Academic Support Programs
To get started with undergraduate research at UC Santa Cruz, explore resources that can help you define your goals and find the right opportunities:
Academic Advisor
Meet with your Academic Advisor to identify potential mentors and align your research interests.
Explore Research Opportunities for Academic Credit
Many departments offer classes or seminars that grant academic credit for undergraduate research. To learn more, reach out to your department or division advisor and the UCSC course catalog.
General Academic Support
Career Center
The Career Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive, quality career development and employment/internship programs and resources that prepare a diverse student/alumni community to successfully meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.
Disability Resource Center
The DRC’s goal is to assist the UCSC campus with equal educational access for students with disabilities.
Learning Support Services
Peer guided group sessions called Modified Supplemental Instruction (MSI) are available for selected lower and upper division undergraduate courses. Content related tutoring is available for additional classes. See the webpage for more information.
Educational Opportunity Program
EOP provides a variety of academic and personal support programs designed to improve the retention and academic success of first-generation, low-income, or educationally disadvantaged college students. EOP serves to enhance undergraduate experiences by helping students acquire the skills to prepare for graduate programs, professional school, and future leadership roles. The Pre-Graduate Program hosts workshops every quarter.
Let’s Talk
Let’s Talk is a drop-in program sponsored by Counseling and Psychological Services. Students can stop by for a brief (10-15 minute) confidential conversation with a counselor to receive consultation, support, referrals, and advice. The program is offered during the academic year. Please check with the program for up-to-date times and locations.
Services for Transfer, Re-entry and Resilient Scholars
STARRS provides the extra academic and personal support transfer, re-entry and readmitted students may need to benefit fully from their education at UCSC whether they are full-or part-time. STARRS is here to assist students with their pre-admissions questions, transition concerns, academic support network, and post graduation planning.
STEM Academic Support
Academic Excellence Program (ACE)
STEM students work together in small discussion sections that accompany the large math and science lectures. Sections help students understand the lecture and text book through concept specific worksheets section members work on as a team.
Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP)
The MESA Engineering Program, MEP is the university-level component of the statewide Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) – a program of the University of California Office of the President. At UC Santa Cruz, MEP is supported by the Baskin School of Engineering with its goal to promote diversity and facilitate the retention and graduation of a diverse population of students, especially groups which continue to remain the most underrepresented in engineering studies.
Research Affiliate for Diversity (RAD)
RAD is geared for students in all STEM disciplines. Students are eligible to participate in a one-unit research orientation class, community events, tutoring, and graduate school preparation.