A College Education

Many people feel that the primary purpose of a college education is to enable the student to find a better job or to earn a better salary after graduation. However, it should be stressed that the value of an undergraduate education cannot be measured solely in terms of dollars, cents and vocational success. A UCSB Bachelor’s degree demands hard work and perseverance. Graduates will have learned to express themselves with clarity in both written and oral communication. They will have mastered one or more subjects in depth while gaining exposure to a variety of others.
Each student’s undergraduate experience is unique, as it is tailored to the individual’s interests. For many, the undergraduate years are a time to explore different subjects and to seek out extracurricular or pre-professional experience. Regardless of a student’s major, extracurricular activities or length of time spent earning a degree, the benefit of the University experience extends far beyond the years actually spent at UCSB. Most importantly, students will have learned critical thinking skills which allow them to make informed decisions about their lives, as well as become critical consumers of everything from products to information.

A Research Institution

Many students and parents are not initially aware that the University of California is a “research institution.” In fact, UCSB is ranked one of the top public research institutions in the nation. This means that the professors are researchers as well as teachers and often incorporate their research into the curriculum. Students therefore have abundant opportunities to become involved in independent or faculty-directed research. In addition, majors offered at UCSB focus on theory and research, instead of vocational applications. However, the high availability of internships and job opportunities on campus and in the surrounding area provide excellent sources of experience for students wishing to apply knowledge learned in class. Students interested in becoming involved in research can contact individual faculty members or the College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research and Creative Studies Office in North Hall at (805) 893-2319. Those wishing to learn more about involvement or employment opportunities can contact Career Services at (805) 893-4412.

The Colleges at UCSB

UCSB is one of the ten campuses that form the University of California system. The Santa Barbara campus is made up of three undergraduate colleges, a Graduate Division, the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, and the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. Of the undergraduate colleges, the largest is the College of Letters and Science, a liberal arts college that offers opportunities in nearly 80 majors and 38 minors. Depending on the major, students in the College of Letters and Science will earn one of four degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music. The College of Engineering offers Bachelor of Science degrees in computer science and in chemical, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering. The College of Creative Studies is a selective college that enrolls highly self-motivated, self-directed students who have demonstrated a talent for independent work in the arts, mathematics, or sciences. College of Creative Studies Bachelor of Arts degrees are offered in Art (Painting, Sculpture, or Book Arts), Literature, Music Composition, and Biology. Both B.A. and B.S. degrees are offered in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. The Bachelor of Science degree is also offered in Computer Science.

The Requirements

There are four types of requirements that all students must satisfy in order to receive a Bachelor’s degree from UCSB: Unit, University, General Education, and Major requirements.

I. Unit Requirement

• 1 unit is equivalent to approximately 3 hours of work per week, both in and out of class (therefore, 16 units is about 48 hours of work per week)
  
  
• College of Letters and Science advisors recommend that new students take 14-16 units their first quarter
  
  
• College of Letters and Science advisors recommend that new students take 14-16 units their first quarter
  
  
• 180 or 184 minimum units are needed to graduate (depending on how a student satisfies Area B of General Education)
  
  
• 60 units must be Upper Division

MINIMUM CUMULATIVE PROGRESS

Undergraduate students in the College of Letters and Science and the College of Engineering are required to make at least minimum progress toward their degree at a rate determined by the faculty. Student progress will be monitored every other regular term. Students who, at the point of review, fall short of the minimum cumulative progress measure will be placed on Minimum Cumulative Progress Probation. Students who have not returned to Minimum Cumulative Progress standards two regular terms later will be subject to disqualification, at the discretion of the dean of the college. Students may monitor their progress in relation to the expectations of the faculty by using the campus’ GOLD system.
A term by term chart that outlines the required minimum academic progress and more detailed information about other important aspects of the Minimum Cumulative Progress Regulation should be viewed at the college’s academic advising website (www.advising.ltsc.ucsb.edu). Students may also consult the college advising office (Cheadle Hall 1117) for assistance.

Course Numbering		Class Standing by Unitsstrong
1-99	Lower Division	0-45	Freshman
100-199	Upper Division	45.1-89.9	Sophomore
200+	Graduate	90-134.9	Junior
		135+	Senior

For the Bachelor of Arts degree, approximately 1/3 of all units go toward the major, 1/3 toward General Education, and 1/3 toward free electives, a second major, or a minor.

II. University Requirements

These four requirements were created by UC faculty and are common to all UC campuses.

ENTRY LEVEL WRITING REQUIRMENT (formerly subject A): ENGLISH COMPOSITION

Ensures that all students demonstrate proficiency in English composition skills.

May be satisfied in any of the following ways before classes start:

• Pass a Systemwide Analytical Writing Placement Exam in May or UCSB Exam in September
  
  
• Score of 6 or 7 on the Standard Level English A1 International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam
  
  
• Score of 30 or higher on the ACT combined English/Writing test
  
  
• Score of 3 or above on Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature or English Composition
  
  
• Score of 680 or higher on the SAT Reasoning Text
  
  
• Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the Higher Level English A International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam
  
  
• Transfer Course equivalent to UCSB’s Writing 2 with a grade of C or better
  
  

If not satisfied in the above ways then take UCSB Writing 1, 1E, or 1LK and receive a grade of C or better (Writing 1, 1E, or 1LK should be completed by the student’s first year).

AMERICAN HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS (AH&I)

Ensures that all students acquire an understanding of the history, government, and institutions of the United States.

May be satisfied in any of the following ways:

• Score of 3 or above on Advanced Placement American History or American Government & Politics Exam
  
  
• Score of 680 or higher on SAT II Subject Test in American History
  
  
• Pass non-credit history exam at UCSB
  
  
• Complete 4 units from approved UCSB course list
  
  
• Transfer equivalent course at college level

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

Ensures that all students achieve a minimum standard of academic performance. At graduation, the following is required:

• 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in all UC Letter-graded units
  
  
• 2.0 grade point average in all UC courses required for and applicable to the major (lower and upper division)
  
  
• 2.0 grade point average in all UC courses required for and applicable to the upper division major

ACADEMIC RESIDENCE

Ensures that UCSB makes a significant contribution to all degrees awarded.

Students must complete all of the following:

• 3 regular terms within the UC system
  
  
• 27 upper division units at UCSB
  
  
• 20 upper division major units at UCSB
  
  
• 35 of final 45 units at UCSB

III. General Education Requirements (for BA)

General Education courses or “GEs” are designed to provide breadth to the undergraduate experience. These requirements vary depending on whether a student is earning a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. There are seven areas to the General Education requirements that are to be explored throughout a student’s career at UCSB. General Education requirements are different for students in the College of Engineering and Creative Studies.

AREA A: ENGLISH READING AND COMPOSITION

• Writing 2, 2E or 2LK (should be taken by end of 6th quarter year); or a score of 4 or 5 on either AP English Exam, or a score of 6 on Higher Level English A IB Exam
  
  
• One course from: Writing 50, 50E, 109AA-ZZ, or English 10 (one course must be completed by graduation); or a score of 5 on either AP English Exam, or a score of 7 on Higher Level English A IB Exam

AREA B: FOREIGN LANGUAGE

May be satisfied in any of the following ways:

• A C average or better in 3rd year level of high school foreign language
  
  
• Score of 500-590 on SAT II Subject Test in any foreign language (score required depends on language test taken)
  
  
• Score of 3 or above on any AP foreign language exam
  
  
• Placement into language level 4 or higher on UCSB’s foreign language placement exam

If Area B is satisfied with college course work, student needs 184 total units to graduate.

AREA C: SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND TECHNOLOGY

Three courses are required

AREA D: SOCIAL SCIENCES

Three courses are required

AREA E: CIVILIZATION AND THOUGHT

Three courses are required

AREA F: THE ARTS

Two courses are required

AREA G: LITERATURE

Two courses are required

GENERAL EDUCATION GUIDELINES

• A course may be applied simultaneously to Major Requirements, General Education Requirements, and the American History and Institutions Requirement.
  
  
• Courses listed in more than one General Education Area (C-G) can only be applied to one Area.

SPECIAL SUBJECT AREA REQUIREMENTS (FULFILLED AS PART OF GE)

• * Writing Requirement (6 courses): Requires writing of one or more papers totaling 1,800 words or more.
  
  
• # Quantitative Relationships (1 course): Focuses on measurement or manipulation of quantities.
  
  
• + World Culture and Thought (1 course): Focuses on cultures not influenced by Greco-Roman or Judeo-Christian thought and traditions.
  
  
• & Ethnicity Requirement (1 course): Focuses on the historical, cultural, intellectual, and social experience of people of color and/or ethnic groups in the United States.
  
  
• ^ European Traditions (1 course): Focuses on a culture affected by European thought outside the United States.

IV. Major Requirements

The major requirements add depth the undergraduate program through completion of the student’s chosen major. Major requirements vary from major to major and can be found in the General Catalog. The three colleges offer a total of 90 majors and over 20 minors ranging from Anthropology to Zoology. In the College of Letters and Science, it is not necessary to declare a major right away; in fact, about 38% of the incoming freshman are undeclared, and many of the remaining 62% change their major sometime during their years at UCSB. Students have until the beginning of their junior year to officially declare a major. Note: Certain majors have pre-major requirements that students need to fill with a minimum GPA in order to be admitted to the major (see General Catalog for details).

Choosing a Major

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One of the most important decisions students must make in college is their choice of major: the field of study which represents their principle academic interest and which contributes toward their career goals. Some students select their major at the time they fill out the University’s application for admission. However, a large number (approximately 38%) are undecided about their major and enter UCSB "undeclared." The “undeclared” option is the largest "major" status on campus. Also, a great percentage of students change their major at least once before graduation. It is not unusual for a freshman to be undecided on a major. Most new students spend their first two years taking a variety of courses through different departments and choose a major through such experimentation. College is a time to explore. Guidance is always available to them through their College, their department(s) of interest, and other campus resources. Once a student decides upon a major, he/she petitions to have that major officially declared. Appropriate forms are available at their College office or their individual major department. Before you know it, you will be sharing your student’s excitement about his or her newly declared major!

Graduation & Retention Rates

Parents often wonder how many students who enter UCSB actually graduate with a degree. Also of interest is the number of students retained each year, especially at the end of the first year. The following statistics illustrate how many students are retained each year and how many graduate from UCSB.

FRESHMEN			JUNIOR TRANSFERS
	Retained	Grad	Retained	Grad
After 1 year	91%	-	88%	1%
2	83%	-	21%	58%
3	79%	3%	3%	79%
4	13%	63%	1%	84%
5	2%	78%	1%	82%
6	1%	80%	0%	83%

• Average time to degree for entering freshman = 4 years
  
  
• National retention rate after freshman year = 74%

This information is based on most recent years’ data available, 2007—(i.e., each year is based upon a different cohort; therefore percentage may fluctuate.)

Choosing Courses for the First Year

Each quarter, UCSB offers several hundred courses, ranging from Cultural Anthropology to Islamic Art & Architecture to Science Fiction Literature. In choosing courses for their first quarter, many students are overwhelmed by the range and number of courses available. Parents, too, are sometimes surprised by the courses which students decide to take. In keeping with the spirit of General Education, the University encourages students to take a wide and balanced range of classes. Students must take a number of different classes to fulfill various requirements, and will not solely be focusing on classes within their major. Students and parents sometimes express concerns that unfamiliar classes may not fulfill requirements. However, many of these classes will fulfill General Education requirements, and even those courses that do not specifically fulfill any requirements contribute to the total number of units required to graduate from UCSB. When selecting their schedules for their first year, students are advised to choose a wide range of courses. This means taking both major and non-major courses, courses for a variety of General Education requirements and classes that may not fulfill requirements, but sound appealing. Many students restrict themselves to classes they recognize from high school, such as English, Psychology, and History, but because of the popularity of these courses they often fill up quickly. At Orientation, students have been given a printout suggesting &qout;Courses of the Day,&qout; which have a high number of seats available and fulfill various G.E. requirements. Although some of these classes may sound unfamiliar, they are perfectly appropriate and students should be encouraged to consider choosing one or more of these classes.