Founded 1965
Cowell College
The Pursuit of Truth in the Company of Friends
Cowell College is the founding college of UC Santa Cruz. Its motto, The Pursuit of Truth in the Company of Friends, represents its twin commitments to academic endeavor and supportive community.
Academic Requirements
The Cowell core course focuses on critical reading and analytical writing based on a syllabus of classic and modern texts dealing with issues of justice. Readings vary each year but always stress cross-cultural perspectives and human values on broad humanistic themes.
Educational Enrichment and Extracurricular Opportunities
- College Night, a special monthly dinner followed by a performance or cultural program, is a founding tradition at Cowell.
- An active college senate allocates funding for student programs and provides important student feedback to the college administration.
- The Eloise Pickard Smith art gallery is located at Cowell College and offers paid internships for students to assist with the exhibitions.
- Upper-division students are encouraged to apply for grants for research and creative projects.
- Co-curricular programming in the residence halls builds and expands on the social justice themes of the core course.
- Foreign language study has a distinct presence at Cowell College.
- The Cowell Press offers courses in book arts for students interested in the traditional craft of printing and book making.
Housing and Dining
- Seven residence halls house students in single, double, triple and quadruple rooms.
- Apartments house students in a combination of single, double, and some triple rooms.
- Themed Housing options
- A dining hall facility and cafe are located at the college.