UC Santa Barbara - Overview

• Premier UCSB program for high school students completing grades 9, 10, 11, 12
• Over 100 college credit & enrichment courses
• 989 acre campus with its own beaches and lagoon on the Pacific Ocean
• Sports Plus in Tennis, Basketball, Surfing & more
• Weekend Road trips to Los Angeles, Hearst Castle and beaches

UC Santa Barbara Special Programs

• Aquatic Science and Surfing
• Student Leadership Development
• Research Mentorship Program in Humanities, Physical, Social and Natural Sciences

Why UC Santa Barbara?

UCSB is an internationally renowned center for teaching and research. The breathtaking 989 acre campus is located approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles, and is beautifully situated on a promontory bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands to the south, and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the north. UCSB offers four different college credit programs. The Early Start, and Academic & Enrichment Programs feature approximately 80 classes in 40 different fields. Also available is the intensive Research Mentorship Program in which students partner with research scientists in the arts, humanities, social and physical sciences, or engineering. Alternatively, a non-credit program is offered, consisting of two enrichment courses. After class a college prep, sports and recreation are also available.

The University of California, Santa Barbara

The UCSB campus is home to 19,000 undergraduate, 3,000 graduate students and 1,100 faculty members. The campus has a stunning physical environment and the research facilities of a world-class institution, creating a unique learning environment for Summer Discovery @ UCSB students. UCSB offers a wide array of undergraduate majors and graduate programs through three colleges: Letters and Science, Engineering, and Creative Studies. UCSB is one of only 61 institutions elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. U.S. News and World Report ranked UCSB number 10 in its annual listing of top 50 Public National Universities.

Noted alumni of the University include actors Michael Douglas and Benjamin Bratt; singer/songwriter Jack Johnson; Dr. Robert Ballard, who discovered the remains of the Titanic in 1985 and athletic greats Brian Shaw of the L.A. Lakers and Olympic gold medal swimmer
Jason Lezak. It is also home to 5 Nobel Prize Laureates who are members of the faculty.

Living and Learning Together in One Residence Hall

All Summer Discovery students live together in one residence hall - a special feature of our programs. This enables students and staff to develop the close-knit community of living under one roof. Although students benefit from the greater university community, they have a distinct “home” on campus, which provides immeasurable social, educational and safety benefits.

Santa Cruz Residence Hall

Students live in a UCSB residence hall beautifully situated by the Pacific Ocean. Rooms are doubles and feature two beds, study desks and chairs, book cases, drawers, closets, and high speed internet connections. Outstanding in-house facilities include television/DVD lounges, ping pong and video games, laundry and computer room. There is a Summer Discovery program office, staffed day and night. Also available is the outdoor patio area, with picnic tables, volleyball and basketball courts, and two nearby outdoor pools.

Food For Thought

Summer Discovery students eat in the De La Guerra Dining Commons. They receive 3 meals a day (2 meals a day on weekends) while on campus. Included are low-fat and vegetarian selections, hot breakfast, salad bar, pizza oven, fresh fruit, unlimited beverages, and desserts and frozen yogurt in a food court atmosphere.

Health, Safety and Security

• The health, safety and security of each student is our primary concern.
• Doctor appointments are arranged with the on-campus Student Health Service.
• For 24 hour/emergency care, students are taken to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, located 2 miles from campus.
• Summer Discovery staff make all medical appointments, transport and accompany students to medical facilities, obtain prescription medications and notify parents after medical visits.
• Summer Discovery resident counselors live in the same secure residence hall as the students.
• For additional safety, there are daily/nightly sign-ins and room checks.
• In keeping with a collegiate atmosphere, students are permitted to walk on campus and take the city shuttle bus into downtown Santa Barbara, but are required to be in small groups.

Transportation

• All buildings and facilities on the UCSB campus are within easy walking distance of our Residence Hall. Downtown Santa Barbara is a short drive away, and buses and Summer Discovery shuttles provide transportation.
• Summer Discovery maintains a fleet of passenger vans for class field trips, small excursions and medical transport. For large group excursions chartered buses with professional drivers are used.
• Summer Discovery is pleased to offer assistance in facilitating transportation via car, bus, train or plane. Summer Discovery provides escorted transfers to/from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) for $15 each way. Staff meet incoming flights in baggage claim (or outside of customs for international flights) and assist with departures. All plane arrangements are made through Musiker Travel, our own travel agency, at the lowest available fares. If students are being driven to Santa Barbara, directions are sent approximately one month prior to the program.