy any GE.

IBH Geography

AP Human Geography

8

4

Does not satisfy any GE.

Does not satisfy any GE.

AP Government and Politics
United States or Comparative

4

Either exam satisfies one IS. Both earn credit.

IBH History
Africa, Americas, East & Southeast Asia/Oceania,
South Asia/Middle East, Eruope, or Islamic

AP History: European, United States, or World

8

 

 

8

Satisfies one IH.

 

 

Any AP exam satisfies one IH. All earn credit

IBH Language A1, A2, B, Second Language

AP French, German, Spanish Language


8


8


Does not satisfy any GE. All earn credit.


Does not satisfy any GE. All earn credit.

AP French, Spanish
Literature


8


Satisfies one IH. Both earn credit.

IBH Mathematics

AP Mathematics
Calculus AB
Calculus BC

8


4
8

Satisfies one IN and the Q.


Either AP exam satisfies one IN and the Q. Maximum of 8 credits granted for both AP exams.

IBH Music or AP Music Theory

8

Satisfies the A.

IBH Philosophy

8

Satisfies one IH.

IBH Physics

AP Physics
B
C Mechanics or C Electricity and Magnetism

8


8
4

Satisfies one IN.


Any one AP exam satisfies one IN. Maximum of 8 credits granted for all AP exams.

IBH Psychology

AP Psychology

8

4

Satisfies one IS.

Satisfies one IS.

IBH Social/Cultural Anthropology

8

Satisfies one IS.

AP Statistics

4

Satisfies one IN and the Q.

IBH Theater Arts

8

Satisfies one IH* and the A.

*Only one IH will be granted from art history and theatre arts. **Only one IH will be granted from classics, English, and literature. †Only one IN will be granted from mathematics and statistics.

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Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IBH) Examinations: Prerequisite Course Waivers, 2003–04

Certain departments allow prospective majors to obtain waivers for prerequisite courses. Please note that approval is not automatic; a petition must be filed with most departments. In all cases, students should contact the department adviser as early as possible to discuss their academic plans. The following departments and programs will not waive courses: Art, History, Language Program, Legal Studies Program, Literature, Music, Physics, and Politics. The following departments offer placement tests to determine appropriate course level and enrollment: Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Language Program, Mathematics, and Music

Subject Exam Score Department Course or Placement Exam Waived
AP Studio Art 3, 4, 5 History of Art and Visual Culture One lower-division studio course may be waived. Contact the History of Art and Visual Culture Department. AP Art History may not be used in lieu of lower-division courses for the major.
IBH Biology 5, 6, 7

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Bioinformatics

Biological Sciences: General Biology; Ecology and Evolution; Marine Biology; Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

May substitute for Biology 3 (exempt from Biology placement exam). Contact the Biological Sciences Department.
AP Biology 3, 4, 5

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Bioinformatics

Biological Sciences: General Biology; Ecology and Evolution; Marine Biology; Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

May substitute for Biology 3 (exempt from Biology placement exam). Contact the Biological Sciences Department.
AP Chemistry

4

 

 

 

 

 

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biological Sciences: General Biology; Ecology and Evolution; Marine Biology; Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Earth Sciences

Engineering: Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering

Waives Chemistry 1A and allows enrollment in Chemistry 1B and 1M.

4, 5 Environmental Studies May substitute for Environmental Studies 23. Contact Environmental Studies Dept.

5

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biological Sciences: General Biology; Ecology and Evolution; Marine Biology; Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Earth Sciences

Engineering: Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering

Waives Chemistry 1A, 1B, and 1C; however, the laboratories Chemistry 1M and 1N are still required. May petition for a lab waiver by presenting high school laboratory notebook/reports to the Chemistry Department adviser for review. If the petition and approval process is completed before September, may enroll in Organic Chemistry (subject to space availability).
AP Computer Science A 4, 5 Engineering: Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems Management May substitute for Computer Science 12A. Contact the School of Engineering.
AP Computer Science AB 4, 5 Engineering: Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems Management May substitute for Computer Science 12A and 12B. Contact the School of Engineering.
AP Economics:
Macroeconomics
4, 5 Business Management Economics, Economics, Global Economics, Information Systems Management May substitute for Economics 2. Contact the Economics Department.
AP Economics:
Microeconomics
4, 5 Business Management Economics, Economics, Global Economics, Information Systems Management May substitute for Economics 1. Contact the Economics Department
AP Mathematics:
Calculus AB

3

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biological Sciences: General Biology; Ecology and Evolution; Marine Biology; Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mathematics

May substitute for Mathematics 3. Contact the Mathematics Department.

 

 

 

Engineering: Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems Management May substitute for Mathematics 3 or Engineering 3. Contact the School of Engineering.
3, 4, 5 Environmental Studies

May satisfy the precalculus requirement. Contact the Environmental Studies Department.

4, 5

Psychology

May satisfy the precalculus requirement and the prerequisite for Psychology 2. Contact the Psychology Department.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biological Sciences: General Biology; Ecology and Evolution; Marine Biology; Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

Earth Sciences

Mathematics

May substitute for Mathematics 11A or 19A (although enrollment in Mathematics 19A is recommended for proposed majors in mathematics or the physical and biological sciences). Contact the Mathematics Department.


Engineering: Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems Management May substitute for Mathematics 19A. Contact the School of Engineering.
AP Mathematics:
Calculus BC

3

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biological Sciences:
General Biology; Ecology and Evolution; Marine Biology; Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mathematics

May substitute for Mathematics 11A or 19A (although enrollment in Mathematics 19A is recommended for proposed majors in mathematics or the physical and biological sciences). Contact the Mathematics Department.

Engineering: Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems Management May substitute for Mathematics 19A (although enrollment in Mathematics 19A is recommended for proposed majors in the School of Engineering). Contact the School of Engineering.
3, 4, 5 Environmental Studies

May satisfy the precalculus requirement. Contact the Environmental Studies Department.

4, 5

Psychology

May satisfy precalculus requirement and prerequisite for Psychology 2. Contact the Psychology Department.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biological Sciences: General Biology; Ecology and Evolution;Marine Biology; Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Earth Sciences

Mathematics

May substitute for Mathematics 11A and 11B or Mathematics 19A and 19B. Contact the Mathematics Department.

Engineering: Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering,
Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems Management
May substitute for Mathematics 19A and 19B. Contact the School of Engineering.
AP Psychology 4, 5 Psychology May substitute for Psychology 1 (although enrollment in Psychology 1 is recommended). Contact the Psychology Department.
AP Statistics

4, 5

 


Environmental Studies

May substitute for the Engineering 5 or 7 prerequisite.
Contact the Environmental Studies Department.

5 Engineering: Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems Management May substitute for Engineering 5 or 7. Contact the School of Engineering.

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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 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 theCalifornia community colleges, 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. 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.

Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)

The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a series of courses 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 table, this page). 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 must complete the IGETC prior to transfer or they will be required to satisfy the UCSC general education requirements. All courses must be completed with a grade of C (2.00) 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 (2.00) or better.

IGETC Subject and Unit Requirements
Subject Area Courses Required Units/Credits Required
1. English Communication
One course in English composition and one course in critical thinking/English composition. (Students
transferring to CSU must take an additional course in oral communication.)
2 courses 6 semester units or 8-10 quarter units
2. Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning 1 course 3 semester units or 4-5 quarter units
3. Arts and Humanities
Three courses with at least one from the arts and
one from the humanities.
3 courses 9 semester units or 12-15 quarter units
4. Social and Behavioral Sciences

Three courses from at least two disciplines or an interdisciplinary sequence.
3 courses 9 semester units or 12-15 quarter units
5. Physical and Biological Sciences
One physical science course and one biological science course, at least one of which includes a laboratory.
2 courses 7-9 semester units or 9-12 quarter units
6. Language Other Than English
Proficiency equivalent to two years of high school in the same language. (Not required of students transferring to CSU.)
Proficiency Proficiency
Total 11 courses 34 semester units

Source: Student Academic Services, Office of the President, University of California, 1991.

Major Requirements and Course Prerequisites

Students who believe they have taken courses at other institutions that satisfy either major requirements or UCSC course prerequisites should contact the sponsoring department 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 first-year students—including some incoming transfer students—are required to complete. College requirements are outlined in the list below. The core courses are described more fully in the individual college descriptions.

College Eight

  • College Eight 80, Environment and Society, fall quarter

Transfer students with fewer than 45 transferable quarter credits are required to take the core course.

College Nine

  • College Nine 80A, 80B, or 80H, International and Global Perspectives: A Writing and Discussion Seminar, fall quarter

Transfer students with fewer than 45 transferable quarter credits are required to take the core course.

College Ten

  • College Ten 80A, 80B, or 80H, Social Justice and Community: A Writing and Discussion Seminar, fall quarter

Transfer students with fewer than 45 transferable quarter credits are required to take the core course.

Cowell

  • Cowell 80, The Cowell Core Course, fall quarter
  • Computing skill requirement: satisfied by completing any UCSC computer science or computer engineering course

Transfer students with fewer than 30 transferable quarter credits are required to fulfill these college requirements.

Crown

  • Crown 80 or 80H, Ethical Issues in Emerging Technologies: Transgenics, Clones, Cyborgs and Artificial Intelligence, fall quarter

Transfer students with fewer than 45 transferable quarter credits are required to take the core course.

Kresge

  • Kresge 80, Cultural Intersections, fall quarter

Transfer students with fewer than 30 transferable quarter credits are required to take the core course.

Merrill

  • Merrill 80 or 80X, Cultural Identities and Global Consciousness, fall quarter

Transfer students with fewer than 45 transferable quarter credits are required to take the core course.

Oakes

  • Oakes 80, Values and Change in a Diverse Society, fall quarter

Transfer students with fewer than 45 transferable quarter credits are required to take the core course during the first fall quarter of enrollment.

Porter

  • Porter 80, Arts in a Multicultural Society, fall quarter

Transfer students with fewer than 30 transferable quarter credits are required to take the core course.

Stevenson

  • Stevenson 80A-B-C, Self and Society, fall, winter, and spring quarters; all three quarters required

Transfer students with fewer than 45 transferable quarter credits are required to complete the sequence.

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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.) 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 required to file a study plan and declare a major no later than the beginning of your junior year, in consultation with the appropriate academic advisers. Certain majors have a limit on the number of students they can serve. Be sure you are aware of all necessary criteria. It is wise to apply for major status as soon as you feel sure of the field you wish to enter. You will not be allowed to enroll in classes for the second quarter of your junior year until you have declared a major. Junior transfer students must file a study plan and 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 considerable assistance in selecting courses appropriate to your individual needs (see Advising: From Course Selection to Careers).

Comprehensive Requirement

Typically, in your senior year you must satisfy the comprehensive requirement for your major by satisfactorily completing a comprehensive examination or an equivalent body of work that is defined by the unit supervising your major. A comprehensive examination may be written or oral or both. For some major programs, a written thesis or other project that involves extensive work and reflects comprehensive understanding of subject matter may be accepted in place of a comprehensive examination.

Double Major

To complete a double major, you must fulfill all of the requirements for both majors declared, including the comprehensive requirement for each major. In general, a single thesis may not be used for more than one major. In meeting the minimum number of upper-division courses required for each major, you may count any course for one major only. A double major may include an individual major or consist entirely of established majors.

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 on the Fields of Study pages.

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

Areas identified as appropriate for individual majors (see the Fields of Study pages) have been designated because small groups of faculty are willing to sponsor individual majors. Other areas of interest, such as ethnic studies, are described in detail with advice regarding customizing existing majors to suit your individual interests. Students should be aware that forming an individual major can be very difficult, as three faculty members must agree to serve on a committee to supervise the major. Over the last several years, fewer than 2 percent of UCSC students have graduated with an individual major.

Institutional Responsibility

As a general rule, undergraduate students who have made significant progress toward a degree in a specific major can assume that a degree will be granted if they maintain continuous enrollment and meet all catalog degree requirements. However, because of reductions in financial support, retirement of faculty, or other significant reasons, UCSC may find it necessary to discontinue a degree program or major. When this occurs, further admission into the degree program or major will be frozen effective with the official action suspending the degree program or major. Every effort will be made to allow currently enrolled majors to complete their degrees within a reasonable period of time.

To facilitate this process, department chairs (and the appropriate deans) have the obligation to provide for the individual needs of these students: for example, (1) students may be encouraged to complete requirements for graduation in similar or related degree tracks; (2) the major department may substitute degree requirements (in extreme cases a limited number of waivers may be considered, but general education requirements and the minimum total credits required for a degree cannot be waived on an individual basis); (3) students may be allowed to petition for an individual major; or (4) through the Intercampus Visitor (ICV) Program, students may be allowed to complete remaining requirements at another University of California campus and transfer the appropriate courses and credits back to UCSC to meet graduation requirements. Graduating seniors should check major requirements at their home campus. A statement verifying senior completion of residency requirements may be required by the host campus.

In all cases, the financial obligations are the responsibility of the individual student involved unless otherwise noted.

Catalog Rights

Effective for all those who entered in fall quarter 1993 or after, students may select the UCSC General Catalog they will follow to meet their requirements from either the one published at the time of entering UCSC or a subsequent catalog. A student must follow the chosen catalog in its entirety, including university, campus general education, college, and major requirements.

Students who seek readmission to UCSC after a break in attendance of greater than two years’ duration 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 for graduation, whether the year they entered UCSC or a subsequent year, will be decided at the discretion of their major department and/or their college.

Students transferring from other collegiate institutions may elect to meet as graduation requirements either (1) those in effect at the time of transfer to UCSC; (2) those subsequently established; or (3) those in effect when the student was enrolled at a previous collegiate institution, provided those requirements were published no more than three years prior to the time of transfer to UCSC.

Minor Programs

See the Fields of Study pages for undergraduate minors currently offered at 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. Normally, the courses required for a minor follow the same pattern as those for the corresponding major, except that the number of courses required is reduced by two and there is no comprehensive requirement. You may not design your own minor program. The minor appears on your official transcript but not on your diploma.

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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

In each course for which you receive a grade of D or better (or P), you should receive an evaluation of your academic performance. An evaluation may

  • describe the strengths and weaknesses of your performance in the various areas of class activity (discussion, laboratory work, term papers, examinations)
  • assess your general understanding of the course content
  • 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. An evaluation for your senior comprehensive examination or senior thesis also becomes part of your academic record.

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. (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.)

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 2.00 UC GPA requirement for graduation [see Graduation Requirements], 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.

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.

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 from the close of the quarter for which the original grade was submitted.

Academic Standing and Minimum Progress

Full-time undergraduate students at UCSC are expected to enroll in and pass (with a grade of A, B, C, or Pass) an average of 15 credits per quarter, completing the 180 credits necessary for graduation in four years. (This expectation is adjusted for students who are officially part-time students.) Your college will periodically check to ensure that you are making normal progress toward completion of your degree and will determine your academic standing at the end of each term. Extensions of enrollment beyond the equivalent of 12 full-time quarters require the approval of your college.

Academic progress is measured for all students, regardless of whether they have an official UCSC GPA. In checking your academic progress, the college will determine your current progress and your cumulative progress. You are expected to remain above minimum progress level on both measures.

Current progress. You must have passed (with a grade of C or better or Pass) at least 40 credits in your three most recent quarters of attendance at UCSC, to be considered to be making satisfactory progress and be in good academic standing. Students who have passed fewer than 30 credits in their three most recent quarters of attendance are below the level of minimum progress.

Cumulative progress. You must earn a minimum number of credits appropriate for your total quarters of attendance at UCSC to be considered to be making satisfactory progress and be in good academic standing. For example, at the end of the sixth full-time quarter of attendance, a student must have earned at least 75 credits (with grades of Pass, C, or better) to be making satisfactory progress. Students who have passed fewer than 65 credits at the end of their sixth full-time quarter are below the level of minimum progress.

If you fall below the level of satisfactory progress on either current or cumulative progress, you are given a warning or placed on probation by your college. If you fall below the level of minimum progress, your enrollment at UCSC may be barred for a specified period or you may be disqualified indefinitely from attending UC.

Note: For students entering UCSC for the first time in fall 2001 or thereafter, official academic standing may be based upon the UCSC grade-point average. Those students are also expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress. For further information about academic standing and progress, see The Navigator.

Repeating Courses

Undergraduates may repeat courses in which they earn a D, F, or No Pass. 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 and corresponding grade points earned are excluded in calculating the GPA, and only the grade and grade points from the repetition are used. After the 15-credit maximum is reached, the GPA will be based on all grades assigned and grade points earned. 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. Repetition of a course more than once requires approval of the student’s college.

Comprehensive Examination and Senior Thesis

A senior exit requirement (e.g., a comprehensive examination, senior thesis, or equivalent body of work) is required in every major. These are evaluated Honors, Pass, or Fail. The full evaluation of a comprehensive examination or senior thesis awarded Pass or Honors becomes part of a student’s official transcript of record. (See Comprehensive Requirement.)

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.

Honors

Campus Honors Program

In 2003–04, the University of California, Santa Cruz, is beginning its first campuswide Honors Program. Entry to the first year of the program is by invitation only, although a process will be established whereby students will be able to apply to the program in the future. Details of the Honors Program are being discussed, and the students taking part in its first year will be instrumental in providing suggestions about how it should develop. Additional information about the program will be publicized as it is available.

Dean’s List

Each quarter, any undergraduate student who earns a 3.8 or higher grade-point average (GPA), and takes a minimum of 12 units of credit for a grade, is named to the Dean’s List. The Dean of Undergraduate Education will notify students who qualify for the Dean’s List.

Chancellor’s List

Any undergraduate who meets the qualifications for the Dean’s List for all three quarters of the academic year (fall, winter, and spring) is named to the Chancellor’s List. These students receive special recognition from the Chancellor and the Dean of Undergraduate Education.

College Honors

The faculty of your college may confer College Honors at graduation if they determine that your academic performance is of outstanding quality throughout your undergraduate career. This notation appears on your transcript as well as on your diploma.

Honors in the Major

At graduation, the department sponsoring your major program may confer Honors or Highest Honors in the major. This notation appears on your transcript as well as on your diploma.

Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa—an honorary society founded in 1776—advances scholarship and recognizes excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. The United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa authorized the establishment of a chapter at UCSC in 1985. Each year the chapter elects a few outstanding students to membership.

To be elected to Phi Beta Kappa, you must (a) be majoring in one of the liberal arts or sciences, (b) have demonstrated a knowledge of mathematics and a foreign language “at least minimally appropriate for a liberal education,” (c) be noteworthy for the number and variety of courses you have taken outside your major, and (d) be judged by members of the chapter to be distinguished in cultural interests, scholarly achievements, and excellence of character.

The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by passing three one-quarter courses in a language at UCSC, or the equivalent at another university, or by demonstrating close knowledge of another culture (which may include speaking another language at home). The mathematics requirement may be satisfied by a single course in mathematics or statistics or by a science course that requires mathematics. See your college academic preceptor for details. (Notice of membership in Phi Beta Kappa does not appear on your transcript or diploma.)

Transcripts

Academic records are kept at the Office of the Registrar, which will issue an official transcript only on your written request. It normally takes 10 working days to process a transcript. Tran-scripts without evaluations are available about two weeks following the end of the quarter. Transcripts that include evaluations for the most recent quarter are not issued until about six weeks after the quarter ends.

Transcripts for courses taken in the summer are available approximately two weeks following the end of each session. Official transcripts, which may include evaluations, are available at the beginning of October.

When ordering transcripts by mail or fax, you should include the name under which you were registered and your birth date, your student ID number, last quarter of attendance, college affiliation, and date of graduation. You should also indicate the complete mailing address to which the transcript should be sent, the number of copies needed, and any deadline. Transcript requests should be sent to

Office of the Registrar
Attention: Transcripts
University of California, Santa Cruz
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1077

For transcript fees, please refer to our web site: reg.ucsc.edu. A check for the appropriate amount, payable to UC Regents, or credit card authorization/information, should accompany your request.

If you have outstanding financial obligations to the university, a hold may be placed on your transcript. The Office of the Registrar does not provide unofficial copies of transcripts.

Transcripts for UCSC Extension courses should be requested from UCSC Extension Records, 1101 Pacific Avenue, Suite 200, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4536 (831) 427-6600.

Privacy of Records

UCSC students are informed annually of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act 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. Copies of the policy can be found in the Offices of the Registrar and of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. The policy is 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 available online: reg.ucsc.edu/guidelines.html.

Questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Office of the Registrar, 190 Hahn Student Services Building.

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Advising: From Course Selection to Careers

Translating your goals and interests into a coherent academic program requires careful planning. Advising can help you make decisions at the university—selecting courses, choosing a major, deciding on a career, or determining prerequisites for graduate school. UC Santa Cruz offers many forms of academic and career advising tailored to various student needs. In addition, the student handbook called The Navigator and the quarterly Schedule of Classes—both online—answer most procedural and administrative questions.

Attending summer orientation is one of the most important steps a new student takes in preparing for the transition to university life. Summer orientation provides the academic advising you need to make informed decisions about classes and majors, the opportunity to ask important questions regarding financial aid and housing, and the option of enrolling in classes on site.

In addition to facilitating initial advisement and registration, orientation is designed to provide you a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of UCSC. While at orientation, you will be introduced to continuing students, faculty, and staff who will collectively assist in your aca-demic as well as personal success at the university.

Summer orientation occurs six times over the course of the summer. Separate programs for first-year and transfer students help to better meet the needs of each group. Families play an important role in the academic and personal success of students; UCSC has designed corresponding programs for parents and family members to better support their student’s transition to the university. A similar program is held in December for students admitted for winter quarter.

Reservation brochures are mailed to new students as soon as they submit their Statement of Intent to Register at UCSC. These brochures provide details on the summer program and allow students to make a reservation. New students who have advising questions over the summer but are unable to attend summer orientation should contact their college office.

Fall orientation is the next step in your orientation and advising process. Fall orientation is your welcome to UCSC and occurs over the first week of fall quarter. Fall orientation provides you with an opportunity to settle into life at UCSC, take advantage of important services, and continue your academic advising.

Questions can be directed to the Office of Campus Orientation Programs at (831) 459-5468, or via e-mail to orientation@ucsc.edu. Web: www2.ucsc.edu/orientation.

Important information on particular majors may be viewed on individual departmental web sites. The sites will give you contact information and office hours. Advisers provide detailed information regarding requirements for the major and assist you in planning a program of study. The department adviser can also assign you to an appropriate faculty adviser who may serve as a mentor in your field, recommending courses and helping you refine your educational goals.

It is also important to seek departmental advising for assistance in planning your overall academic program. For transfer students and for students in many majors (such as those in the physical and biological sciences, arts, environmental studies, and others) it is necessary to obtain departmental advising prior to or at the start of the first quarter on campus.

For more general academic questions, make an appointment with a college adviser. Each college has specialized staff members, called academic preceptors, who advise students on everything from general education requirements to choosing a major. Copies of your academic records are housed at your college, so your academic preceptor is in a good position to look at your program as a whole and ensure that you fulfill college, campus, and university requirements.

For help in assessing career interests and exploring and choosing career options, contact the Career Center. The staff also will assist with resume preparation, interviewing skills, applying for an internship, and job-search strategies. Many students find that participation in internships and field programs gives them a practical basis for making career decisions. The Career Center offers workshops, an online database, and publications on many internship opportunities. The office’s Career Advice Network (CAN) will connect you with UCSC alumni professionals who help students achieve their career goals.

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. A letter-of-reference service enables you to maintain your recommendation letters at the Career Center.

If you intend to pursue graduate study in a field not offered as a major at Santa Cruz, you can 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 library 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:

Architecture
Business
Conservation
Film
Finance
Guidance and counseling
Human resources
Industrial and labor relations
International relations
Law
Marketing
Museum administration
Public administration
Urban planning

If you plan to pursue a career in medicine or another health-related field (including dentistry, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacology, physical therapy, public health, and veterinary medicine), contact the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences’ Health Science Career Advising Office at (831) 459-2954. Ethnic-minority students may also be eligible for the MARC/MBRS Programs, described below.

If you are interested in the field of law, the prelaw adviser for UCSC is at the Career Center, (831) 459-2957.

A number of programs provide additional academic advising and comprehensive support services to students with specific needs. Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), Services for Transfer and Re-Entry Students (STARS), the Disability Resource Center, and International Programs are described below.

If you need assistance in another area, check to see if it is listed in the A–Z Index. For additional information, check with your college office or consult The Navigator or Schedule of Classes.

Counseling on personal and family issues is available through Counseling and Psychological Services.

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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 in at the reception desk for a drop-in 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, Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Job-Search Skills, Job-Interviewing Techniques, the Graduate and Professional School Information Workshop, Work Opportunities Abroad, 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 over 1,000 internship opportunities in a wide variety of career fields. The center’s resource library contains some of the best internship directories available, listing local, national, and international opportunities. While visiting the center, be sure to check out the Professions Training Program (PTP) and the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program (CUIP). These two unique internship programs are designed to give participants a professionally enriching work experience in the private sector (PTP) or directly on campus (CUIP) in one of the university’s colleges, administrative units, or academic departments.

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 part of the computer lab is the Career Advice Network database. The Career Advice Network (CAN) contains career profiles of over 700 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, resume 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 MonsterTRAK—an online site that lists job openings targeted to UCSC graduates. You may connect to MonsterTRAK by visiting 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. Visit the Career Center web site for a list of participating companies.

The Career Center sponsors several major events every academic year. The Graduate and Professional School Fair brings hundreds of graduate and professional school 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 resume. Other events include the Student Employment Recognition Awards Program Ceremony, where outstanding student employees are recognized and rewarded for their hard work and dedication, and the Multicultural Career Conference, which brings students and alumni together for a day to develop mentor relationships and explore career options.

The Career Center—located at the Bay Tree Building, Room 305, in Quarry Plaza—can be reached at (831) 459-4420. Office hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Visit the center’s web site at www2.ucsc.edu/careers/.

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Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP)

The Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) provide a variety of academic and personal support programs designed to promote the retention, academic success, and graduation of California residents who are first-generation college students from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. EOP programs and services are designed to ensure that students successfully complete their undergraduate education and acquire the skills that will prepare them for future careers and graduate or professional school opportunities.

EOP academic-support programs work to enhance student academic achievement and advancement. These support services include the EOP Bridge Program for a select group of entering first-year students, orientation activities for new students, academic advising and personal counseling, tutorial assistance, study-skill development, peer advising, and social and cultural programs. EOP also sponsors pregraduate programs—the Faculty Mentor Program and the Graduate Information Program—designed to promote graduate and professional school interests and preparation.

Tutorial assistance and other learning-support services are offered through the EOP Learning Center, located at the Academic Resources Center, with satellite centers at Crown, Merrill, and Oakes Colleges. Individual tutoring in all subjects is available to EOP, Disability Resource Center, transfer, Oakes, Crown, and Merrill students. Peer-guided study-group sessions (MSI) are offered to all UCSC students for identified introductory undergraduate courses that students have traditionally considered difficult. Two-credit courses in academic reading, research, and writing are offered for incoming transfer students. Three-credit courses providing language development and writing support are available for bilingual students. The Learning Center can also help students organize course-related peer-study groups. Academic skill-building workshops are sponsored by the Coalition for Student Academic Success each quarter on topics such as note taking, time and stress management, exam preparation, academic reading, and research paper and thesis writing. Inquiries to the Learning Center can be made Monday– Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at (831) 459-4333.

For more information about the Educational Opportunity Programs, drop by the Academic Resources Center, call (831) 459-2296, or visit the web site: www2.ucsc.edu/eop.

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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 Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) 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/MBRS 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 placements and participation in the summer program.

The MARC/MBRS Office also works with other campus offices to help make the most of campus resources and provide practical assistance with the graduate and professional school admission process. In addition, the staff maintains an information file on summer enrichment programs, which can provide you with vital research or clinical experience or help you prepare for the Graduate Record Examination.

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/MBRS Office, 377 Thimann Laboratories, (831) 459-4770, or e-mail mbrsasst@biology.ucsc.edu. Web: marcmbrs.ucsc.edu/.

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Academic Excellence (ACE) Honors Program

ACE is supported by the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences and has as its goal to increase diversity among students receiving bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, science, and engineering. ACE provides discussion sections for selected mathematics, science, and engineering courses.

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.

Helping students excel in introductory math and science courses is ACE’s focus. The program achieves this goal by providing a structured, workshop setting where students learn by teaching each other. This collaborative method reinforces critical thinking and problem-solving skills. ACE sections are limited to 16 students. A professional section leader with an academic background in the subject facilitates these workshops. In addition, an undergraduate coleader who has excelled in the course assists the section leader. This brings the student to teacher ratio to 8:1. Students also meet with a peer mentor, who helps them strengthen their study techniques. Other opportunities available through ACE include drop-in homework centers, study groups, and career counseling.

Applications are accepted quarterly for the upcoming term. For more information, call (831) 459-5280 or visit our web site: ace.ucsc.edu.

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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 and 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.

STARS coordinates the Lifelong Learners program, a UC/community organization dedicated to continuing education. The organization hosts monthly meetings with university faculty and offers a wide variety of 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, view the STARS web site: stars.ucsc.edu/.

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Part-Time Program

If you are unable to attend the university full-time because of family obligations, employment responsibilities, or health problems, 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 fees as full-time students but pay only one-half of the educational fee. 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. Web: reg.ucsc.edu/students/part-time.html.

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Disability Resource Center

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; mobility services; parking accommodations; assistance with registration and enrollment; testing accommodations; print accommodations; 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 telephone at (831) 459-2089 (voice) or (831) 459-4806 (TTY), or by e-mail at drc@ucsc.edu. Web: oasas.ucsc.edu/drc.

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 to any point on campus, and authorization to use 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

  • about program accessibility should be addressed to the director of the Disability Resource Center, at (831) 459-2089 (voice); (831) 459-4806 (TTY)
  • about transportation, physical, or computing access to the campus should be directed to (831) 459-3759 (voice/TTY)
  • about accommodating job applicants or current employees with disabilities should be directed to (831) 459-2349 (voice)

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ROTC and Military Affairs

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is not available on the UC Santa Cruz campus. However, interested UCSC students have the option of attending programs at Santa Clara University and UC Berkeley.

To find out about the Army ROTC program, contact the Department of Military Science, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053-0631 or (408) 554-4781, e-mail syakoubek@scu.edu, or visit rotc.scu.edu.

For information on the Air Force ROTC program, contact the Department of Aerospace Studies, 176 Hearst Gymnasium, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, (510) 642-3572, or visit the web site: airforcerotc.berkeley.edu. Students may call or inquire about program prerequisites, scholarship availability, and class schedules at the Department of Aerospace Studies.

UC Berkeley offers a variety of courses in military affairs, including courses offered by the Departments of Naval Science, Military Science, and Aerospace Studies, subject to departmental approval. (See UC Berkeley General Catalog, Military Officers’ Education Program, www.berkeley.edu/catalog/curricula.html). These courses are offered to cadets and noncadets.

Arrangements for all ROTC programs are made on an individual basis with the appropriate sponsoring campus.

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Office of International Education (OIE)

The Office of International Education (OIE) oversees coordination of the UCSC Education Abroad Program (EAP), International Scholar and Student Services (ISSS), Fulbright Grants for Graduate Study and Research Abroad, and other activities in support of international educational exchange.

For further information, contact the Office of International Education, 107 Classroom Unit Building, (831) 459-2858, EAP: alien@ucsc.edu, ISSS: visa@ucsc.edu. Web: www2.ucsc.edu/oie/.

Education Abroad Program (EAP)

The Education Abroad Program (EAP) offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to study at more than 140 host universities and colleges in 34 countries as part of their regular UC 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.

UCSC endeavors to bring this program within the reach of all students. Extension of studies up to 15 quarters is possible when related to the educational benefits of participating in EAP. Students receiving financial aid can apply their award to a program abroad.

International Scholars and Students

The International Scholar and Student Services (ISSS) staff advise foreign students, scholars, and staff on a variety of issues ranging from visa questions and employment to adjustment to life in Santa Cruz and study at UCSC. The program sponsors orientations and serves as a resource for campus international activities. ISSS also serves as UCSC’s liaison with the Department of Homeland Security concerning visa matters. New international students and scholars should come to the office soon after arrival.

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