You are strongly encouraged to attend Summer Orientation.
If you are unable to attend, the following information will be helpful to you
in preparing for your first quarter at UCSB.
Academic Advising
College of Letters and Science: The College
of Letters & Science will offer a limited number of group advising sessions
in late August and early September. Call 805-893-3201 for information.
Orientation is the most effective way to receive academic advising,
and the group advising sessions are not substitutes for Orientation.
Transfer students who attend a group advising session should also contact
their major department advisor for an appointment. Course registration
does not take place during these group advising sessions.
Students will register for fall classes online during their Pass 2 registration
appointment time in early September. Students who are unable to attend Summer Orientation
or a group advising session should plan to attend Fall Orientation (see below).
College of Engineering: Call the College of Engineering office at
805-893-2809 for information.
College of Creative Studies: Call the College of Creative Studies
office at 805-893-2364 forinformation.
Course Registration
Please refer to the online Fall 2009
Schedule of Classes
for instructions on how to use the UCSB online course registration system,
GOLD - Gaucho On-Line Data.
New students who do not attend Orientation should register for fall classes online
during their Pass 2 registration appointment time in early September. Major requirements,
course descriptions, and prerequisites can be found in the
UCSB General Catalog.
Advice on course selection can be obtained by phone from advisors in each of the major departments.
Twelve units per quarter is the minimum to maintain full-time registered status;
UCSB undergraduates typically register for an average of 14-16 units per quarter.
Freshmen should enroll only in lower division courses which are numbered between
1 and 99 (e.g., History 4A). Students in the College of Letters and Science can refer to
LASAR - Letters and Science Academic Requirements for more information.
Placement Exams
Please refer to the online Fall 2009
Schedule of Classes for
information regarding placement tests and auditions for new students that may
be offered during Discovery Days, September 21-23.
Analytical Writing Placement Exam: The Writing Program will
administer the Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE) on Monday, September 21, from
8:00-10:00am in Campbell Hall. This exam is required for all new students who
did not take the AWPE when it was offered in May and who have not satisfied
the Entry Level Writing Requirement in any other way. Students must fulfill the
Entry Level Writing Requirement by the end of their third quarter at UCSB.
Pre-registration for the exam is not necessary. There is a $65 administration fee
payable to the Educational Testing Service, however the fee is not due that day. Students must
bring a photo ID and a pen. For detailed information about the AWPE, see the UC website
at http://www.ucop.edu/sas/awpe/.
Fall Orientation
Students who are unable to attend either Summer Orientation or
group academic advising (see above) will benefit from the information provided at
Fall Orientation.
Freshman Fall Orientation: Tuesday, September 22 from 9:45am-4:00pm -
Information on how to reserve a space will be e-mailed in late August to
freshmen who did not attend Summer Orientation. Program location will be sent
in a follow-up e-mail after making a reservation. Reservations are required.
Transfer Fall Orientation: Wednesday, September 23 from 9:30am-Noon
- Student Resource Building Multipurpose Room - no reservations necessary
Campus Tours
Guided campus walking tours are available through the Visitor Center.
Tours leave from the Visitor Center in the Student Affairs Administrative
Services Building, Monday through Friday, at 12:00pm and 2:00pm throughout
the summer. For further information about campus tours see the
Visitor Center website.
Campus Business
Most campus offices are open Monday through Friday, variable hours.
The phone number for general campus information is 805-893-8000.
Discovery Days
Prior to the beginning of fall quarter classes,
there are several days of events to help new students
become familiar with the variety of programs and services available to them at UCSB.
Discovery Days will be September 21-23, 2009. The Discovery Days Calendar
will be mailed to new undergraduate students at their permanent addresses in early September.
Please refer to this comprehensive calendar for dates and times of events and activities.
There are a wide variety of programs such as study skills workshops, departmental meetings,
tours, campus organization social events, and UCSB New Student Convocation.
For further information, please stop by the Orientation Info Van located near the UCen
from 10:00am-2:00pm during Discovery Days.