University of California- Santa Cruz

1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95064

http://www.ucsc.edu/visitors/

School Description

Provided by University of California- Santa Cruz

The University of California, Santa Cruz is committed to promoting and protecting an environment that values and supports every person in an atmosphere of civility, honesty, cooperation, professionalism and fairness.

UC Santa Cruz has a current enrollment of more than 15,000 students. Undergraduates pursue course work in 63 majors, and graduate students work toward master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and graduate certificates in 34 academic fields. Above: Students pass through the Science Hill area of the campus, a picturesque cluster of science buildings, including the award-winning Science & Engineering Library.

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University of California- Santa Cruz

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California. Located 75 miles (120 km) south of San Francisco at the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the campus lies on 2,001 acres (8.1 km²) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay.

Founded in 1965, UC Santa Cruz began as a showcase for progressive, cross-disciplinary undergraduate education, innovative teaching methods and contemporary architecture. Since then, UCSC has evolved into a modern research university with a wide variety of both undergraduate and graduate programs, while retaining its reputation for strong undergraduate support and student political activism. The residential college system, which consists of ten small colleges, is intended to combine the student support of a small college with the resources of a major university.

History

Although some of the original founders had already outlined plans for an institution like UCSC as early as the 1930s, the opportunity to realize their vision did not present itself until the City of Santa Cruz made a bid to the University of California Regents in the mid-1950s to build a campus just outside town, in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Santa Cruz site was selected over a competing proposal to build the campus closer to the population center of San Jose. Santa Cruz was selected for the beauty, rather than the practicality, of its location, however, and its remoteness led to the decision to develop a residential college system that would house most of the students on-campus. The formal design process of the Santa Cruz campus began in the late 1950s, culminating in the Long Range Development Plan of 1963. Construction had started by 1964, and the University was able to accommodate its first students (albeit living in trailers on what is now the East Field athletic area) in 1965. The campus was intended to be a showcase for contemporary architecture, progressive teaching methods, and undergraduate research. According to founding chancellor Dean McHenry, the purpose of the distributed college system was to combine the benefits of a major research university with the intimacy of a smaller college. UC President Clark Kerr shared a passion with former Stanford roommate McHenry to build a university modeled as "several Swarthmores" (i.e., small liberal arts colleges) in close proximity to each other. Roads on campus were named after UC Regents who voted in favor of building the campus.

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Southwest
Setting:
Large Town Setting
Type:
Public
Size:
Very Large (+10,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Banana Slugs
Nickname:
UC Santa Cruz

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
13,660
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
96%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 24,769
Students Receiving Aid:
59%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 60
Selectivity:
Selective
> More Admissions

Degree Programs at University of California- Santa Cruz

Bachelor's Level Programs

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources

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    • Food Science See more schools with programs in Food Science
      • General Plant Sciences
        A general program that focuses on the scientific principles that underlie the breeding, cultivation, and production of agricultural plants, and the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural plant products. Includes instruction in the plant sciences, crop cultivation and production, and agricultural and food products processing.
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    • Natural Resources and Conservation See more schools with programs in Natural Resources and Conservation
      • Environmental Science
        A program that focuses on the application of biological, chemical, and physical principles to the study of the physical environment and the solution of environmental problems, including subjects such as abating or controlling environmental pollution and degradation; the interaction between human society and the natural environment; and natural resources management. Includes instruction in biology, chemistry, physics, geosciences, climatology, statistics, and mathematical modeling.
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      • Environmental Studies.
        A program that focuses on environment-related issues using scientific, social scientific, or humanistic approaches or a combination. Includes instruction in the basic principles of ecology and environmental science and related subjects such as policy, politics, law, economics, social aspects, planning, pollution control, natural resources, and the interactions of human beings and nature.
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  • Arts & Humanities

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    • English Language and Literature See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
    • Film and Theater See more schools with programs in Film and Theater
      • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
        A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. Includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles and types, and the principles of organizing and producing full live or filmed productions.
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    • Foreign Languages See more schools with programs in Foreign Languages
      • Classics and Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
        This general program focuses on the literary culture of the ancient Graeco-Roman world and the Greek and Latin languages and literatures and their development prior to the fall of the Roman Empire.
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      • Foreign Languages and Literatures
        A general program that focuses on one or more modern foreign languages that is not specific as to the name of the language(s) studied; that is otherwise undifferentiated; or that introduces students to language studies at the basic/elementary level.
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      • Linguistics
        A program that focuses on language, language development, and relationships among languages and language groups from a humanistic and/or scientific perspective. Includes instruction in subjects such as psycholinguistics, behavioral linguistics, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, mathematical and computational linguistics, grammatical theory and theoretical linguistics, philosophical linguistics, philology and historical linguistics, comparative linguistics, phonetics, phonemics, dialectology, semantics, functional grammar and linguistics, language typology, lexicography, morphology and syntax, orthography, stylistics, structuralism, rhetoric, and applications to artificial intelligence.
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    • History See more schools with programs in History
      • History
        A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.
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    • Music See more schools with programs in Music
      • General Music
        A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media.
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    • Philosophy See more schools with programs in Philosophy
      • General Philosophy
        A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
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    • Visual Arts See more schools with programs in Visual Arts
      • Art History, Criticism and Conservation
        Students of Art History study of the historical development of art as a social and intellectual phenomenon. Art History programs include the analysis of works of art, and art conservation, art history research methods, connoisseurship, the preservation and conservation of works of art, and the study of specific periods, cultures, styles, and themes.
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      • Art/Art Studies
        Art and Art Studies is a general, introductory program that focuses on the study and appreciation of the visual arts. Students of these two or four year programs receive instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media.
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      • Film/Video and Photographic Arts
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  • Business

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    • Business/Managerial Economics
      Learn to apply the power of economics principles to the analysis of the organization and operation of business enterprises. Students complete courses in monetary theory, banking and financial systems, theory of competition, pricing theory, wage and salary/incentive theory, analysis of markets, and applications of econometrics and quantitative methods to the study of particular businesses and business problems.
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  • Engineering

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    • Electrical, Electronics and Communi­cations Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of electrical, electronic and related communications systems and their components, including electrical power generation systems; and the analysis of problems such as superconductor, wave propagation, energy storage and retrieval, and reception and amplification.
      See more schools with programs in Electrical, Electronics and Communi­cations Engineering
    • General Computer Engineering
      A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware and software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks.
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  • Interdisciplinary Studies

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    • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
      Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
      See more schools with programs in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Neuroscience
      A program that focuses on the interdisciplinary scientific study of the molecular, structural, physiologic, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of the brain and nervous system. Includes instruction in molecular and cellular neuroscience, brain science, anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, molecular and biochemical bases of information processing, behavioral neuroscience, biology of neuropsychiatric disorders, and applications to the clinical sciences and biomedical engineering.
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  • Legal Professions

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    • Legal Studies
      A general program that focuses on law and legal issues from the perspective of the social sciences and humanities.
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  • Life Science

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    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Bioinformatics
        This program focuses on the forefront of computer engineering as it seeks to apply computer-based technologies to biological, biomedical, and biotechnology research. Students of Bioinformatics must study algorithms, network architecture, principles of software design, human interface design, usability studies, search strategies, database management and data mining, digital image processing, computer graphics and animation, CAD, computer programming, and applications to experimental design and analysis and to specific quantitative, modeling, and analytical studies in the various biological specializations.
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      • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
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      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
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      • Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
        This integrated, combined program focuses on the scientific study of cells, cellular systems, and the molecular basis of cell structure and function. This major includes coursework in cell biology, cell chemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, and structural biology.
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      • Ecology
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the relationships and interactions of small-scale biological systems, such as organisms, to each other, to complex and whole systems, and to the physical and other non-biological aspects of their environments. Includes instruction in biogeochemistry; landscape and/or marine/aquatic dynamics; decomposition; global and regional elemental budgets; biotic and abiotic regulation of nutrient cycles; ecophysiology; ecosystem resilience, disturbance, and succession; community and habitat dynamics; organismal interactions (co-evolution, competition, predation); paleoecology, and evolutionary ecology.
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      • Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the ecology and behavior of microbes, plants, and animals inhabiting oceans, coastal waters, and saltwater wetlands and their interactions with the physical environment. Includes instruction in chemical, physical, and geological oceanography; molecular, cellular, and biochemical studies; marine microbiology; marine botany; ichthyology; mammalogy; marine population dynamics and biodiversity; reproductive biology; studies of specific species, phyla, habitats, and ecosystems; marine paleocology and palentology; and applications to fields such as fisheries science and biotechnology.
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      • Molecular Biochemistry
        A program that focuses on the scientific relationship of physiological function to the structure and actions of macromolecules and supramolecular assemblies such as multienzyme complexes, membranes, and viruses. Includes instruction in the chemical mechanisms of regulation and catalysis, protein synthesis and other syntheses, and biomolecular chemical reactions.
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  • Mathematics and Statistics

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    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
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  • Natural Sciences

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    • Astronomy and Astrophysics See more schools with programs in Astronomy and Astrophysics
      • Astrophysics
        Astrophysics studies the structure, properties, and behavior of stars, star systems and clusters, stellar life cycles, and related phenomena. Instruction in Astrophysics includes coursework in cosmology, plasma kinetics, stellar physics, convolution and non-equilibrium radiation transfer theory, non-Euclidean geometries, mathematical modeling, galactic structure theory, and relativistic astronomy.
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    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
        See more schools with programs in General Chemistry
    • Geology See more schools with programs in Geology
      • Geology/Earth Science
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
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    • Physics See more schools with programs in Physics
      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
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  • Social Sciences

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    • Anthropology See more schools with programs in Anthropology
      • General Anthropology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human beings, their antecedents and related primates, and their cultural behavior and institutions, in comparative perspective. Includes instruction in biological/physical anthropology, primatology, human paleontology and prehistoric archeology, hominid evolution, anthropological linguistics, ethnography, ethnology, ethnohistory, socio-cultural anthropology, psychological anthropology, research methods, and applications to areas such as medicine, forensic pathology, museum studies, and international affairs.
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    • Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies See more schools with programs in Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies
      • American/United States Studies/Civilization
        This program studies the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the United States and its Pre-Columbian and colonial predecessors, including the flow of immigrants from other societies.
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      • Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies
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      • German Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of Germany, the neighboring countries of Austria and Switzerland, the German minorities in neighboring European countries, and the historical areas of German influence across Europe and overseas.
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      • Italian Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of modern Italy and its predecessors on the Italian Peninsula, including overseas migrations of Italian peoples.
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      • Women’s Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of women, and the development of modern feminism in relation to the roles played by women in different periods and locations in North America and the world. Programs may focus on literature, philosophy, and the arts as much as on social studies and policy.
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    • Economics See more schools with programs in Economics
      • General Economics
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
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      • Other Economics
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    • International Relations and Affairs See more schools with programs in International Relations and Affairs
      • General Political Science and Government
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes.
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    • Psychology See more schools with programs in Psychology
      • General Psychology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
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      • Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
        A program that focuses on the scientific course study of the biological bases of psychological functioning, and their application to experimental and therapeutic research problems. Includes instruction in functional neuroanatomy, neural system development, biochemical neural regulatory mechanisms, neurological biophysics, memory storage and retrieval, physiology of cognition and perception, physiological bases of psychopathology and behavioral disorders, psychopharmacology, comparative psychobiology, and specialized experimental design and research methods.
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    • Sociology See more schools with programs in Sociology
      • Sociology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
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  • Social Work

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    • Community Organization and Advocacy
      A program that focuses on the theories, principles, and practice of providing services to communities, organizing communities and neighborhoods for social action, serving as community liaisons to public agencies, and using community resources to furnish information, instruction, and assistance to all members of a community. May prepare individuals to apply such knowledge and skills in community service positions.
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  • Technology

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    • Information Systems Operation and Management See more schools with programs in Information Systems Operation and Management
    • Software Development See more schools with programs in Software Development
      • Computer and Information Sciences
        A general program that focuses on computing, computer science, and information science and systems as part of a broad and/or interdisciplinary program. Such programs are undifferentiated as to title and content and are not to be confused with specific programs in computer science, information science, or related support services.
        See more schools with programs in Computer and Information Sciences

Master's Level Programs

  • Arts & Humanities

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    • English Language and Literature See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
    • Foreign Languages See more schools with programs in Foreign Languages
      • Linguistics
        A program that focuses on language, language development, and relationships among languages and language groups from a humanistic and/or scientific perspective. Includes instruction in subjects such as psycholinguistics, behavioral linguistics, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, mathematical and computational linguistics, grammatical theory and theoretical linguistics, philosophical linguistics, philology and historical linguistics, comparative linguistics, phonetics, phonemics, dialectology, semantics, functional grammar and linguistics, language typology, lexicography, morphology and syntax, orthography, stylistics, structuralism, rhetoric, and applications to artificial intelligence.
        See more schools with programs in Linguistics
    • History See more schools with programs in History
      • History
        A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.
        See more schools with programs in History
    • Music See more schools with programs in Music
      • General Music
        A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media.
        See more schools with programs in General Music
    • Philosophy See more schools with programs in Philosophy
      • General Philosophy
        A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
        See more schools with programs in General Philosophy
  • Education

    See more schools with programs in Education
    • General Education See more schools with programs in General Education
      • General Education
        A program that focuses on the general theory and practice of learning and teaching; the basic principles of educational psychology; the art of teaching; the planning and administration of educational activities; school safety and health issues; and the social foundations of education.
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  • Engineering

    See more schools with programs in Engineering
    • Electrical, Electronics and Communi­cations Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of electrical, electronic and related communications systems and their components, including electrical power generation systems; and the analysis of problems such as superconductor, wave propagation, energy storage and retrieval, and reception and amplification.
      See more schools with programs in Electrical, Electronics and Communi­cations Engineering
    • General Computer Engineering
      A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware and software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks.
      See more schools with programs in General Computer Engineering
  • Interdisciplinary Studies

    See more schools with programs in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
      Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
      See more schools with programs in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Life Science

    See more schools with programs in Life Science
    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
        See more schools with programs in Biology/Biological Sciences
      • Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology
        See more schools with programs in Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology
      • Environmental Toxicology
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the health effects associated with exposure to toxic chemicals and systems occurring in the natural, work, and living environments; the management of environmental toxins and toxicity; and the development of protections for humans, animals, and plants. Includes instruction in applied ecology; microbiology; toxin transport, fate, and degradation; dermal toxicology; reproductive and genetic toxicology; atmospheric and environmental chemistry; metals toxicology; environmental mutagens and biotransformation; nutrient interaction; chemical sensitivity, disorders, and disease; risk assessment; animal waste management; environmental health; and hazardous materials management.
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      • Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the ecology and behavior of microbes, plants, and animals inhabiting oceans, coastal waters, and saltwater wetlands and their interactions with the physical environment. Includes instruction in chemical, physical, and geological oceanography; molecular, cellular, and biochemical studies; marine microbiology; marine botany; ichthyology; mammalogy; marine population dynamics and biodiversity; reproductive biology; studies of specific species, phyla, habitats, and ecosystems; marine paleocology and palentology; and applications to fields such as fisheries science and biotechnology.
        See more schools with programs in Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
  • Mathematics and Statistics

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    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
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  • Natural Sciences

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    • Astronomy and Astrophysics See more schools with programs in Astronomy and Astrophysics
      • Astronomy
        Astronomy is a general program lasting anywhere from four to eight years that focuses on the planetary, galactic, and stellar phenomena occurring in outer space. Astronomy students are taught celestial mechanics, cosmology, stellar physics, galactic evolution, quasars, stellar distribution and motion, interstellar medium, atomic and molecular constituents of astronomical phenomena, planetary science, solar system evolution, and specific methodologies such as optical astronomy, radioastronomy, and theoretical astronomy.
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    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
        See more schools with programs in General Chemistry
    • Geology See more schools with programs in Geology
      • Geology/Earth Science
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
        See more schools with programs in Geology/Earth Science
    • Physics See more schools with programs in Physics
      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
        See more schools with programs in General Physics
  • Social Sciences

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    • Anthropology See more schools with programs in Anthropology
      • General Anthropology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human beings, their antecedents and related primates, and their cultural behavior and institutions, in comparative perspective. Includes instruction in biological/physical anthropology, primatology, human paleontology and prehistoric archeology, hominid evolution, anthropological linguistics, ethnography, ethnology, ethnohistory, socio-cultural anthropology, psychological anthropology, research methods, and applications to areas such as medicine, forensic pathology, museum studies, and international affairs.
        See more schools with programs in General Anthropology
    • Economics See more schools with programs in Economics
      • International Economics
        A program that focuses on the systematic study and analysis of international commercial behavior and trade policy. Includes instruction in international trade theory, tariffs and quotas, commercial policy, trade factor flows, international finance and investment, currency regulation and trade exchange rates and markets, international trade negotiation, and international payments and accounting policy.
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      • Other Economics
        See more schools with programs in Other Economics
    • International Relations and Affairs See more schools with programs in International Relations and Affairs
      • General Political Science and Government
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes.
        See more schools with programs in General Political Science and Government
    • Psychology See more schools with programs in Psychology
      • General Psychology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
        See more schools with programs in General Psychology
    • Sociology See more schools with programs in Sociology
      • Sociology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
        See more schools with programs in Sociology
  • Technology

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    • Software Development See more schools with programs in Software Development
      • Computer and Information Sciences
        A general program that focuses on computing, computer science, and information science and systems as part of a broad and/or interdisciplinary program. Such programs are undifferentiated as to title and content and are not to be confused with specific programs in computer science, information science, or related support services.
        See more schools with programs in Computer and Information Sciences

Students

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 96%
Part-Time 4%
Men vs. Women
Women 55%
Men 45%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 52%
Asian 17%
Other 15%
Hispanic 14%
African-American 2%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 95%
Out-of-State 5%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
California 95%
Virginia 0%
Washington 0%
New Mexico 0%
Oregon 0%
Percent of Students International: 2%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 47%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: No

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Basketball (Division III Independents)
Track (Division III Independents)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) In-State Out-of-State  
Published Tuition and Fees:
$ 6,949 $ 24,769  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 0 $ 17,304  
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 6,949 $ 7,465  
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 2,976 22%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 2,979 33%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 5,170 40%  
Student Loans:
$ 3,650 44%  
Any Aid:
  59%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 69% (Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 98%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 520, Math: 530
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 640, Math: 640
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 30%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 21, Verbal: 20, Math: 21
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 27, Verbal: 27, Math: 27

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 60.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Required
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Not Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

College Advice

Yahoo

Question: Does anyone know about University of California, Santa Cruz?

So i was researching the college and i found out they there are "10 colleges" withing the university where you can live and take classes. But I am really confused, do you have to apply to one of those colleges? can you live at one college and take classes at another? please help THANK YOU!
31 months ago

Best Answer

It's a tiered application process, but first, go to the UC Santa Cruz website and download the instructions and application forms. Students have to apply to the Unversity of California SYSTEM, you can state your preferences, and most of those are honored. HOWEVER if you are not accepted to the Santa Cruz campus you could end up being accepted at another University of California campus. http://admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/freshman_guide.cfm This is the guidelines from the UC Santa Cruz site. It has lots of good information. The University of California is the premier public university system in the state. It's very tough to get into. It includes, UCLA, Berkeley, Davis, and many other campuses. Look at the whole system. UC Santa Cruz takes a unique approach in that it is very old fashioned in how different colleges within the university work. All universities are divided into colleges -- Santa Cruz just organizes them into communities. Santa Cruz also has a unique grading system. It's one of the toughest campuses to get into within the UC system. Good luck

Question: Does anyone know about University of California- Santa Cruz?

I am thinking of applying there but i have a few questions. How far away is it from the beach? Is it walking distance? Also i am from the north east and i know this college doesnt get alot of kids from there but that shouldnt discourage me right?
32 months ago

Best Answer

Its on top of a hill and quite a far walk from the beach, although it has a great view. Its has a very high "Hippy" population as does Santa Cruz, but I enjoy the area.

Question: UC Santa Cruz or Loyola Marymount University?

UCSC Pros=distance is perfect, amazing english program, already paid & committed deposit (do I really wanna pay $200+ again for LMU?), It's cheaper, Friends[?] Cons=Too big, Unfamiliarity [but I still gotta visit though which should be happening real soon] LMU Pros=Campus is beautiful, Filipino Club, Size is perfect, Shakespeare classes for English majors, Beach is a mile away, My sister is already there, Familiarity, Friends, Loved it since junior year. Cons= Distance, Not exactly known for English, LA Traffic & Smog, $$$$, Committing again + paying another $200+, Friends [?], b/c of wait list--might not get on-campus housing
32 months ago

Best Answer

Go to UC Santa Cruz, you'd be getting an education in the UC system which, as you already know, is the single best public university system in the country. And money does matter. Loyola is more expensive and even a small apartment in L.A. is ridiculously expensive, especially if you wanted to live anywhere near the school (since it's near the beach). You said your sister and friends are at Loyola but that shouldn't really matter. College is about meeting new people and having new experiences.

Question: I currently go to a UC and I want to know if it will be difficult to transfer to another UC?

Right now, I go to the University of California in Riverside (UCR) and I would like to transfer to UCLA. Does the UC system allow this? Is it common? Will I have the same chance to get in as another transfer student that currently doesn't attend a UC and has comparable grades, test scores (etc.)? Any insight would help. Thanks.
38 months ago

Best Answer

A UC to UC transfer is the most difficult to accomplish, unless you have extenuating circumstances for why you need to transfer, and it will generally only happen at the junior level. It is not as common as one might think, and you have to have a compelling reason for trying to do so. Priority at the transfer level is given first to California community college students. You will be at the back of the line. My advice to you is to consult someone in transfer admissions at UCLA, and explain your circumstances. They can best advise you of your chances.

Question: Should I transfer to the University of the Pacific or stay here at University of California, Santa Cruz?

I would be a communications major with an emphesis in Public Relations at UOP, and I would be a Legal Studies major at UC Santa Cruz. Also, my boyfriend goes to UCSC, but I can't decide if I want to change my school education and go for a different major. According to the books of top schools, Santa Cruz is ranked at like 68 and UOP is ranked at 107. So, ucsc is ranked as a better school. I just want to be HAPPY!!! Is that so hard?!?! Also, I think that being away at a different school would make my bf appreciate our relationship more. However, I feel that long distance relationships suck. I should have just gone to UC Davis right out of high school instead of ucsc. Ahhhh......Which should I do?!?! I'm so confused!!!!
40 months ago
AKA
AKA

Best Answer

I would stay at USCS. School transfers are difficult because you have to start over with your social life and there are also issues with transferring credits, etc. USCS is a good school, if you have a social life there, I would stay. If you are unhappy with your schooling, try changing majors or adding a minor. Legal studies goes great with Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, ans Sociology. Also, check if your school has a Foreign Relations major. You can add a Foreign Relations major/minor and concentrate on international law. There are all sorts of options you can explore. OH, and I dont think that you being at a different school will make your bf appreciate your relationship more--it hardly ever works that way. Try something less drastic in your relationship like doing "guy things" with him. Offer to go go-kart racing with him or something like that. When he sees that you want to have fun and is reminded of what a cool girl you are, he'll appreciate you just fine. Well, good luck!

Photos

  • McHenry Library
    McHenry Library [source]
  • Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose
    Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose [source]
  • McHenry Library stacks
    McHenry Library stacks [source]
  • Students and others gather to smoke cannabis at a meadow near Porter College on April 20 2007 - "420 Day".
    Students and others gather to smoke cannabis at a meadow near Porter College on April 20 2007 - "420 Day". [source]
  • Student Union
    Student Union [source]
  • Quarry Plaza
    Quarry Plaza [source]
  • KZSC lounge
    KZSC lounge [source]
  • [source]
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University of California- Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
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