Message from the Dean

Dean's Welcome

I extend a warm welcome to all incoming UC Santa Barbara graduate students. The incoming class of 2009 joins more than 2000 currently enrolled students engaged in graduate study at UC Santa Barbara. Graduate students are actively engaged in research, scholarship, and teaching in more than 47 programs in the disciplines of science, engineering, humanities, arts, social sciences, environmental science and education.

During your stay at UC Santa Barbara, I encourage you to take full advantage of the stellar faculty and educational opportunities. With this rich array of faculty and opportunities for engagement in research and scholarly activity, UC Santa Barbara takes pride in its tradition of interdisciplinarity. Today’s world demands an educated populace that can communicate effectively across disciplinary and national boundaries. It demands innovation that will come only from knowledge, skills and cultural awareness applied to global contexts, problems, and solutions. It is our hope that UC Santa Barbara’s educational community will be a productive learning platform for you as you face a more complex world ahead.

It is the vision of the Graduate Division that all graduate students will thrive in the rich context of opportunities at UC Santa Barbara. We strive to ensure that all graduate students will make timely progress through their degree programs and leave UC Santa Barbara to become national and international leaders in their fields. We work to advance a graduate student body that is representative of our diverse state, national and international community. We encourage the development and success of all graduate students through access to a variety of campus services, provide mechanisms for access to financial resources, and ensure a successful and healthy transition to post-graduate careers and opportunities. This orientation guide will provide you with a beginning roadmap to access the resources you need for your well-being and success.

The Graduate Division is committed to excellence in research, diversity, and intellectual  innovation in UC Santa Barbara graduate education. We welcome you to our community and look forward to working with you in your journey of academic success.

Gale M. Morrison
Dean, Graduate Division