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On behalf of the Office of Admissions and the Visitor Center, welcome to the University of California, Santa Barbara! My name is Sade, and I'll be your tour guide today. Before we begin, here's a few tips for navigating our tour: Click the arrows to walk around campus and arrive at the next tour stop. If you know where you want to go, you can select a location from the list to the left or click directly on any destination on the map above. We've also provided 360-degree views, photos, and videos for you to explore each location in-depth. Ready? Let's get started! A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, UC Santa Barbara is a renowned center for teaching and research, distinguished for its interdisciplinary programs and commitment to excellence and innovation. Offering large-school amenities and small school ambience, UCSB is a mid-size public school located in an area of exceptional beauty approximately 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles. UCSB offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate majors and graduate programs through three colleges and two professional schools. UCSB's high academic standards, internationally acclaimed faculty and dedicated staff are committed to helping you gain an appreciation for the lifelong journey of learning. Visitors entering the UCSB campus from the east are welcomed by Henley Gate, the 26-foot-tall concave arch which serves as UCSB's main entrance. Visitors exiting campus through Henley Gate enjoy beautiful views overlooking the Goleta Beach Park, the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands.
Storke Tower Plaza trail
Storke Tower Plaza
Tour stop audio transcript
Storke Tower, at 175 feet, is the tallest steel-and-cement structure in Santa Barbara County. The Tower houses a 61-bell carillon that sounds on the hour. On evenings and weekends, campus visitors can sometimes hear the UC motto, "Let There Be Light," and other songs that may be familiar to students, such as the Harry Potter theme song. Located below the tower, Storke Plaza is an open air campus venue for concerts, speakers, fairs, socials and other events. In the plaza you will find Storke Communications offices, home to the campus radio station, KCSB-FM 91.9 and the award-winning student-run newspaper, the Daily Nexus.
University Center trail
Tour stop audio transcript
Located at the edge of a beautiful campus lagoon, the University Center is a popular spot for students looking to socialize over a meal at one of the eateries, study in one of several common areas or shop in the Campus Store, where one can find textbooks as well as UCSB gear, including clothing and school supplies. The Community Housing Office, a Post Office and computer lounges are just a few of the many resources located inside the University Center. Additionally, The Hub is an area within the Center that serves as a food court during the day and transforms into a concert venue at night.
Tour stop audio transcript
Located at the edge of a beautiful campus lagoon, the University Center is a popular spot for students looking to socialize over a meal at one of the eateries, study in one of several common areas or shop in the Campus Store, where one can find textbooks as well as UCSB gear, including clothing and school supplies. The Community Housing Office, a Post Office and computer lounges are just a few of the many resources located inside the University Center. Additionally, The Hub is an area within the Center that serves as a food court during the day and transforms into a concert venue at night.
Tour stop audio transcript
Located at the edge of a beautiful campus lagoon, the University Center is a popular spot for students looking to socialize over a meal at one of the eateries, study in one of several common areas or shop in the Campus Store, where one can find textbooks as well as UCSB gear, including clothing and school supplies. The Community Housing Office, a Post Office and computer lounges are just a few of the many resources located inside the University Center. Additionally, The Hub is an area within the Center that serves as a food court during the day and transforms into a concert venue at night.
Tour stop audio transcript
Located at the edge of a beautiful campus lagoon, the University Center is a popular spot for students looking to socialize over a meal at one of the eateries, study in one of several common areas or shop in the Campus Store, where one can find textbooks as well as UCSB gear, including clothing and school supplies. The Community Housing Office, a Post Office and computer lounges are just a few of the many resources located inside the University Center. Additionally, The Hub is an area within the Center that serves as a food court during the day and transforms into a concert venue at night.
Tour stop audio transcript
Located at the edge of a beautiful campus lagoon, the University Center is a popular spot for students looking to socialize over a meal at one of the eateries, study in one of several common areas or shop in the Campus Store, where one can find textbooks as well as UCSB gear, including clothing and school supplies. The Community Housing Office, a Post Office and computer lounges are just a few of the many resources located inside the University Center. Additionally, The Hub is an area within the Center that serves as a food court during the day and transforms into a concert venue at night.
Tour stop audio transcript
Located at the edge of a beautiful campus lagoon, the University Center is a popular spot for students looking to socialize over a meal at one of the eateries, study in one of several common areas or shop in the Campus Store, where one can find textbooks as well as UCSB gear, including clothing and school supplies. The Community Housing Office, a Post Office and computer lounges are just a few of the many resources located inside the University Center. Additionally, The Hub is an area within the Center that serves as a food court during the day and transforms into a concert venue at night.
Tour stop audio transcript
Located at the edge of a beautiful campus lagoon, the University Center is a popular spot for students looking to socialize over a meal at one of the eateries, study in one of several common areas or shop in the Campus Store, where one can find textbooks as well as UCSB gear, including clothing and school supplies. The Community Housing Office, a Post Office and computer lounges are just a few of the many resources located inside the University Center. Additionally, The Hub is an area within the Center that serves as a food court during the day and transforms into a concert venue at night.
University Center
Tour stop audio transcript
Located at the edge of a beautiful campus lagoon, the University Center is a popular spot for students looking to socialize over a meal at one of the eateries, study in one of several common areas or shop in the Campus Store, where one can find textbooks as well as UCSB gear, including clothing and school supplies. The Community Housing Office, a Post Office and computer lounges are just a few of the many resources located inside the University Center. Additionally, The Hub is an area within the Center that serves as a food court during the day and transforms into a concert venue at night.
UCSB Lagoon trail
UCSB Lagoon
Tour stop audio transcript
Located on the south side of the University Center, the campus lagoon is a large body of water adjacent to the coastline. The UCSB rowing team uses the lagoon as one of their practice location, and many students jog or walk the area surrounding the lagoon to exercise or de-stress. Home to some of the world's endangered plant and animal species, the lagoon was created from a former tidal salt marsh flat and is fed by a combination of run-off and ocean water used by the Marine Biotechnology Laboratory's aquatic life tanks; thus, it is a unique combination of fresh and salt water. Fun fact: UCSB marine scientists played a key role in developing Ocean in Google Earth, which enables users to dive beneath the sea in Marine Protected Areas worldwide.
Campus Point trail
Campus Point
Tour stop audio transcript
Campus Point is a scenic peninsula situated within the UCSB campus characterized by a beach cliff, crashing waves and a view to the Channel Islands. Located adjacent to the UCSB lagoon, Campus Point provides a popular spot for UCSB students to relax, surf and take advantage of the beautiful trails along the bluffs and around the lagoon.
Student Resource Building and Office of Student Life trail
Student Resource Building
Tour stop audio transcript
A center for student services on campus, the Student Resource Building offers counseling, tutoring, cultural resource centers and ample study space. Among the many departments housed in the building is the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership, which oversees student-run campus organizations, including sororities and fraternities, that enable students to become involved with campus life, share social and political interests, volunteer in the community and learn about other cultures. Over 80% of students will participate in an extracurricular activity during their time at UCSB. Other departments located in this building include the Office of International Students and Scholars; Disabled Students Program; the Women, Gender, and Sexual Equity office and more.
Isla Vista trail
Isla Vista
Tour stop audio transcript
Located adjacent to campus, Isla Vista is UCSB's college town. Roughly a square mile in size with a population of over 20,000, about 10,000 of whom are UCSB students, Isla Vista is one of the most densely populated places in California. Many UCSB students move to Isla Vista after having lived in the residence halls for the experience of renting privately-owned houses, apartments or studios. The Isla Vista area has many popular local eateries as well as coffee and bike shops, markets, laundromats and other retailers. Additionally, you can find theaters, auditoriums and outdoor venues used for course lectures, festivals and other special events.
Events Center trail
Tour stop audio transcript
The UCSB Events Center, or Thunderdome as it is commonly called due to the volume of noise made by cheering spectators, is a 5,600-seat, indoor multi-purpose arena that hosts Big West basketball and several more of the 19 NCAA Division 1 intercollegiate teams. Another popular campus venue for athletic competition is the 17,000-seat Meredith Field at Harder Stadium, often referred to as "soccer heaven" due to campus and community commitment to the sport. UCSB leads the nation annually in total and average attendance at soccer games and the Locos, a group of gold clad UCSB students who energize Gaucho games by ensuring strong student attendance and enhanced school spirit, helped UCSB shatter the NCAA on campus attendance record by almost 5,000 with a showing of 15,896 fans for the soccer showdown with UCLA in 2010. A point of pride for UCSB is that our student athletes boast a higher graduation rate than the national average within the NCAA.
Tour stop audio transcript
The UCSB Events Center, or Thunderdome as it is commonly called due to the volume of noise made by cheering spectators, is a 5,600-seat, indoor multi-purpose arena that hosts Big West basketball and several more of the 19 NCAA Division 1 intercollegiate teams. Another popular campus venue for athletic competition is the 17,000-seat Meredith Field at Harder Stadium, often referred to as "soccer heaven" due to campus and community commitment to the sport. UCSB leads the nation annually in total and average attendance at soccer games and the Locos, a group of gold clad UCSB students who energize Gaucho games by ensuring strong student attendance and enhanced school spirit, helped UCSB shatter the NCAA on campus attendance record by almost 5,000 with a showing of 15,896 fans for the soccer showdown with UCLA in 2010. A point of pride for UCSB is that our student athletes boast a higher graduation rate than the national average within the NCAA.
Tour stop audio transcript
The UCSB Events Center, or Thunderdome as it is commonly called due to the volume of noise made by cheering spectators, is a 5,600-seat, indoor multi-purpose arena that hosts Big West basketball and several more of the 19 NCAA Division 1 intercollegiate teams. Another popular campus venue for athletic competition is the 17,000-seat Meredith Field at Harder Stadium, often referred to as "soccer heaven" due to campus and community commitment to the sport. UCSB leads the nation annually in total and average attendance at soccer games and the Locos, a group of gold clad UCSB students who energize Gaucho games by ensuring strong student attendance and enhanced school spirit, helped UCSB shatter the NCAA on campus attendance record by almost 5,000 with a showing of 15,896 fans for the soccer showdown with UCLA in 2010. A point of pride for UCSB is that our student athletes boast a higher graduation rate than the national average within the NCAA.
Tour stop audio transcript
The UCSB Events Center, or Thunderdome as it is commonly called due to the volume of noise made by cheering spectators, is a 5,600-seat, indoor multi-purpose arena that hosts Big West basketball and several more of the 19 NCAA Division 1 intercollegiate teams. Another popular campus venue for athletic competition is the 17,000-seat Meredith Field at Harder Stadium, often referred to as "soccer heaven" due to campus and community commitment to the sport. UCSB leads the nation annually in total and average attendance at soccer games and the Locos, a group of gold clad UCSB students who energize Gaucho games by ensuring strong student attendance and enhanced school spirit, helped UCSB shatter the NCAA on campus attendance record by almost 5,000 with a showing of 15,896 fans for the soccer showdown with UCLA in 2010. A point of pride for UCSB is that our student athletes boast a higher graduation rate than the national average within the NCAA.
Events Center
Tour stop audio transcript
The UCSB Events Center, or Thunderdome as it is commonly called due to the volume of noise made by cheering spectators, is a 5,600-seat, indoor multi-purpose arena that hosts Big West basketball and several more of the 19 NCAA Division 1 intercollegiate teams. Another popular campus venue for athletic competition is the 17,000-seat Meredith Field at Harder Stadium, often referred to as "soccer heaven" due to campus and community commitment to the sport. UCSB leads the nation annually in total and average attendance at soccer games and the Locos, a group of gold clad UCSB students who energize Gaucho games by ensuring strong student attendance and enhanced school spirit, helped UCSB shatter the NCAA on campus attendance record by almost 5,000 with a showing of 15,896 fans for the soccer showdown with UCLA in 2010. A point of pride for UCSB is that our student athletes boast a higher graduation rate than the national average within the NCAA.
Career Services trail
Career Services
Tour stop audio transcript
Serving as a bridge between a student's college experience and employment or graduate school, Career Services at UCSB is an excellent resource for students and recent graduates. By providing comprehensive in-house and online resources as well as counseling on career development, internships, employment and graduate school, the professional staff and trained peer advisors help students make solid career decisions and achieve their life goals. Students can also get support in choosing a major for the career of their dreams, creating professional documents such as résumés and cover letters and learning effective interview and job search techniques. Career Services also offers a variety of opportunities to come face-to-face with employment and graduate school recruiters at quarterly career fairs, employer information sessions, on campus recruiting visits, industry panels and more. Students can also access a wide range of opportunities through Handshake, UCSB's official online site for jobs, internships, on campus interviews and subscription services. Within one year of graduation, nearly 90% of UCSB students are professionally employed or pursuing a graduate education.
Arts trail
Arts
Tour stop audio transcript
The Art, Design and Architecture Museum on campus provides students with the opportunity to visit permanent and special exhibitions throughout the year. The Architectural Design Collection at UCSB is known as one of the best in the nation. The Department of Art prepares students who wish to become practicing artists to go on to graduate study or diverge into related professional and academic fields by implementing a curriculum that specializes in critical thinking and adaptable visual and conceptual skills. Within the Art major, students may choose to emphasize in a specific area of study such as painting, drawing, print and book arts, sculpture or spatial studies, photography, performance and video, electronic arts, digital media and critical theory or establish an interdisciplinary body of work. Also, many art courses are open to non-majors as space permits.
Multi-Cultural Center trail
MultiCultural Center
Tour stop audio transcript
Within the University Center, the MultiCultural Center hosts campus community events including lectures, musical, dance and dramatic performances, panel discussions, films, videos and poetry readings that celebrate diversity and culture and are open to the general public. Across from the MultiCultural Center are the Associated Students offices which provide countless opportunities for leadership and program management for the benefit of all students. There are many ways to get involved within areas of social justice, media relations, community building, sustainability and more.
College of Creative Studies trail
Santa Rosa Residence Hall
Tour stop audio transcript
Santa Rosa is one of UCSB's residence halls, most of which are named after the local Channel Islands. The university's goal is to provide a four-year residential experience for freshman students, or a two-year experience for transfer students. Sierra Madre Village apartments opened in fall 2015, and San Joaquin Apartments are the newest addition in 2016-2017. The residence halls are within walking or biking distance to lecture halls, dining commons, and recreational facilities. In addition to Gender-Inclusive Housing options, student residents enjoy many amenities including a live-in student and professional staff; educational and social programming; recreational, study, and social spaces; and student leadership and employment opportunities through the Residence Halls Association that governs student residents. Also, special Living-Learning Communities unite students with similar academic, cultural, or social interests.
De La Guerra Dining Commons
Tour stop audio transcript
In addition to De La Guerra, Housing & Residential Services at UCSB operates three other conveniently located dining commons for students: Carrillo, Ortega and Portola. Meal plans include 10, 14, 17 or unlimited meals per week. There is also a "Plus Program" that allows students to use "dining dollars" at various restaurants on campus. Although meals are all-you-care-to-eat, "trayless" dining has significantly reduced food waste and dining options include locally grown produce and freshly caught fish from the surrounding area. Menus are designed to include choices for vegans, vegetarians and those who want a low-fat diet. NetNutrition, an online dietary tool accessible by computer or smartphone, allows students to view weekly menu offerings and nutritional information while filtering selections by dining locations, allergens or specify dietary preferences.
UCSB Library trail
UCSB Library
Tour stop audio transcript
The UCSB Library is at the physical and intellectual center of campus. Combined with the other UC campuses, the collections make up the largest public research library in the nation, second only to the Library of Congress. The library is a popular study spot and offers one-on-one research help, research classes, individual study spaces, reservable group study rooms and secure, 24-hour access with a UCSB student ID. Students can take advantage of year-round events and exhibitions, a café and spectacular views of campus from the eighth floor. The library supports the academic success of all students across UCSB's three undergraduate colleges: The College of Creative Studies is ideal for students interested in working closely with faculty to create new knowledge in art, biology, chemistry/biochemistry, computing, mathematics, music composition, physics and writing and literature; the College of Letters and Science, UCSB's largest undergraduate college offering a wide variety of majors, an Honors Program for high-achieving students and pre-professional advising for students interested in pre-law, pre-health or teacher education; and the College of Engineering.
Kirby Crossing
Tour stop audio transcript
From the main entrance at Henley Gate, Kirby Crossing is the pathway to the center of campus. UCSB offers a diverse curriculum that prepares students for a wide variety of careers. Professors are dedicated to teaching as well as innovative research, and the faculty includes dozens of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Several national research centers support instruction on campus with laboratories and classrooms designed for the 21st century. Six UCSB professors and class of 1983 College of Creative Studies alumna Carol Greider have earned Nobel Prizes for their scientific research. Most recently, College of Engineering professor Shuji Nakamura shared a 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics for the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes. Kirby Crossing is also the pathway to the UCSB College of Engineering, offering an innovative and collaborative environment for undergraduates to major in mechanical, electrical, chemical and computer engineering as well as computer science. All majors are designed to be completed in four years, and the College of Engineering also offers a fifth year Master's degree program for high-achieving students in the college.
Marine Science Insitute
Tour stop audio transcript
UCSB's Marine Science Institute is an international leader in ocean and environmental research, marine science and policy, fostering the highly interdisciplinary research of marine faculty from fifteen academic departments across the UCSB campus. The institute offers a variety of resources including scientific computing services, a research vessel for data collection, a seawater supply for lab-based studies and a public outreach program for sharing ocean science with the community. The ideal seaside location of UCSB provides students with the unique opportunity to conduct research in the Santa Barbara Channel in conjunction with faculty. The institute is also home to the Research Experience and Education Facility, known as the REEF, an aquarium and research facility just steps from the ocean. The REEF features state-of-the art touch tanks and houses current, ongoing research conducted by UCSB students, professors and the Marine Science Institute.
Campbell Hall trail
Campbell Hall
Tour stop audio transcript
With a seating capacity of 860, Campbell Hall is UCSB's largest lecture facility and serves as a classroom for introductory courses that fulfill a variety of requirements for multiple majors. Discussion sections supplement large lecture classes to ensure that the needs of students are met. Although Campbell Hall is very large, smaller lecture halls and classrooms make the average class size for undergraduate students 52 at the lower division level and 36 at the upper division level. Campbell Hall is also a venue for Arts & Lectures programming, for which free or discounted tickets are made available to UCSB students so that they may enjoy world-class performances, lectures, films and special events conveniently hosted on campus.
Mosher Alumni House trail
Mosher Alumni House
Tour stop audio transcript
Mosher Alumni House sits at the formal entrance to campus and enjoys sweeping view of the Santa Ynez Mountains north of campus. Mosher is home to the UCSB Alumni Association, where Gauchos can stay up to date with the latest news and events from UCSB. The Alumni Association provides UCSB graduates with a long list of services and resources including a career board, an alumni finder and Coastlines, the official magazine of the Alumni Association. UCSB students are Gauchos for life, and graduates join a strong alumni network of nearly 200,000 Gauchos worldwide. The Alumni Association also hosts the All Gaucho Reunion, a yearly celebration featuring receptions, class reunions, concerts, lectures, tours and more allowing alumni to reconnect and reminisce on their experiences at UCSB.
Recreation Center trail
Recreation Center
Tour stop audio transcript
The Recreation Center is a state-of-the-art fitness center that is a testament to UCSB's emphasis on healthy living. The center allows for drop-in recreational use and includes aquatic facilities, weight rooms, aerobic machines and numerous sport courts and fields. The Multi-Activity Court, located behind the main building, includes an Adventure Climbing Center, roller hockey rink, Jacuzzi and pottery studio. Most students take advantage of the Recreation Center for workouts and leisure activities. Moreover, UCSB provides a variety of competitive Sport Clubs as well as Intramural Sports which are very popular among athletes of all skill levels.
Visitor Center trail
Visitor Center
Tour stop audio transcript
The Visitor Center is currently closed to the public through June 2021. The Office of Admissions Visitor Center is an excellent resource for prospective undergraduate students. Offering daily presentations as well as guided campus walking tours, the Visitor Center is open to the public Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., excluding university holidays and administrative closures. Visitors can register online to participate in a campus visit. Additionally, professional counseling staff and current student interns are available for one-on-one conversations on a drop-in basis. Please visit the website at www.admissions.ucsb.edu for more information.
Goleta Pier trail
Goleta Pier
Tour stop audio transcript
Beautiful biking and walking trails along the bluffs at the UCSB campus take students to the Goleta Beach County Park. Known for its 1,500-foot pier and sunbathing beaches, the park provides boaters, fishermen, families, and students out for a stroll an engaging view of the Pacific coast. Visited by 1.5 million people annually, many members of UCSB campus organizations make trips to the beach together to enjoy the BBQ picnic areas and volleyball nets.
