Geology Field Research on Santa Cruz Island--Photo by Brooke

*****

Undergraduates studying the sciences and math in the College of Letters and Science (L&S) receive an outstanding education that combines specialization in their chosen major with the comprehensive liberal arts education http://www.college.ucsb.edu/for-undergraduates/a-liberal-arts-education that will help them succeed in a wide variety of careers, whether as teachers, researchers, health professionals, or in  business. In fact, the division offers three of the "five college majors that can help you get a job" recently cited by the Wall Street Journal: statistics, environmental studies, and life sciences. http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/college-planning/5-college-majors-that-can-help-you-land-a-job/

The division offers courses and degrees in mathematics and statistics, in the life sciences of biology and psychology, and in the physical sciences of chemistry, geography (which also includes "human geography"), earth science, and physics. In addition, the division is home to a unique, interdisciplinary, problem-oriented program (and popular major) in environmental studies. Departments related to ecology and the environment include Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology (EEMB);  Geography; and Earth Science.

The science faculty includes four Nobel laureates, as well as numerous elected members or fellows of the National Academy of Sciences (29), the National Academy of Engineering (25), the Institute of Medicine (2), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (25), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (60). Twenty-one young faculty members have active Faculty Early Career Development Awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Many members of our science faculty have received campus awards for teaching and research. The last three recipients of the Plous Award, given by the College of L&S to assistant professors who have shown exceptional achievement in research,

teaching and service to the university, have been from the sciences: Bradley Cardinale, EEMB; Tommaso Treu (Physics) ; and Thuc-Quyen Nguyen (Chemistry and Biochemistry).  Recent recipients of the Academic Senate's Distinguished Teaching Award include Thomas Even (EEMB); Dawn Holmes (Statistics and Applied Probability); Stanley Klein (Psychology); Michael Mahan (MCDB); and Robert Warner (EEMB).

Students who are members of the College Honors Program are able to take part in special honors sections of larger courses, and in Honors Seminars where they work closely with faculty members to develop independent research projects. Entering first-year students and transfer students are invited to apply to the Honors Program and continuing students may also apply if they meet the admissions criteria. http://www.honors.ltsc.ucsb.edu/elgblty.php

All students, including those who are not members of the Honors Program, may take advantage of unparalleled opportunities to conduct research under the guidance of senior faculty members, often with financial support. (See the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities for information about applying for research support. http://www.ltsc.ucsb.edu/urca/research.php.  Students with research projects present them at the annual Undergraduate Research Colloquium.

The College's Division of Undergraduate Education offers comprehensive academic advising to all students, helping them to choose a major, plan their academic program, and assess progress to degree. There is also a special advising program for students interested in medical school and the health professions. http://www.ltsc.ucsb.edu/health/ .