University of California, Santa Barbara

Away from urban pressures, yet deeply involved in the intellectual and cultural issues of our time, the University of California, Santa Barbara, provides a superb learning environment, with a relaxed relationship between faculty and students and all the resources of an internationally recognized research institution.

UCSB traces its origins back to the Anna Blake School which was founded in 1891 and offered training in home economics and industrial art. Today the University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. 

Because of best practices in teaching and research at UC Santa Barbara its students entirely participate an educational process that stimulates independent thought, critical reasoning, and creativity. 

University students and staff are characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that meet the needs of multicultural and global society. With a living environment like no other UCSB draws inspiration in the beauty and resources of UC Santa Barbara's extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

The university is a comprehensive doctoral university and is organized into five colleges and schools offering 87 undergraduate degrees and 55 graduate degrees. It is a "very high activity" research university with 12 national research centers. Current UCSB faculty includes six Nobel Prize laureates, one Fields Medalist, 29 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 27 members of the National Academy of Engineering, and 31 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 

Undergraduate teaching is focused on lectures, with larger lecture classes having sections. Sections may be tutorial style, or they may be set up as seminars or discussions.

UCSB is ranked 37th among "National Universities", 8th among U.S. public universities and 24th among Best Global Universities by U.S. News & World Report 's 2016 rankings. The university is also ranked 48th worldwide for 2016-17 by the Times Higher Education and 42nd worldwide by the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2016.

Undergraduates at UCSB enroll one of three colleges:

• The Сollege of Letters and Science offers more than 80 majors, including both traditional academic study and a variety of unique, interdisciplinary programs that reflect the long-standing faculty tradition of collaboration and partnership. Biological sciences, economics, global and international studies, religious studies and film and media studies are popular majors.
• The College of Creative Studies offers an alternative approach for students who are ready for advanced, independent work in the arts or sciences. To be admitted to the college students must demonstrate unusual talent as well as commitment to pursuing independent work at a high level in art, biology, chemistry/biochemistry, computing, mathematics, music composition, physics or writing and literature.
• The College of Engineering offers degree programs in chemical, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering, and in computer science. Research by the UCSB engineering faculty is at the forefront in materials science, microelectronics and nanotechnology.

In the United States National Research Council rankings of graduate programs 2011, 10 UCSB departments were ranked in the top ten in the country: materials, chemical engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, marine science institute, geography, history, and theater and dance.