About the Program
The longstanding hallmarks of the Community Studies Program at UC Santa Cruz are its focus on social justice and its distinctive pedagogy, which integrates classroom learning and extended field study. Among academic programs, we are a leader in addressing principles of social justice—specifically inequities arising from race, class and gender dynamics in society at large—and in critically assessing strategies for achieving social change.
Our program is also a national pioneer in the field of experiential education. Our community-focused civic engagement model has since been emulated widely by other colleges and universities. But our deep history in this work, combined with a continued focus on innovation, cements our place as a global leader and role model.
History
Founded in 1969, Community Studies is the oldest interdisciplinary program at UC Santa Cruz. Our program was born during a moment of profound intellectual ferment that gave rise to multiple innovative campus initiatives. Over the 50-plus years since our founding, we have evolved as the platforms and needs for social justice work have changed in the wider world, but our core commitments have remained intact and, arguably, are in more demand than ever.
For more about our early history, see the essay “Academic Activists: Community Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz,” written by founding professor William Friedland and founding field study coordinator Michael Rotkin as part of Torry D. Dickinson’s edited collection Community and the World: Participating in Social Change. This essay appears on our website with the permission of Nova Science Publishers, Inc. With the exception of short passages for purposes of review or comment, it may not be reproduced in its entirety without the permission of the publisher.
Alumni success stories
Barbara Ferrer: Director of Los Angeles County’s Public Health Department
Barbara Ferrer has been at the forefront of LA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work has centered on eliminating health inequities for marginalized communities through advocacy, including reproductive rights and aid for homelessness.
David B. Goldberg: Union organizer on the frontlines of change
David Goldberg, president of the California Teachers Association union, got his first experience as an educator from his field study placement as a community studies major. He says his background in community studies prepared him to both do the work of teaching and understand theory and practice.
Katie Morrow: Founder of the Santa Cruz–based international nonprofit Limitless Horizons Ixil
Katie Morrow is a licensed social worker who creates education and professional opportunities for Indigenous youth, women, and families in Guatemala. Her organization won the 2021 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize for providing bilingual education programs during the pandemic. In addition to her advocacy work, she also leads service-learning travel throughout Latin America.
Are you one of our alumni? If so, we’d love to stay in touch. Be sure to update your contact and employment information with the campus, so that we can celebrate your successes and keep you in the loop on opportunities. You can also follow the Community Studies Program on social media at the links on the bottom of this page, or email us to let us know what you’ve been up to.
Support Community Studies
Field study poses a unique financial challenge for our bright, dedicated students. Students often want to work with organizations that cannot afford to pay them, but the hours that field study requires also lessen their ability to hold part-time jobs on the side. We aim to grant field study scholarships to as many of our students as possible to combat growing challenges with the cost of living during these life-changing educational experiences.
Donating to the Community Studies Program at UC Santa Cruz is an investment in the future of social justice and community engagement. Your contribution supports the success of our students, who in turn create a wide range of positive impacts in the community. With your help, we can ensure that majoring in community studies is within financial reach for all students.
Community Studies Program by the numbers
82%
of students report frequent active participation in the classroom
1m
million service hours have been completed in our local community and beyond
61%
of undergraduates take diversity-focused courses
50+
years as UCSC’s leader in community-engaged scholarship
70%
of students report choosing the major to prepare them for a fulfilling career
25k+
work-weeks worth of service and learning contributed by field study participants