THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
The Sciences Division at UC Santa Cruz is living proof that a new model of world-class scientific exploration is not only possible, it can thrive. It is a model in which students who reflect the demographic mix of the nation are immersed in field and lab work, faculty-student research partnerships, active-learning classrooms, and real-world internships and apprenticeships that bring coursework to life.
Immersive field and lab experiences are a hallmark of the student experience.
WHAT STUDENTS DO
Science is like a language—to learn you need to immerse yourself. Thus, engaging field and lab work is a hallmark of the student experience at UC Santa Cruz. Students say this work lets them directly apply what they’ve learned in ways that lead to deeper understanding of complex phenomena.
Immersive field courses take UC Santa Cruz students all over the world, from Mexico to the Arctic, from diverse forests to unique ocean settings too numerous to list. Field work is hypothesis driven and discovery based. Students get to see themselves as scientists. Field experiences allow for personal interaction with faculty who are leaders in their disciplines. Discussing scientific principles around a campfire is wildly different than the Q&A in a traditional classroom setting. Students often develop a sense of belonging and identity.
Immersive experiences carry over to the lab, where many students work side-by-side with faculty on high-impact, primary research. In our CURES lab, up to 40 students per quarter fulfill their lab course requirements while doing real research on disease-causing genetic mutations and other projects.
Students get their names into publications. Many design, carry out, analyze, synthesize, report on, and present their own research. Experiential learning is the norm. The use of active-learning classrooms—where there is no lecture and all work is group-based—is on the rise.
Internships with local and national organizations provide practical experience. We bring the real world into the classroom, too. Students in “Studies in Medicine” learn about the history of medicine, patient psychology in medical practice, and how physicians gather information and make clinical decisions. In “A Life in Medicine,” they learn from healthcare practitioners and work on real-life case studies that combine difficult scientific, ethical, and psychological issues that arise in medical practice.
A Commitment to Diversity
UC Santa Cruz is a minority-serving, R1 (top level) research institution committed to attracting and educating diverse and low-income students in the STEM fields. Nearly 50% of our students are first generation in college. We offer students intensive supplemental sections for gateway courses through the ACE Program, and additional support through our STEM Diversity programs, including GRE training, mentorship, and internship opportunities. This includes a rooted commitment to gender diversity in the STEM fields, with active efforts to recruit and retain women.
“UCSC’s a perfect combination of incredible science learning environment in a supportive and collaborative space.”
WHAT STUDENTS SAY
Students
asked to define their experiences in the sciences at UC Santa Cruz cited the following:
MENTORSHIP AND ACCESS TO FACULTY
• Faculty are approachable, caring, supportive, success-oriented.
• Mentorship provides access to knowledge and experience.
• Mentors help you navigate the division, the majors, the campus, and available resources.
COLLABORATION
• Work is cross-disciplinary—labs can involve multiple departments.
• Peer cooperation is the norm—other students are willing to help.
• People have diverse backgrounds and approaches.
• Working in groups is great for troubleshooting.
OPPORTUNITY
• You can pursue research with professors if you’re willing to do the work.
• You get primary access to current questions in high-impact research.
• You’re matched well with data sets you can use.
IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES
• You can learn in a fun environment.
• It helps make the information stick.
DIVERSITY
• Diversity is core to the division.
• A high percentage of women come into the division, especially biology.
• You get a great education about opportunities in STEM.
• Ideas are more important than the ethnicity of their originators.
COMMUNITY
• The division inspires a sense of belonging.
• It’s easy to make connections.
MAKE YOUR IMPACT
You can make an impact at UC Santa Cruz. The Science Division invites your participation as a student, faculty member, donor, or supporter.
FIND OUT MORE AT SCIENCE.UCSC.EDU