The Degree-Defining Experiences Program offers transformational learning opportunities for thousands of undergraduates in the form of experiential field courses and other activities outside the classroom.
As students, you seek out unforgettable experiences that make learning immersive and meaningful.
UC Santa Cruz has a longstanding reputation of utilizing its unrivaled natural setting to provide powerful hands-on learning experiences that have been shown to deeply impact students’ lives. Building on that success, the Science Division has launched the Degree-Defining Experiences Program, which is designed to inspire students in a way that forever changes how you see your time at UC Santa Cruz and your role in the world.
The program, launched in Fall 2024, offers successively deeper levels of experiences: from introductory programs for first-year students like overnight visits to Lick Observatory, to intermediate degree-specific offerings—like promoting student interest and awareness of the process of research SCUBA certification—to more intensive opportunities like internships in cancer-bioinformatics research. A generous donation from the Helen and Will Webster Foundation launched the program, and additional funders have stepped in.
17
pilot projects
during year one
$1M
in funding for
year one projects
2300
estimated students
impacted in year one
Project Descriptions
UC Santa Cruz has long championed experiential learning. We now aim to elevate this tradition to new heights with a much larger number of new projects segmented into the following three tiers.
These programs are unique, innovative offerings from our various departments, student-success units, and faculty members. Some programs do not yet have specific information online. But please check back often, as we will add more details about how to get involved as that information becomes available.
Student Testimonial
Danissa Coffey
Oakes College ’23, ecology and evolutionary biology
“It blew my mind that I was capable of doing so many things I never imagined myself being able to do, like being inches away from tens/hundreds of elephant seals, and accomplishing my major goal of attaching satellite tags to elephant seals. Being part of this field class was by far the most impactful educational experience I’ve had so far.”
How to Give
Students who engage in transformative experiences are more successful in their undergraduate careers, gain a strong sense of belonging in their fields of study, and develop deep connections with their faculty mentors, student peers, and the university. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all UC Santa Cruz students, regardless of their financial means, have pivotal experiences that give them the skills, confidence, and connections that they need to excel in their careers and to become change-makers in their communities.
Leadership
Read the announcement
The Science Division has received a $1 million donation to begin a major new program on “degree-defining experiences,” which will provide hands-on learning for thousands of students.
