Rachel Carson College
Rachel Carson College Administration Building, Room 114
831-459-2361
https://rachelcarson.ucsc.edu
Academic Programs
Sustainability Studies Minor
Academic Emphasis
Rachel Carson College’s academic classes focus on the theme of environment and society. The college sponsors a number of educational initiatives and courses aimed at furthering its theme and mission, as well as programs offering experiential learning for students. CRSN 1 is the required first-year college core course that introduces students to critical and analytical reading at the university level. The core course is mandatory for all incoming frosh.
Orientation
All new frosh and transfer students who start fall quarter are required to enroll in one of two online orientation courses. Frosh will enroll in CRSN 1A, Rachel Carson 1A: Introduction to University Life and Learning. Transfer students will enroll in KRSG 1T, Kresge 1T: Introduction to Research Universities and the Liberal Arts. CRSN 1A and KRSG 1T integrate introductions to academic skills with the online Slug Orientation process, and begin student preparation for their studies at Rachel Carson College and throughout the University of California, Santa Cruz.
CRSN 1A Introduction to University Life and Learning (1 credit)
Offered online in summer quarter
KRSG 1T Introduction to Research Universities and the Liberal Arts (1 credit)
Offered online in summer quarter
Core Course
CRSN 1, Academic Literacy and Ethos: Environment and Society
The Rachel Carson College core course focuses on the theme “Environment and Society.” Throughout the quarter, we explore, through multiple perspectives, the complex relationships between people and the places they live. This is a course that focuses on big-picture questions like: What is nature? What does it mean to be “natural?” How do we understand our politics and ourselves at a time when the climate is changing so rapidly? This course is an interdisciplinary course by design—it simultaneously pulls from history, novels, journalism, art, sociology, and science to take on current issues in environmental studies like water rights, food systems, indigenous knowledge, environmental history, and labor. In pursuing these topics, students also delve into some of the environmental and ecological science that underpins them. The course consists of a weekly plenary (large lecture) and a bi- or tri-weekly seminar (discussion section).
College Advising
carsonadvising@ucsc.edu
Phone: 831-459-2361
Rachel Carson College Administration Building, room 114
Rachel Carson College advisers help students interpret academic policies and procedures and clarify educational goals. They provide support to students to ensure their academic success and progress toward their degree throughout their time at UC Santa Cruz. Advisers help students make informed decisions, develop resiliency, and develop the ability to take ownership of their academic choices. Advisers also connect students to resources that will enrich their academic experiences.
Other Academic Programs
In addition to the core course, practicum internships, research projects, and a minor in sustainability studies all enable students to acquire skills that they can apply to their career at UC Santa Cruz, including service-learning work with campus and community-based agencies and organizations. Additional college courses include garden internships, academic and STEM preparation classes, student-facilitated classes in sustainability. For more information about academics, see Rachel Carson College.