Graduate Studies

Graduate Education

UC Santa Cruz offers graduate study in 32 academic fields. About 1,500 graduate students are enrolled at the certificate, master’s, and doctoral levels. The small size of the UCSC graduate programs encourages close working relations between students and faculty in an informal atmosphere conducive to rapid learning and professional growth. Many graduate programs have interdisciplinary components, and students are encouraged to explore the conceptual connections between related fields as they acquire mastery in their areas of specialization.

Research facilities at UCSC are excellent, and there are extensive opportunities for graduate students to engage in significant independent study and research (see Resources for Learning and Research). Graduate students are also encouraged to obtain teaching experience, primarily as supervised teaching assistants. They are highly valued members of the UCSC community, contributing substantially to the research and teaching conducted on the campus.

Degrees and Programs

The University of California, Santa Cruz, offers graduate programs leading to advanced degrees or certificates in the following areas:

Program Descriptions

Descriptions of individual programs appear under the specific disciplines in the programs and courses section. Application materials for all programs are available online at graddiv.ucsc.edu.

All of our graduate programs have information on the web at www.ucsc.edu/academics. Inquiries about part-time study should be directed to the individual departments. If there are any problems with the online application process, please e-mail gradadm@ucsc.edu.

Administration

At UCSC, the individual graduate programs are directed by departments. Overall policy is determined by the Graduate Council, and coordination and record keeping for matters common to all graduate students—such as admission applications, fellowships, and advancement to candidacy—are the responsibility of the Division of Graduate Studies. The dean of graduate studies is the chief administrative officer. The Graduate Student Handbook—containing graduate policies and other information —can be found online at graddiv.ucsc.edu/.

Evaluation of Performance

Graduate students are graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory (S/U) or, at student option, A, B, C, D, F. The grade A, B, or S is awarded for satisfactory work. A graduate student receiving a grade of C, D, or U will not be able to use the credit for that course to satisfy any course requirement for a graduate degree. Courses in which a graduate student receives a grade of C, D, F, or U may be repeated. Credits will be counted once, and the most recently earned grade will determine whether a degree requirement has been met. Repeating a course more than once requires the prior written approval of the dean of graduate studies.

Graduate student performance in all courses taken for credit at UC Santa Cruz is also evaluated according to the Narrative Evaluation System. A narrative evaluation usually runs from one to four paragraphs in length and describes in detail (1) the nature and requirements of the course, (2) the student’s strengths and weaknesses in the various aspects of the course (e.g., discussion, laboratory work, term papers, and examinations), and (3) the student’s general understanding of the course content. Evaluations are used by academic advisers and become part of the student’s official academic record.

Please also refer to the statement on Academic Integrity, Appendix F, Graduate Student–Faculty Adviser Relationship Guidelines; and Appendix O, Official University Policy on Academic Integrity for Graduate Students, published in the Student Policies and Regulations Handbook at www2.ucsc.edu/judicial/handbook03-04/o.htm.

Graduate Opportunity Program

Applicants assisted by the Graduate Opportunity Program must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. During the application process, the Graduate Opportunity Program can help students by requesting an application fee waiver for cases of hardship, by providing insight into the application process, and by distributing information about the various graduate academic and fellowship programs. The primary goals of the program are to increase the number of applicants through extensive outreach and to increase the number of enrolled students from diverse backgrounds through effective recruitment. Applicants who feel that their acceptance into the academic community at UC Santa Cruz will contribute to the diversity of the institution should call (831) 459-4108 early in the application process.

Diversity-Enhancement Programs

The Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship Program is a merit-based diversity-enhancement fellowship program that provides financial support to assist students from diverse backgrounds to pursue and complete a graduate degree successfully. This fellowship is awarded to entering doctoral students who have overcome significant obstacles to achieve a baccalaureate-level degree, and whose economic, educational, or social background contributes to intellectual diversity of the graduate student population. Applicants should refer to the information under Financial Support in the application to gain a better understanding of this fellowship. Fellowship recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship and the Dissertation-Year Fellowship are part of the University of California’s Academic Career Development Program. The Dissertation-Year Fellowship is a fellowship-support program available to continuing students. Enrolled students are assisted through formal and informal group orientations, individual advice about academic matters, financial aid, postdoctoral opportunities, and the provision of information about career planning, health care, and housing.

If you have questions about the fellowship programs, contact the Division of Graduate Studies, (831) 459-4108.

Intercampus Exchange Program

A graduate student in good standing at Santa Cruz who wishes to take advantage of educational opportunities available only at another campus of the university may become an intercampus exchange graduate student for a quarter or more. This program also permits students to take courses on more than one campus of the university during the same quarter.

To participate in the program, a student must have the approval of his or her faculty adviser, the dean of the Division of Graduate Studies at UC Santa Cruz, and the graduate dean on the campus to be visited. Application forms may be obtained from the Division of Graduate Studies and should be submitted three weeks before the quarter in which the exchange begins.

Student Life

The campus offers a variety of programs to enhance the quality of student life, all available to graduate students. These include child care, sports and recreation, health services, cultural events, transportation services, and the UCSC Women’s Center. See Student Life, for information on these services and a description of the local community. See the Disability Resource Center for services available to students with disabilities.

College Affiliation

Graduate students at Santa Cruz have the opportunity to affiliate with one of the ten colleges on campus. Participation in the activities of a college may range from taking an occasional meal there or living in the college to participating in the college’s educational and preceptorial programs or in its extracurricular activities.

Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is an organization of all graduate students at UCSC. It seeks to advance the general welfare of the graduate student body and is responsible for promoting extracurricular activities on campus.

Graduate students elect a GSA steering committee, which coordinates activities and their funding. In past years the steering committee has sponsored student social gatherings, musical events, poetry readings, lectures by visiting scholars, and other activities of special interest to graduate students. A portion of the college student government fee, paid by all students, is available to the association for this purpose. The steering committee also recommends graduate students for appointment to university committees.

Housing

As at all other UC campuses, finding housing is a challenge. Students who wish to utilize on-campus housing should put in their application as soon as possible to aid them in securing housing in a timely manner. Likewise, students who wish to find off-campus housing will find this task challenging. Often, single students share housing as a means of lowering expenses. The problem of housing is acute for married students or students with dependent children, who do not always have the option of sharing housing with other students.

Twenty apartments for single graduate students are located on the west side of campus between Kresge College and the Baskin Engineering Building. City and campus bus stops are nearby. On-site parking is available.

The apartments were designed with privacy, energy conservation, and aesthetics in mind. The wood-frame units have cedar exteriors and are bordered by redwood forest on two sides.

Four students share each apartment, which has a living and dining room, a kitchen, two bathrooms, four single bedrooms, an outdoor deck, and abundant closet and cabinet space. The units are fully furnished with solid oak and maple furniture, although residents must supply their own linens, cooking utensils, and household supplies. Common facilities include a laundry room and lounges with computer terminals and a large-screen television.

The apartment rental rate is $8,320 for the 2004–05 academic year. Graduate student residents may stay for the summer at additional cost. First-year graduate students are usually given priority in assignment of apartments.

Graduate students may also apply to the individual colleges for a limited number of resident preceptorships. These positions offer an on-campus apartment as a stipend and the opportunity to participate in a college community.

Married students and students with dependent children may live in Family Student Housing, a complex of two-bedroom unfurnished apartments located on the west side of campus. These apartments are in great demand, and students often wait up to a year for a vacancy. Interested students should apply as soon as possible.

Another on-campus option is UCSC’s 42- space camper park, available to students who own appropriate recreational vehicles.

To assist students in locating living accommodations in the surrounding communities, the Community Rentals Office maintains a list of available rentals. Students intending to live off campus should begin their search at least four to six weeks before classes begin.

See Student Life for more detailed information about on- and off-campus housing.

Application and Admission

Application Deadlines

Students may apply for only one UCSC graduate program at a time. The list below shows the date set by each program as the final deadline for submission of all documents. Applications are limited to programs of study beginning in fall quarter (except the M.A. program in education). Please visit our web site at graddiv.ucsc.edu for the most current information on applying to UCSC graduate programs and for application deadlines for 2005–06.

The dates listed here are the official deadlines, but students are strongly advised to submit applications in October or November. If an application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, materials should arrive before the deadline.

To be considered for fellowship support for fall quarter, the admission application and all supporting materials must arrive at the Division of Graduate Studies by the program’s deadline or by February 1, 2005, whichever is earlier.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted with graduate status at Santa Cruz, a student must have completed a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited undergraduate institution of acceptable standing and demonstrate ability to pursue a program of study leading toward an advanced degree. Preparation must provide an adequate foundation for advanced study, as determined by the department for the program in which the student intends to enroll. If the bachelor’s degree is not in the same discipline as the graduate program, the student must have sufficient preparation in the intended area of study to undertake graduate-level work.

To apply for admission, the items described below must be submitted before the deadline date to the Division of Graduate Studies. UC Santa Cruz requires that applicants complete an online application to be considered for admission to a graduate program. The Graduate Studies Division will provide access to a printed version for those who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The application and the accompanying materials should be complete and accurate

1. Admission application form. Application materials for all programs are available online at graddiv.ucsc.edu. The completed application is paid for online with either a credit card or e-check. This application fee is not refundable. Application fee waivers are available for cases of hardship. International applicants are not eligible for fee waivers.

Applicants to the programs in anthropology, computer engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering also need to conform to the admission guidelines posted on the web pages for these departments. These web pages can be accessed from the Division of Graduate Studies home page: graddiv.ucsc.edu.

2. Statement of purpose. This should be a concise, well-written essay about the applicant’s background and reasons for pursuing graduate study in the field chosen. Selection committees place particular importance on the statement of purpose. It exhibits the applicant’s ability to present ideas in clear, coherent language. The statement of purpose should indicate

• how knowledgeable the applicant is in the desired field of study;
• how undergraduate studies and other experiences (work, community involvement, and so forth) serve as a foundation for graduate study; and
• how and why the applicant intends to build on this foundation of knowledge and apply the training to social or theoretical problems.

3. Official transcripts. Official transcripts of all previous course work since high school, including certification of degrees received or documentation of status upon leaving each institution, should be obtained. UC Santa Cruz requires only one transcript from each institution. Official evidence that the applicant has received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education must be presented. All of the official transcripts and documentation should be requested well in advance of the program deadline to be sent to Graduate Application Processing. Only official transcripts bearing the signature of the registrar and the seal of the issuing institution will be accepted. If work is in progress at the time of application, a final transcript of such work must be submitted before the student can be officially enrolled at UC Santa Cruz. If the bachelor’s degree is in a field other than that in which the student intends to apply, evidence of course work sufficient to prepare for graduate study in the intended field must be shown.

4. Letters of recommendation. Three letters of recommendation should be included in the online application packet, or the applicant should arrange to have them forwarded to the Graduate Application Processing. These letters of recommendation should be prepared by professors or others who are in a position to analyze the applicant's abilities and academic promise in the chosen field of graduate study.

5. Graduate Record Examination scores. Individual departmental requirements for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) follow:

Anthropology: GRE General Test

Astronomy and astrophysics: GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test in Physics or Mathematics

Bioinformatics: GRE General Test; Subject Test in major strongly recommended

Biology: (ecology and evolution or molecular, cell, and developmental): GRE General Test and GRE Biology Test or Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Test

Chemistry and biochemistry: GRE General Test required; GRE Subject Test in any of the following strongly recommended: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Physics Computer engineering: GRE General Test required; GRE Computer Science Test or Subject Test in major strongly recommended Computer science: GRE General Test required; GRE Computer Science Test or Subject Test in major strongly recommended Digital arts/new media: GRE General Test Earth sciences: GRE General Test Economics applied: GRE General Test international: GRE General Test

Education: teaching (M.A.): GRE General Test research (Ph.D.): GRE General Test

Electrical engineering: GRE General Test required; GRE Subject Test in major strongly recommended

Environmental studies: GRE General Test required; GRE Subject Test in disciplinary field of student’s choice strongly recommended

Environmental toxicology: GRE General Test required; GRE Subject Test in major strongly recommended

History: GRE General Test

History of consciousness: GRE General Test

Linguistics: GRE General Test

Literature: GRE General Test

Mathematics: GRE General Test and GRE Mathematics Test

Music: GRE General Test and UCSC’s Music Graduate Entrance Examination

Ocean sciences: GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test in major

Philosophy: GRE General Test

Physics: GRE General Test and GRE Physics Test

Politics: GRE General Test

Psychology: GRE General Test

Science communication writing: GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test in Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology; Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science;Geology; Mathematics; or Physics

Social documentation: No GRE required

Sociology: GRE General Test

Theater arts: No GRE required

If the applicant is applying for admission to a program that requires the GRE, the scores must be received by UC Santa Cruz Graduate Application Processing before the application deadline. It is strongly recommended that all applicants complete testing by November, since December test scores will not reach the division prior to application deadlines.

The Educational Testing Service should be requested to forward the test scores directly to the division. UC Santa Cruz’s school code is 4860. Test results are electronically submitted to UC Santa Cruz Division of Graduate Studies four to six weeks after the exam has been taken.

6. Additional required material. Many of the graduate programs have special application requirements, such as writing samples, portfolios, auditions, or personal interviews. Education requires a supplemental application. The environmental studies graduate program requires that a substantial writing project (undergraduate or master’s level) be submitted with the application materials. Also, as part of the application process, applicants are required to contact faculty regarding sponsorship. History of consciousness requires a writing sample of not more than 10 pages, and literature requires a writing sample of 10 to 20 pages. The ocean sciences graduate program requires that applicants contact faculty directly about sponsorship as part of the application process. Music requires a writing or composition sample (e.g., term paper or senior thesis, scores, or other projects) and a CD, audiocassette, or videocassette of one or more recent performances as instrumentalist, vocalist, or conductor, or performances of original compositions. The music D.M.A. has the added requirement of three composition scores with recordings (if available) on CD, DVD, or VHS. If the applicant’s work involves improvisation, digital audio, or other approaches that are not well served by scores, one of the three compositions may be submitted in the form of a recording with brief notes on the media and/or performance conditions. In this case, two works with scores are still required. Philosophy requires a 10- to 15-page writing sample. Politics requests that the writing sample (ideally not to exceed 20 pages) be a term paper, thesis, article, conference paper, or problem solution; it need not be in the area of politics. Sociology requests a writing sample, preferably in sociology or a related field. Theater arts requires a portfolio of projects along with the application. The brochure or web site for the program to which the student is applying should be consulted and all of the requirements specified should be fulfilled.

Duplication of Higher Degrees
It is the policy of the Santa Cruz campus to prohibit the pursuit of duplicate advanced degrees. However, applicants may petition the graduate dean for an exception to this policy if the degree sought is in a field of study distinctly different from the field in which the original advanced degree was attained.

In order for a student who already holds the doctorate to be admitted or readmitted to work toward a second Ph.D.—or toward an academic master’s degree—all of the following conditions must be met:

1. The applicant must petition the graduate dean in writing prior to the application deadline for the program in question.

2. The department sponsoring the program to which admission is sought must support the applicant’s petition.

3. The department must present the graduate dean with a clear and complete outline of the program required for the degree sought, and must explain the intellectual separateness of the proposed program from that completed by the applicant in attaining the earlier degree.

The graduate dean will review all materials submitted and decide whether or not to admit the applicant, consulting with the Graduate Council when appropriate.

Admission to a professional master’s program after a Ph.D.—or to an academic master’s program after a professional doctorate—is not subject to these restrictions.

Transfer of Credit
UC Santa Cruz does not automatically grant credit for graduate-level work undertaken at other universities. Each department determines credit transferability on an individual basis.

International Applicants
Applicants from other countries must meet standard admission requirements and provide satisfactory evidence of financial support before they may obtain the necessary visa documents. Because it normally takes much longer to process international applications, such students are urged to apply as early as possible. A Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) will not be issued by the UC Santa Cruz Office of International Education until all requirements are satisfied and the student has been formally admitted. Please note that international students are not eligible for need-based financial aid nor application fee waivers.

Applicants from countries where English is not the primary language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 220 on the computer-based test is required. Chemistry and biochemistry, computer engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering require 570 on the paper-based test or 230 on the computer-based test.

All official academic records must be issued in the original language and be accompanied by English translations prepared by the issuing institution. If translations are not available from the institution itself, translations may be prepared by government or official translators. In order for translations to be acceptable, they must bear the stamp or seal of the issuing institution or governmental agency and the original signature of the translator. They must be complete and exact word-for-word translations of the original documents, not interpretations. Grades must not be converted to the American scale. Specially prepared English versions are not acceptable in place of documents issued in the original language. Records submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies may not be borrowed, returned, or sent elsewhere.

Application Processing

The Division of Graduate Studies receives most application materials and sets up a file for each applicant. Once the application is submitted online, it will be available to the appropriate department for review and recommendation. Applicants are admitted by the graduate dean following recommendations by the departments. Applicants will be notified by e-mail whether or not they have been admitted for graduate study at UCSC after all reviews are complete. Under no circumstances will UCSC give out this information over the phone, in person, or by proxy. E-mail notifications are sent throughout the month of March. By a general agreement to which UC Santa Cruz and most graduate schools in the U.S. are signatories, applicants admitted to graduate schools have until April 15 to reply with their acceptance of fellowship offers. Any information about the completeness of the file can be found at apply.graddiv.ucsc.edu. Specific questions about the evaluation of the application should be directed to the graduate representative of the department.

Fees and Expenses

Fees and expenses for graduate students are shown below. Tuition, fees, and other charges are subject to change without notice by the Regents of the University of California. For current fee information, check reg.ucsc.edu.

Required Fees

Required fees are due and payable before the start of each quarter. At the beginning of each quarter, sufficient funds will be needed to cover housing charges and book costs. For many financial aid recipients, however, fees and on-campus housing charges are paid automatically from approved student aid funds. Financial aid recipients should note that fellowship, grant, and loan checks or bank deposits in excess of university charges are not available until after registration each quarter.

The University Registration Fee supports student services that provide a supportive and enriching learning environment and that are complementary to, but not part of, the instructional program. Programs include, but are not limited to, services related to the physical and psychological health and well-being of students, social and cultural activities and programs, services related to campus life, and educational and career support.

The Educational Fee helps support student financial aid and related programs; admissions; registration; administration; libraries; operation and maintenance of plant; the university’s operating budget; and all costs related to instruction, including faculty salaries.

Santa Cruz campus fees help support a wide range of student services, including extracurricular programs, campus child care, community and public service projects, and free-fare use of the local transit systems.

In addition, all students, including foreign students, are assessed a mandatory fee for health insurance. The Cowell Student Health Center provides the primary care services for the plan while a contracted insurance company provides major medical and hospitalization insurance. There is an annual deductible, with most expenses covered at 75 or 95 percent of the customary and usual charge, depending upon whether the preferred provider network is used. Coverage includes hospital stays, surgical services, physician visits, emergency treatment, outpatient care, and pregnancy. Dependent coverage is also available. For information, call the Student Health Center, (831) 459-2389.

Waivers from the mandatory insurance fee are available for students who can show that their outside plan provides coverage equal to or better than the student health insurance plan. Deadlines for applying for a waiver are listed in the Schedule of Classes—on the web at reg.ucsc.edu/soc—and the Graduate Student Handbook at graddiv.ucsc.edu.

Nonresident Tuition

A resident of a state other than California or of another country must pay nonresident tuition. General criteria for residency are in Appendix A. Non–U.S. citizens note: Regardless of how long you live in California, only U.S. citizens and holders of immigrant visas may become qualified for resident classification.

Late Fees

Late fees may be assessed if a student fails to make university payments or enroll by the specified deadlines. Late fees are assessed on a graduated basis for each month there is an unpaid balance on your university account, and at $50 each for a late registration payment and/or late enrollment and $25 for a late housing payment. Deadlines are published online in the Graduate Student Handbook at graddiv.ucsc.edu and the Schedule of Classes at reg.ucsc.edu/soc, and they appear on the Statement of Account.

Deferred Payment Plan

The Deferred Payment Plan (DPP) provides an alternative method of budgeting and paying registration fees. It allows these fees, to the extent not covered by scholarships, loans, or other financial aid, to be paid in monthly installments. Students have a choice of applying for a three-month plan for individual quarterly fees, or, at the beginning of the fall quarter only, for a nine-month plan to be used for the fall, winter, and spring quarters. A nonrefundable application fee of $25 for the three-month plan, or $60 for the nine-month plan, is required. Any student in good financial and academic standing may apply for DPP. Students receiving financial aid sufficient to cover registration fees in full are not eligible for this plan. For more information about how to apply for DPP, application deadlines, and campus policies regarding the program, contact the Office of Student Business Services, 203 Hahn Student Services Building, (831) 459-2519, e-mail oarinfo@.ucsc.edu, or visit the web site at www2.ucsc.edu/accts-rec.

Financial Support

The University of California, Santa Cruz, makes a strong effort to provide financial support to all graduate students who make normal progress in their program of studies. Certain kinds of support are awarded on the basis of academic merit, and others are granted on the basis of need. Students are encouraged to apply for both kinds of assistance by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form must be submitted after January 1 prior to the academic year for which you are requesting aid. To receive need-based support for the fall quarter, the FAFSA should be submitted no later than three weeks prior to the end of spring quarter. Applications for student loans for each academic year will be accepted until April of that academic year. More detailed information about the application process and loans appears in the Financial Aid section. Students may also contact the Financial Aid Office, 201 Hahn Student Services Building, (831) 459-2963, e-mail fin_aid@ucsc.edu. Web: www2.ucsc.edu/fin-aid.

Fellowships, Assistantships, Grants

The following kinds of financial support are available through the Division of Graduate Studies:

Regents Fellowships. A limited number of these fellowships are awarded to first-year graduate students in master’s and doctoral programs. For the 2004–05 academic year, these awards provide a stipend of $15,000 plus payment of all university fees except nonresident tuition. Regents Fellowships may be awarded for one to three quarters.

Grants-in-Aid are designed for students with substantial financial need. Funds for this grant program come from the educational fees paid quarterly by students at all campuses of the university. Eligibility is determined by analysis of data provided by the applicant on the FAFSA.

Chancellor’s Fellowships. A limited number of these fellowships are awarded to first-year graduate students in doctoral programs. For the 2004–05 academic year, these nine-month awards provide a stipend of $20,500 plus payment of all university fees and nonresident tuition.

Humanities Predoctoral Fellowships. These state-funded fellowships are intended for entering graduate students enrolling in humanities programs leading to the Ph.D. The fellowships provide guaranteed support for four years: a $12,900 stipend plus fees for the first year, teaching or research assistantship support provided by the department for the second and third years, and a dissertation award for the fourth year.

Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowships. These state-funded merit-based fellowships of $18,000 plus fees are awarded on a competitive basis to first-year graduate students who have overcome significant social or educational obstacles to achieve a college education, and whose backgrounds equip them to contribute to intellectual diversity among the graduate student population. Doctoral program candidates who demonstrate strong potential for university teaching and research will be selected.

Dissertation-Year Fellowships. These state-funded merit-based fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to doctoral graduate students who have overcome significant social or educational obstacles to achieve a college education, and whose backgrounds equip them to contribute to intellectual diversity among the graduate student population. Fellows receive a $18,000 stipend plus payment of fees.

Tuition Fellowships. A number of Nonresident Tuition Fellowships are available for students who are recommended by their department. (Nonresident tuition is $4,898 per quarter for 2004–05.)

Cal Grant A and B Programs. Students who received one of these awards as undergraduates may request a one-year extension from the California Student Aid Commission to attend a teacher credential program. The Cal Grant A program is expected to pay a maximum of $6,269, and the Cal Grant B program is expected to pay a maximum of $7,820 per year for study at the University of California in 2004–05. Renewal of these awards also requires the student to submit the FAFSA by March 2.

Teaching Assistantships. For the 2003–04 academic year, half-time teaching assistantships provided a salary of $4,786 per quarter.

Graduate Student Researcherships. For the 2003–04 academic year, half-time researcherships provided a salary ranging from $1,219 to $1,756 per month, depending on the student’s academic level and department.

The application for fellowships, assistantships, and researcherships is Part C of the admission application, which may be obtained from the Division of Graduate Studies. It should be filed by the program’s deadline or by the February 1 preceding admission, whichever is earlier.

The division and the UCSC Career Center can provide information about graduate fellowships and grants available from external sources.

Student Loans

Graduate students may apply for student loans through the Financial Aid Office. Students who apply using the FAFSA are eligible for loans funded by the federal government. Students who demonstrate financial need qualify for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan, and students who do not demonstrate need or who want an additional loan qualify for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan. Subsidized loans are interest-free while the student is enrolled; interest accrues on unsubsidized loans during enrollment. See Financial Aid for additional information.

Loan Forgiveness Programs

The Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE) is another program offered by CSAC for students. This program serves students who plan to become public schoolteachers.

Students must be nominated by the UCSC Education Department. Under the program, the commission may assume up to $11,000 in educational loan balances in return for service as a public schoolteacher in California, in either a designated subject-shortage area or at a school serving large populations of students from low-income families. The amount is raised to $15,000 for teaching mathematics, science, or special education. In addition, participants who teach mathematics, science, or special education in the lowest-performing schools may have a total of $19,000 in debt assumed. To receive full benefits, you must provide four consecutive years of teaching at a California public school. Additional eligibility criteria include California residence, U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizenship, academic ability, and financial need. The postmark application/nomination deadline is July 15, 2005. However, the funding status of the program for 2005–06 is subject to California budget deliberations. Call the California Student Aid Commission at (888) 224-7268 for updated information.