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Advising and FAQs

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Advising

The key to making the most of your educational opportunities is advising, and it is your responsibility to seek the proper advice. The advising system at Santa Cruz is extensive, so use it to your advantage. Here is a rough guide to the kinds of advising available:

General academic guidance
  • UCSC General Catalog
  • The Navigator
  • College academic preceptors
  • Peer advisers and faculty advisers

    Career information
  • The Career Center
  • Environmental Studies faculty
  • Environmental Studies Internship Office

    Environmental Studies Department policies and procedures
  • Environmental Studies Department Office staff

    Environmental Studies internships and field studies
  • Environmental Studies Internship Office

    Particular Environmental Studies courses
  • Faculty teaching those courses
  • Environmental Studies students

    FACULTY ADVISERS

    Environmental Studies faculty are the best advisers with whom to discuss your academic program, including how to prepare for graduate school and beyond. It is wise, however, to discuss these matters with several people. The faculty adviser who signs your declaration of major form may not be the most appropriate adviser for your area of interest. You are free to meet with any of the faculty for advising. You are expected to meet with an adviser as often as needed but at least once a year to update your study plan. If you are considering a senior internship or thesis, it is essential to get an early start in developing your ideas with a faculty adviser.

    STAFF ADVISERS

    Environmental Studies Department Office staff can advise you about major prerequisites and upper division requirements, major declaration, enrollment issues, transfer credit, EAP planning and other procedural questions. The Environmental Studies Internship Office has extensive information about local, regional and international internship placements.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

    How do I set up an advising appointment?

    What can I do with a degree in environmental studies?

    Can I get credit for courses I took outside UCSC?

    Do I have to take environmental studies courses for letter grades?

    What's an independent study and/or how do I set one up?

    How do I know which senior exit course to take?

    What's the best way to get a letter of recommendation from the faculty?

    I'm planning to graduate at the end of next quarter; what do I need to do?

    How do I set up an advising appointment?

    The easiest way to schedule an advising appointment is to sign up for an advising slot on the whiteboard outside of ISB 405, the Environmental Studies Main Office.  Doing so will secure you a 20-minute drop-in appointment with the undergraduate advisor during the time period you signed up for.  If you cannot make it up to ISB to sign up for such an appointment, e-mail the undergraduate advisor to set up an appointment.

    What can I do with a degree in environmental studies?
    Although your prospects for a job are enhanced by graduate training, many of our undergraduates have gone directly into relevant careers. Whether you want to go to graduate school or find a job, the basic rule is to take the initiative and do your homework. Research jobs and schools. Talk with people, especially environmental studies faculty. Do an internship. Explore the options. Click here to see positions held by some of our alumni.

    Can I get credit for courses I took outside UCSC?
    Provided your previous coursework is accepted for transfer to UCSC, you will, at the least, receive credits toward the 180-unit minimum required for graduation.

  • If your previous courses were lower division (e.g., all community college courses) they may satisfy prerequisite or general education requirements; they will not satisfy upper division major requirements.
  • If your previous courses were upper division and relevant to environmental studies and you are doing a full major (rather than combined) you may petition for up to two substitutions toward the seven required electives. Please note that you are allowed a maximum of two substitutions including all sources (EAP, other departments at UCSC, independent or field studies, other four-year schools, etc.). Once the course is included in your UCSC student record you will need to petition for the substitution (unless the course is on the pre-approved list). The petition form is available here. The petition must include a justification and must be accompanied by a copy of:

    1. The course syllabus
    2. Your current UCSC student record (copy from your portal)
    3. A copy of your UCSC transfer credit summary if the course was taken outside UCSC

    Do I have to take environmental studies courses for letter grades?
    No. You do need to keep track of the percentage of all courses you take for pass/no pass grading and be sure to not exceed the 25% maximum. However, students wishing to pursue the combined major with biology need to take ALL courses for a letter grade

    What's an independent study and/or how do I set one up?
    An independent study is a two- or five-unit lower or upper division course designed by you and a faculty sponsor. It could be lab, field or library research or an activity such as student teaching. Independent studies do not count toward major requirements unless you successfully petition in writing upon completion of the work. (Exceptions: ENVS 195 and 183B count toward the senior exit requirement.)

    The steps to enroll are:
    1. Pick up the required form from the cases outside the Department Office, 405 ISB
    2. Fill out the form
    3. Meet with your faculty sponsor and have her/him sign it
    4. Take the form back to the Department Office for approval and to get a call number for enrollment
    How do I know which senior exit course to take?
    There are several possibilities for meeting the Senior Comprehensive Requirement (SCR) in Environmental Studies including opportunities for team and individual work. The majority of environmental studies majors choose to take the Capstone (ENVS 190) or Senior Seminar (ENVS 196) courses; the type of student you are might affect your choice. If you feel you would benefit from more structure in the SCR process, you should take Capstone or Senior Seminar. If you feel comfortable working independently with a flexible amount of supervision, you might prefer to do a senior thesis or project (ENVS 195). A Senior Internship (ENVS 183B) would be a project agreed upon by you, the agency with which you intern and your faculty sponsor. If you choose the thesis or senior internship option you should also refer to the Guidelines for SCR.

    What's the best way to get a letter of recommendation from the faculty?
    See "How to Ask Faculty for a Letter of Recommendation"

    I'm planning to graduate at the end of next quarter; what do I need to do?
    Check with your college to make sure your general education and unit requirements will be complete. Contact the Department office and ask for a grad check on your major requirements. Contact the Registrar for "Announcement of Candidacy for Graduation" within the first three weeks of the quarter in which you plan to graduate.

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