Designed exclusively for incoming freshmen, FSSP offers priority access to UC Santa Barbara courses before Fall Quarter begins. Students enroll in 7–13 units during the summer and benefit from smaller class sizes, allowing for meaningful connections with faculty and peers. In addition to a wide range of UC Santa Barbara courses, FSSP students gain access to unique academic opportunities, including seminars created specifically for first-year students, undergraduate research courses, honors sections, and enrichment classes.
Building your FSSP Schedule
As a Freshman Summer Start Program participant, you will benefit from a focused curriculum consisting of a Required Course, INT 95A and Academic Course(s). This combination is designed to help you build foundational skills that will support your transition to UC Santa Barbara and give you a head start on your academics.
Upon enrollment in FSSP, you’ll review advising resources and choose course preferences from a curated list of lower-division courses, listed below. Scroll through the information below to learn more about the FSSP Curriculum and review the course registration process.
FSSP Curriculum
7-13 units total
The Modern Research University (2 units)
Gain a comprehensive introduction to UC Santa Barbara as a research university. Through small discussion sections and weekly seminars by campus experts, this 2-unit course helps students explore the campus's many opportunities, including undergraduate research, internships, the Honors Program, study abroad, and more, so that they can prepare to make the most of their time at UCSB. Students will also engage in discussions about the various resources available on campus to help them excel.
Explore a curated list of more than 70 lower-division courses. Choose courses that will support your academic journey. Take courses that satisfy general education or major requirements, or dive into a new area of interest!
These small group seminars, with a maximum of twenty students, are taught by faculty who have volunteered their time and effort because they want to meet and teach students who are early in their UCSB careers. Facilitating student-faculty contact is one of the major goals of the First Year Discovery Seminars. Students have the opportunity to register in up to two First Year Discovery Seminars during FSSP, with each valued at one unit of credit.
INT W 25 Bridge to STEM (4 units)
Bridge to STEM helps incoming students build quantitative and navigational skills necessary for success in science, math, technology, engineering, economics, and other quantitative disciplines. The course also creates a supportive learning community, builds navigational skills that support success, and helps develop time management abilities important for UCSB courses.
Course Registration Process for Admitted Students:
Consult FSSP course advising resources prior to selecting your FSSP course preferences.
Choose six preferences from the list of FSSP course offerings. Determine the number of units that align with your summer goals (between 7 and 13 units). The average FSSP student takes 10-12 units.
Fill out your FSSP Course Preference form. Our dedicated advising team will craft schedules on a first-come, first-served basis based on your preferences and course availability. Monitor your UCSB email for questions and updates from our advising team.
FSSP Course Offerings
Review our course offerings available to first-year students in our FSSP Schedule of Classes below
Courses With Scholarships
Each summer, a small selection of courses offer scholarships to qualified students, to offset the unit fees associated with the course. These scholarships are intended to reduce barriers to enrollment for students who have passion that exceeds financial resources. To learn more about courses that offer scholarships to FSSP students, visit our Financial Aid & Savings page and check out the Academic Incentives section. Register for one of these special courses by indicating your interest on your FSSP course preference form (you'll receive a unique link after you're accepted to the program). Once the FSSP team finalizes your course schedule, you’ll receive additional instructions on how to apply for a scholarship.