faculty member with two student in field

Student Programs

Young people are our future and bring crucial energy, enthusiasm, and perspective to social change work. Supporting their development of research and professional skills in the service of the broader good positions them to lead change within academia, public service, and the private sector.

Through our Building Belonging and Transforming Futures programs, we give UC Santa Cruz students hands-on experiences in impact-oriented, community-centered research and internships, helping them bridge the opportunity gap and become the next generation of social and environmental change leaders.


Learn more about our research opportunities for undergraduate students to help advance publicly beneficial research alongside faculty mentors affiliated with the Social Sciences Division.

See the latest projects our Building Belonging students are working on and view our archives of previous years’ projects and undergraduate researchers. 

Learn more about our internship scholarship program, which helps students in the Social Sciences Division gain the paid experience they need to build successful, high-impact careers.

Meet our most recent cohort of funded interns and see which organizations they’ve been supporting. Also see the work of interns from past years in our archives.

Last modified: Feb 05, 2026