Apply NOW for Free Summer Class and Field Work in Yosemite National Park
171 Special Topics in Environmental Studies
Issues in Art & Climate, Field Study: Yosemite National Park
Instructors: Rachel Nelson, PhD and Yosemite Park Ranger Karen Amstutz, MA
Summer Session 2: July 28-August 29 2025
Applications due FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2025
Summer School Enrollment Opens May 1
All current UCSC undergraduates are invited to apply for a FREE 5-credit hour Summer Session 2 course on climate change, culture, and Yosemite National Park. The class will include 7-days field work (Week 4) in Yosemite, with workshops with Yosemite rangers, members of the 7 Associated Tribes, and others.
In-class instruction will include lectures, readings, and intensive field research about the social, political, and cultural history of the Yosemite National Park in relation to the climate crisis. Students will engage with writings, oral histories, and visual culture to research the shifting meanings of wilderness and the possession of spaces, as well as the myriad changes the park has seen environmentally and socially since its inception in 1890.
Students will undertake field research from Aug 10-Aug 17 at Yosemite. All students are required to attend the field trip.
Participation in the FREE class and field trip is by Application. Students who are accepted into the class will receive 5-credit hours for their participation. All applicants must be in good academic standing.
Tuition for summer session and associated field trip costs, including food, transportation, and camping gear, are supplied. Students accepted into the class will also receive a stipend of $1000 for housing or other needs.
REQUIREMENTS
Current undergraduate at UCSC in good standing
Ability to walk 3-5 miles
Ability to carry small daypack including food, water, layers, and some supplies
Ability to sleep in tent with others
Ability to participate in shared living spaces
Ability to be on time
Ability to actively participate and engage
Good academic standing
PREFERRED
Camping experience
Hiking experience
Rising Sophomores and Rising Juniors encouraged to apply
Additional questions or concerns: ias@ucsc.edu
