Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 77.43
Liaison Elida Erickson
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of California, Santa Cruz
AC-4: Graduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Elida Erickson
Sustainability Director
Sustainability Office
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Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for graduate students?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program:
Department of Environmental Studies PhD

A brief description of the graduate-level degree program:

Established in 1994, the doctoral program in the Department of Environmental Studies at UCSC emphasizes close faculty-student interactions, department-wide intellectual exchange, and cross-discipline innovation. The goal of our Ph.D. program is to develop exceptional individuals with strong foundations in their own fields, and the ability to work with those in other relevant specialties.

The program draws from two main areas: ecology and social science. These are historically independent fields and UCSC's environmental studies program is one of the first to link them.

Graduates of the Environmental Studies Doctoral Program at UC Santa Cruz are expected to be informed in conservation biology, global change ecology, agroecology, environmental policy, and political economy of the environment. Our students have deep intellectual strength in their area of specialty, and make substantial contributions toward the understanding of an environmental problem.


Website URL for the graduate-level degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (2nd program):
Coastal Science and Policy MS

A brief description of the graduate degree program (2nd program):

The program offers coursework that emphasizes interdisciplinary scholarship, project-based study, and developing practical solutions to real-world problems. The intensive academics, real-world experience, and engagement with institutional partners limit the capacity of the master's degree program to ten incoming students each year. Small cohorts, along with need-based financial aid, will allow for students to forge relationships with faculty, professionals, and practitioners in the field. The program focuses on practical training to provide integrated solutions to social and ecological challenges via four interconnected nodes that leverage UCSC’s existing leadership in coastal sustainability:

• Conserving biodiversity, sustaining ecosystem processes, and ensuring human well-being
• Mitigating hazards to nature and society; fostering societal adaptation
• Maintaining security of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial food and energy systems
• Advancing innovative economic and financial models in business and industry


Website URL for the graduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (3rd program):
Environmental Art and Social Practice MFA

A brief description of the graduate degree program (3rd program):

Headed by internationally-recognized artists and including affiliate faculty from across campus, the program integrates the resources of a great public university with the Art Department’s mission of educating and training students in cross-disciplinary, multimedia art practices. Students translate concerns for environmental and social justice into contemporary art practices through professional training combining project-based research, seminars, faculty mentorship, electives, visiting artists, and peer critiques. Working individually and collaboratively in the studio and the field, students will experiment with different approaches to build their practices conceptually and practically while critically and creatively exploring art’s role as a catalyst for radical change.

THE MFA AT UC SANTA CRUZ OFFERS:
The intellectual and interdisciplinary resources of a research university renowned for its in-depth engagements with ecology and social justice

Close association with the diverse communities and ecologies of northern and central California

A committed art faculty recognized for our engagements with social practice and environmental art

A curriculum that provides an inclusive frame to foster critical learning and for practicing art in direct relation to issues, places, and communities


Website URL for the graduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused graduate-level degree programs:
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Does the institution offer one or more graduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates?:
No

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate:
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A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
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Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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The name and website URLs of all other graduate-level, sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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