Table Of Content2016-17 GENERAL CATALOG
The UCSC General Catalog is no longer available in print. Past years' catalogs are archived online in pdf format
beginning with the 2003-04 edition. Printed catalogs prior to 2003-2004 are available in the Office of the Registrar.
WELCOME RESOURCES FOR LEARNING AND RESEARCH
ABOUT THE CATALOG AND INTRODUCING UCSC • University Library
• About the Catalog • Computing and Technology Services
• Introducing UCSC • Research Programs and Facilities
CAMPUS LIFE AND STUDENT LIFE
FIELDS OF STUDY
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION AND • The Colleges
FINANCIAL INFORMATION • Student Life
PROGRAMS AND COURSES
• Admission
• Program Statements
• Expenses and Financial Resources
• Faculty
UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC PROGRAM • Course Descriptions
• Planning Your Academic Program TEACHING STAFF AND UNIVERSITY
• Graduation Requirements ADMINISTRATION
• University Requirements NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
• General Education Requirements APPENDIXES
• Credit for Transfer Students ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS YEARS' GENERAL
• College Requirements CATALOGS
• Major and Minor Requirements Revised: 09/01/16
• Evaluating Academic Performance
• Advising: Course Selection to Careers
• Undergraduate Research
• International Education
• Field and Exchange Programs
• Intercampus Visitor Program
• Cross-Campus or Simultaneous Enrollment
• Part-Time Program
• Summer Programs
• UCSC Extension
• Intersegmental Cross-Enrollment
GRADUATE STUDIES
• Graduate Education
• Student life
• Application and Admission
• Fees and Expenses
• Financial Support
Welcome
WELCOME
2016-17 General Catalog
Welcome to UC Santa Cruz. This campus is an I welcome you to UC Santa Cruz and look forward to
extraordinary place for students to pursue their having you become a part of our story.
interests and discover their passions.
Sincerely,
Ranked among the top in the world for research
influence, UC Santa Cruz is home to faculty whose
pioneering work is recognized around the world;
professors here are charting new directions and
changing paradigms. For students—undergraduate and
graduate—this means you will be learning from and
working alongside people who are the best in their
fields. You will be partnering with scholars, scientists,
artists, and engineers whose own quest for knowledge
is as alive today as when they were undergraduates.
And what a place to learn! This campus is one of the
most beautiful in the country, with redwood forests,
grassy meadows, and oak-studded hills affording
unparalleled views of the Monterey Bay. The setting
will inspire and renew you, and our campus facilities
will support your intellectual and physical
development.
When UCSC first welcomed students to campus in 1965,
they were greeted by the motto of Cowell College: The
pursuit of truth in the company of friends. That motto
resonates today on a campus where faculty and staff
are dedicated to student success. Our 10 residential
colleges provide small living and learning communities
that offer leadership opportunities, extracurricular
activities, and social engagement. Because these years
are not solely about learning. Be sure to try new things,
GEORGE BLUMENTHAL
whether in student government, on the soccer field, or
on the stage. Chancellor
Revised: 09/01/16
About the Catalog
ABOUT THE CATALOG
2016-17 General Catalog
This catalog contains the basic information about UC this catalog, changes are likely to occur after
Santa Cruz. A complete list of academic programs and publication. On an ongoing basis, the university is
concentrations, both graduate and undergraduate, examining ways to bring the greatest possible efficiency
appears in the Fields of Study. to the delivery of its programs and curricula. This
The next part of the catalog is divided into sections process may result in changes in services, teaching and
describing various aspects of the campus: administrative staff, and curricula and courses that
undergraduate admission and financial information, the could not be reflected in this catalog, which was
undergraduate academic program (including advising prepared well in advance of the 2016-17 academic year.
and support services), graduate education (including Updates to course information are available in the
information on graduate student admission, expenses, quarterly Schedule of Classes and the Class Search.
and financial support), research programs and facilities, (Additional websites are referenced throughout this
and the 10 residential colleges and student life. catalog. However, they are maintained by individual
units and may not reflect approved general
The academic programs and courses offered at UCSC
information, curricula, or course information.) In
are described in detail in the programs and courses
addition, several publications are available that include
section. The listings are alphabetical, with appropriate
detailed information about specific subjects such as
cross-references.
graduate programs, housing, and financial aid.
The Santa Cruz teaching staff and their academic
It is the responsibility of the individual student to
qualifications, the University of California
become familiar with the announcements and
administration, and the Santa Cruz campus
regulations of the university that are printed in this
administrative staff appear in the teaching and
catalog and other campus publications. The catalog is
administration section.
the document of record for major and program
The catalog constitutes the campus’s document of
requirements. It is updated annually.
record. While every effort is made to ensure the
correctness and timeliness of information contained in
Revised: 09/01/16
Introducing UC Santa Cruz
INTRODUCING UC SANTA CRUZ
2016-17 General Catalog
resources to diversify its educational and research
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
opportunities. UC Santa Cruz is a Hispanic Serving
The University of California was chartered as a land- Institution member of the Hispanic Association of
grant college in 1868. From its rural beginning, the Colleges and Universities, with more than 30 percent of
university has developed into one of the world’s most undergraduates identifying as Hispanic or Latino.
distinguished universities, acclaimed for its research,
UC Santa Cruz faculty and emeriti include 12
scholarship, and dedication to undergraduate and
members of the National Academy of Sciences, 22
graduate education. There are 10 University of
members of the American Academy of Arts and
California campuses located regionally throughout the
Sciences, and 34 members of the American Association
state: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced,
for the Advancement of Science. Numerous faculty have
Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and
been awarded Guggenheim Fellowships, and several
Santa Cruz. In addition, there are some 800 associated
have been awarded national awards for distinguished
research institutes, laboratories, agricultural field
teaching. Three faculty members, three bachelor’s
stations, and extension centers serving California and
degree recipients, and two Ph.D. recipients have been
the nation. The university is the primary state-funded
named MacArthur Fellows, and since 1972, when UC
academic agency for research. Its library collections,
Santa Cruz began participating in the program, about
totaling more than 39 million print volumes, are among
120 Fulbright scholarships have been awarded to UC
the best in the country.
Santa Cruz students and alumni.
The University of California faculty, more than 21,000
The residential colleges are an important part of the
in number, is distinctive in its 31 living Nobel Laureates
UC Santa Cruz undergraduate experience. The 10
and 593 members of the National Academy of
colleges divide the university into smaller communities,
Sciences—more than any other college or university
each serving as a social and intellectual gathering place
system. Faculty membership in the American Academy
for 1,400 to 1,700 students and 30 to 110 faculty
of Arts and Sciences totals 540.
fellows from a variety of academic disciplines. Every
The University enrolls more than 198,000 undergraduate student affiliates with a particular
undergraduates selected from the top 12.5 percent of college while participating in a campuswide academic
the state’s high school graduates and more than 52,000 program. All of the colleges are interdisciplinary, and all
graduate students. The 1.6 million living alumni enrich academic majors are open to students from all colleges.
the nation with public service and leadership.
Each college has a distinctive quality derived from its
core course and extracurricular programs and from its
THE SANTA CRUZ CAMPUS
faculty fellows and their academic disciplines. Detailed
descriptions of the 10 colleges can be found in The
Since its inception in 1965, the University of California,
Colleges section of the catalog.
Santa Cruz, has been dedicated to excellence in
undergraduate education, graduate studies, and Undergraduate education. The campus offers major
research. UC Santa Cruz students can take advantage of programs in the arts, engineering, humanities, physical
innovative academic planning combined with the and biological sciences, and social sciences—as well as
research resources and scholarship strengths of the interdisciplinary major programs and minors. A
University of California system. At UC Santa Cruz, a complete list of academic programs and concentrations
program of general education is enhanced with appears on the Fields of Study chart, and detailed
opportunities for academic specialization. descriptions begin in the Programs and Courses section
of the catalog.
Planned enrollment for the 2016-2017 academic
year is 17,700 students, of whom 1,650 will be graduate The major and minor programs are administered by
students. UC Santa Cruz seeks and welcomes students, departments. In most cases, departments are composed
faculty, and staff of diverse ethnic and cultural of faculty in the same field, but interdisciplinary
experiences. The campus continues to enroll a student programs draw on faculty from several fields.
body that reflects the state’s ethnic and socioeconomic With few exceptions, letter grades are assigned in all
diversity and plans to increase both its enrollment and credit courses. In addition, academic performance in
Introducing UC Santa Cruz
each course may be recorded by a narrative Society (CITRIS)—which focus on human health and
performance evaluation. (See Evaluating Academic the use of information technology to solve social,
Performance.) environmental, and health care problems. The Institute
for Humanities Research (IHR) oversees a range of
Undergraduate education at UC Santa Cruz is focused
topical centers that promote interdisciplinary research,
on student success. UCSC’s college core courses give
including the Center for Cultural Studies, the Center for
first-year students a small-seminar experience in their
Jewish Studies, the Center for Labor Studies, the
first year; intensive work in writing, discussion, and
Linguistics Research Center, and the Dickens Project.
critical reasoning; as well as an orientation to academic
Research enterprises within the arts benefit from the
life. To fulfill the campus’s rigorous comprehensive
Arts Research Institute and the Center for Documentary
requirement, every senior must pass a comprehensive
Arts and Research, while the Institute of the Arts and
examination or complete an equivalent body of work.
Sciences emphasizes interdisciplinary exhibitions,
Individual research is encouraged, and hundreds of
events, and residency programs. The Center for
research papers coauthored by UC Santa Cruz
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, the Center
undergraduates and their professors have been
for Integrated Spatial Research, the Chicano/Latino
published in journals. For additional information, visit
Research Center, and the Science & Justice Research
the Undergraduate Research Opportunities website.
Center provide pioneering directions for research in the
Annually, more than 500 UC Santa Cruz students
social sciences. Engineering at UC Santa Cruz has
broaden their academic careers through the UC
focused on strategic initiatives that include the UC
Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), which allows
Santa Cruz Genomics Institute, the Institute for the
students to incorporate full-time study abroad as UC
Biology of Stem Cells, the Center for Games and
credit toward their degrees. UCEAP provides a vital
Playable Media, and the Center for Sustainable Energy
international connection for academic and personal
and Power Systems. Beyond these organized research
growth in an increasingly interdependent world (see
enterprises, UC Santa Cruz has a wide suite of
International Education Office).
investigator-driven research that spans the width and
The UC Santa Cruz campus strongly encourages breadth of campus inquiry. For additional information
undergraduate students to take advantage of the many see Resources for Learning and Research.
opportunities for public service such as those provided
The central UC Santa Cruz campus occupies 2,000
through the campus’s field programs, colleges, and
acres on the west side of the city of Santa Cruz, on
Career Center. Individual studies, apprentice teaching,
Monterey Bay, about 75 miles south of San Francisco
field studies, and internships can be important parts of
and 35 miles southwest of San José. Expansive
the undergraduate experience (see Field Programs).
meadows at the campus entrance gradually slope up to
Graduate education. The UC Santa Cruz campus a redwood forest that covers most of the site. Each
offers graduate programs in more than 30 fields. Within residential college is within easy access of the campus’s
the graduate programs, there are a range of options for central core, which includes an extensive library,
concentrated study in a specialized field. Graduate science laboratories, lecture halls, art studios, theater
study at UC Santa Cruz emphasizes close interaction arts and music centers, a student union, and athletic
between faculty and students, independent student facilities. Although the campus is spread out over many
research, supervised teaching experience, and acres of hilly terrain, its programs are accessible to
interdisciplinary work. Further graduate information is people with mobility impairments (see Disability
provided in the Graduate Education section of the Resource Center).
catalog.
The city of Santa Cruz is a well-known recreational
Research. The UC Santa Cruz campus hosts a number area and center for the arts. Mild weather, miles of
of major research units. UC Observatories, the Santa beaches, and many cultural opportunities combine to
Cruz Institute for Particle Physics (SCIPP), and the make Santa Cruz an enjoyable place to study and live.
Institute of Marine Sciences conduct state-of-the-art
Accreditation. The University of California, Santa
research on topics ranging from the discovery of
Cruz, is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for
planets outside our solar system, to the detection of
Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western
new sub-atomic particles, to the ecology of marine
Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), 985
mammals. UC Santa Cruz is also a primary partner in
Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, (510)
inter-UC campus initiatives—such as the Institute for
748-9001, an institutional accrediting body recognized
Quantitative Biomedical Research (QB3) and the Center
by the Council for Higher Education and the U.S.
for Information Technology Research in the Interest of
Department of Education.
Introducing UC Santa Cruz
Specific degree programs at UC Santa Cruz are also (Education). To review accreditation documents, please
accredited: The Engineering Accreditation Commission contact the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic
of ABET, http://www.abet.org (Electrical Engineering); Affairs, Kerr Hall, (831) 459-1349, or
Undergraduate
Graduate Education
Education
Designated
B.A. B.S. Minor Certificate M.A./M.F.A. M.S. Ph.D.
Emphasis
American Literature:
see Literature
Academic English
Anthropology • • • •
Archaeology c
Cultural anthropology c
Physical anthropology c
Applied Mathematics •
Applied Mathematics and
• •
Statistics
Applied Linguistics
Applied Physics •
Art •
Art and Design: Games
•
and Playable Media
Art History; see History of
art and visual culture
Asian studies: see East
Asian studies
Astronomy and
•
astrophysics
Astrophysics (see also
•
Physics [Astrophysics])
Bilingual-multicultural
education: see Education
Biochemistry and
•
molecular biology
Bioengineering •
Assistive Technology:
c
Cognitive/Perceptual
Assistive Technology: Motor c
Bioelectronics c
Biomolecular c
Bioinformatics • •
Biomolecular engineering
• •
and bioinformatics
Biological Sciences
Biology • • •
Bioeducation c
Ecology and evolution •
Ecology and evolutionary
• • •
biology
Human biology •
Marine biology •
Molecular, cell, and
• • •
developmental biology
Neuroscience •
Plant sciences •
Chemistry • • • • •
Biochemistry c
Environmental chemistry c
Chinese language
Classical studies (see also
• •
Literature)
Cognitive science (see also
•
Psychology)
Community studies •
Computer engineering (1) • • • •
Computer systems c
Digital hardware c
Networks c
Robotics and control c •
Systems programming c
Computer science (2) • • • • •
Computer science:
•
Computer game design
Creative writing: see
Literature
Critical Race and Ethnic
• •
Studies
Dance: see Theater arts
Digital arts and new media
•
(3)
Drama: see Theater arts
Dramatic literature: see
Theater arts
Earth sciences • • • •
Environmental geology c
Ocean sciences c
Planetary sciences c
Science education c
East Asian studies •
Ecology and evolution •
Ecology and evolutionary
• •
biology
Economics • • •
Applied economics and
•
finance
Business management
•
economics
Global economics •
Education (4) • • • •
Science, technology
engineering, •
and mathematics
Bilingual-multicultural
c
education
Multiple subjects credential
c
(elementary)
Single subjects credential
c
(secondary)
Language, literacy, and
c
culture
Learning and teaching c
Mathematics and science
c
education
Social and cultural contexts
c
of education
Teachers and teacher
c
development
Electrical engineering • • • •
Electronics/Optics c
