The University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz or UCSC) is a public land-grant research university in Santa Cruz, California. It is one of the ten campuses in the University of California system. Located on Monterey Bay, on the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the campus lies on 2,001 acres (810 ha) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In Fall 2022, its ten residential colleges enroll some 17,500 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students.
The University of California Santa Cruz Art and Art History Department provides a dynamic environment for exploring visual expression and critical analysis within a globally recognized university setting in Santa Cruz, California. It offers comprehensive undergraduate programs leading to Bachelor of Arts degrees in both studio art and the history of art and visual culture. The department fosters creativity, intellectual rigor, and a deep understanding of the visual world through hands-on practice, scholarly inquiry, and a strong interdisciplinary approach. With accomplished faculty bringing diverse perspectives, the programs prepare students for a wide range of paths in the arts and beyond, emphasizing critical thinking and engagement with contemporary issues.
View Art and Art History
