Monthly Archives: August 2019

What’s Your Favorite Class at PUC?

We often ask students to tell us what their favorite class is and why. We always get a variety of answers and it’s fun to get different takes. My favorite class was Organizational Communication taught by Dr. Tammy McGuire. Not only did I find it fascinating to take a deep look into the inner workings of various organizations but you also get to dissect episodes of “The Office” (Give me Michael Scott any day). But this time around we thought we might ask some professors what class was THEIR favorite to teach! 

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“My favorite class is Screenwriting. It is probably the clearest example of how much diversity we have at PUC. In order for students to dedicate two quarters, 20+ weeks to write a 100-page script, they have to really care about what they are writing about and very quickly the class gets personal. Hearing students develop ideas, which typically connect to their unique lives and upbringing is always inspiring. Each individual seems to have a different story and experience that we the class then get to support them in bringing to life. This might be an immigration story from another part of the world, a personal struggle with their parents, or just a unique take on the world. As a class, we all learn from one another and as we hear their stories unfold, work together to make each the best they can be. It never gets old for me because each year the class brings unique students with unique stories. That I can not only help but that in hearing them, I can become a better person myself. It is the one class where the students have as much to contribute to one another as myself.” ⁠— Rajeev Sigamoney, M.S., Professor of Film and Television Production

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“Of course I love all of my classes equally, but maybe I love my HNRS 380 ‘Science of Feeling’ more equally. It’s basically an opportunity for me to talk about embodiment and feeling—my favorite subjects—with clever, engaged students who enjoy wrangling with difficult texts. I also love ENGL 301 ‘Science & Culture’ because, in many ways, it’s the larger-class version of that same course.” ⁠— Peter Katz, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English & Director of Honors

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“My favorite class to teach is Field Seminar. This class is taken by our senior social work majors all year long. It is my favorite because in this class my students share about their internship experience, and it is also where students synthesize theory and practice. There are many ‘a-ha’ moments, and I get to experience their growth in the social work field and witness the changes they are making in our community.” ⁠—Damaris Perez, M.S.W., Assistant Professor of Social Work & Field Practicum Coordinator

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“My favorite class to teach is History of American Art. Not only is it my area of specialization, but it gives me the opportunity to discuss in-depth two of my favorite artists, Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper. It also inspires me to encourage the diverse student body of the college to appreciate the artistic contributions made by artists of color.” ⁠— Jon Carstens, M.A., Associate Professor of Art

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“I think my favorite is World Civilizations II (1500 to present) because I get to talk about a broad range of topics pertaining to the world we all live in. It also helps that my specialty, modern India, is covered in this class.” ⁠— William Logan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History

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“CHEM 210 laboratory glassblowing. It is very fun to blow glass.” ⁠— Robert Wilson, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry

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“I love teaching all of my classes. Each class is special in its own way and the students in those class inspire me to enjoy every class I teach.” — Robert Paulson, Ph.D., Professor of Physical Science

 

Did you know PUC offers over 70 degrees and programs? Think of all the fun and exciting classes each offer. To learn more, simply visit our academics page on the PUC website or check out this great blog post about some of PUC’s most interesting classes

 

The Honors Program Takes to the London Streets

This summer, Dr. Peter Katz, professor of English and new director of the Honors program, accompanied a group of Honors program students on a study tour to London, UK. These students were taking HNRS 380: London Streets. In this course they learned about Victorian politics and life in London, considering the ethics and obligations of seeing poverty (then and now).

Now that they have returned from their European jaunt, Dr. Katz graciously accepted our request to guest blog about his incredible summer experience.

“I am starting my fifth year as a teacher in the English department, and my first year as Honors Director. (I was also an Honors student at PUC from 2006-2010.) My scholarship focuses on empathy and emotion, particularly through Victorian literature and culture; my teaching focuses on pretty much whatever needs teaching, though somehow it will end up being about empathy and emotion (and animals). I love coffee, martial arts, and animals, though usually not simultaneously. London Streets was my first abroad tour as a professor, and I think it changed me just about as much as it did the Honors students.”

 

In Defense of Victorian Optimism

By: Peter Katz

I completely missed him.

I’d like to think I was concerned with my students’ safety, was looking at my phone to find a route to our next destination. 

But that’s probably untrue. 

 More likely, as I’ve trained myself to do, I skipped over him as part of the scenery. 

 But Sarah didn’t.

 Can we get him some food? He looks really bad.

 Open sores. Brittle, skeletal. Homeless. 

 *****

For the last three weeks, the six students of HNRS 380: London Streets had walked the alleys of Victorian London. They waited beside a young Dickens with his father in Marshalsea Prison. They crowded into the cloying humidity of the attic operating theater in St. Thomas’ Hospital and witnessed the frantic amputations in a race against infection. They stood over the cesspool where the 1854 Cholera epidemic began, scoured the streets with Dr. John Snow as he wrapped his head around a new theory of disease transmission. 

 New institutions lunged up from the cultural fabric, bent and warped the channels through which the city’s bodies flowed. New feelings, new modes of embodiment became possible, even as those structures altered or cut off old formulations—sometimes for the benefit of the working people, sometimes not. 

 This is a value-neutral statement. One of my favorite mantras before I describe how those institutions changed feelings and bodies. Neither inherently good, nor bad. Value-neutral. 

 *****

 Sarah is always driven. We joke that she finishes the course readings before I’ve finalized the syllabus. 

 I’ve never seen her as focused as she was in that moment. She parted the clotted streets of Camden Town with the precision that would make a Victorian surgeon weep. Straight to a coffee shop with premade sandwiches and bottled drinks as though the crowd didn’t exist. She fired off a prescription:

 Protein. Handed me a sandwich. 

 Fruit. 

 Hydration. 

 Rang it up. Back to the streets, back through the crowd. 

 Stop. Spinning, intent, distraught. 

 Where did he go?

 *****

 Value-neutral. 

 For better or worse, one of my other favorite teacher phrases is: now this is an argument, so feel free to push back. History should be contentious. It should challenge our assumptions, pick apart our received knowledge. I don’t give dates and names. I give arguments. 

 Now, this is an argument, so feel free to push back: institutions are inherently value-neutral. They’re a historically continent attempt to address the pressures of population-dense urban centers, of increasingly complex pecuniary and social economies.

 Victorian institutions create problems, to be sure. We shrank before the physical restraints in Bedlam psychiatric hospital. We cringed as the Salvation Army celebrated military metaphors like “opening fire” to describe their social work. We balked as the hospital transformed patients into statistics and problems to solve. 

 But they also fix problems. Bedlam begins conversations about the expression of psychological pain, begins to embrace the infinite multiplicity of human experience. The Salvation Army insists that the poor matter, propels the welfare state to its (European) prominence, protects the poor more than laissez-faire ever could. The hospital defeats cholera, extends life-expectancy, heals and helps anyone in need. 

 The Victorians had their problems: the Empire, horrific misogyny, paternalistic classism. 

But no one can say they didn’t care. 

 *****

 Victorian fiction of the 1880s stages a three-way battle between unbridled capitalism, socialism, and liberal reform. The capitalists rarely earn a voice in these texts; their ideology is just fundamentally broken. 

 The real debate occurs between the socialists and the liberals. The socialists argue that the system is broken and requires a complete overhaul to fix. Anything short of that is a waste of energy at best, or worse, a secret tool of the capitalists. They’re earnest, sincere. The city is broken, and they want to scrap it and start again. 

 The liberal protagonists of these texts present an argument that feels naïve. The system, the city, is sprawling, an often indomitable mass too large to get hands or heads around. The system is broken. 

 But, as Valentine of Children of Gibeon rebukes her brother, “Go away and rail at Competition, while we look after its victims.” 

 If we care hard enough about each individual person, the liberals argue, we might not fix the system—but we’ll fix that person, if only for a while. And if we all care, and all help, maybe the city can fix itself. 

 Is it naïve? Maybe. Is it optimistic? Perhaps. Beautiful? Absolutely.

 *****

 We find him. He’s trying on a new pair of shoes someone had dropped. 

 I look away. It feels like a violation of his privacy to watch—a violation of a concept completely unavailable to him. 

 He finishes, slumps back down against the lamppost. Sarah gives him food. We walk away.

Back to the coffee shop, where some of the other students wait. They talk about the stores around them. Laugh, joke, show each other things on their phones. 

 Except for Sarah. She stands, stares unseeing into the wall as she drinks. She is very definitely not crying. Neither am I.

 I manage to catch her eye. And as we give each other a reassuring hug, I’m quite sure we’re hugging him as well. 

 

London Streets: Honors photo blog

The Honors program’s summer trip to London was an incredible learning experience for both faculty and students. Their course, “London Streets” took them throughout the city, personalizing literature they’d studied in previous courses and bringing history to life. Here are a few of their favorite moments captured on film! 

 

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The first day on the train from Newbold to London, bright-eyed and ready to go. (Left to right, front: Amy Ramos (Exercise Science), Sarah Tanner (English), Grae McKelvie (BS Management); back: Ervin Jackson (Biochem), Sebastian Anderson (Graphic Design), a British person, Isabel McMillan (History)) (All class of 2021)

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On the train, first day of week 2: (Left to right: Ervin, Grae, Sebastian, Sarah, Amy)

 

 

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Where modern epidemiology and germ theory was born. This pump was ground zero for the cholera epidemic of 1854. (Left to right: Isabel, Ervin, Sebastian, Sarah, Amy, Grae)

 

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In the 19th-century operating theatre of St. Thomas’s hospital (front to back: Sarah, Sebastian, Grae, Isabel, Amy, Ervin)

 

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Suffragette propaganda in the People’s History Museum, Manchester (Sarah and Isabel)

 

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Saying goodbye on the last day (Isabel, Sarah, Amy; Sebastian in back)

 

 

 

 

 

London Streets: Reflections On A Summer Study Tour

By Becky St. Clair

For three weeks this summer, Peter Katz, director of the Honors Program and professor of English, led a study tour for honors students in London, UK. Their course, “London Streets” took them throughout the city, personalizing literature they’d studied in previous courses and bringing history to life. Together, professor and students considered the ethics and obligations of seeing poverty both in Victorian times and now, interrogated the intersection between scientific regulation of health and governmental power, and traced the geographic and cultural impact of industrialization. 

“This trip was the best possible way I could have imagined my first excursion into Europe,” said honors student Sebastian Anderson. “It was the perfect balance between checking off the typical tourist attractions and activities while also getting to explore London in a more intimate way through our class trips and our readings.” 

Two participating students agreed to share their reflections on specific parts of their trip with us, so we could share their experiences directly with you, our readers. 

Isabel McMillan, history major

After a walking tour about the crimes of Jack the Ripper, I commented that his story was a female-centric story. I wished that when we told the stories of his victims we didn’t have to focus so much on the men, and could talk more about the women and their stories. One of my classmates pointed out history is male-centered, and society is misogynistic, and our storytelling of history has to be male-centric. 

Contemplating this perspective, I came to the conclusion that while it is not entirely wrong, it’s also not entirely right. 

I remembered this exhibit on a ship I saw in a Swedish museum once. The exhibit’s storytelling began with two of the women who were on the ship when it sank. The researchers did as much research as they could on these women, and learned quite a bit. Part of what they found included records of a woman who was in charge of building the ship, and how she met with the king about its progress. They also discovered records of another woman who ran a business vital to the building of that ship, as well as court documents detailing stories of women involved with court cases (there were laws against women being involved in court cases, and yet..). There was so much more. Most of this history was pre-Victoria. What I’m trying to say is that researching women and their lives is possible. Hard, but possible. 

Another thing I realized in all of this was by saying history is misogynistic and society is created for the white man, it gives people an excuse to not even try researching women. Allowing people to say the only way to tell women’s stories is through the point of view of the men in their lives allows people to not try, and to not feel guilty about their lack of effort. And that is not acceptable.

Sarah Tanner, English major

In looking over notes from this trip, I realized beginning on July 9, I switched from titling my class journal entries “reflections” to “reactions.” It wasn’t a deliberate move, but it matched the intensity of my interaction with the class and topics as we worked through some genuinely difficult discussions. 

 If I could distill this class into one key point, it would be, “bodies matter.” Politics, institutions, and good intentions all have their place, but unless we prioritize human bodies, their needs, and their desires, our ability to successfully empathize and care for those around us will forever be stunted. I want to believe on some level, most people recognize the truth in this, but until one is confronted with the immediacy of this need, it’s easy to overlook. Personally, it took almost stumbling over a homeless man outside the underground in Camden for me to recognize the necessity of enacting care for these bodies. And even then, when faced with the reality of his fraught situation, it was clear not everyone in our group processed the experience in the same way. 

 This class instilled in me a sense of urgency, an impulse to look more closely at the people around me and consider how I can help. And as much as I love modern literature, I have learned to stand in defense of the Victorian optimism that maintains that something can be done for these bodies. It just requires a degree of awareness (I’m convinced) results from trips such as this one. 

 Checking in with a structure or area’s effective gravity and reading it against one’s own response to that place is a practice vital to the optimist’s project. It requires constant self-reflection and comparison to the world beyond what is immediately available in a physical or bodily sense. Paradoxically, it creates a simultaneous drive for introspection and increased connection with others. While seemingly contradictory, I think this oscillation is important; to empathize, one must have a personal attachment to the shared effect, and that requires a degree of knowledge of self and others.  

 This practice is something I will definitely carry with me long after we all fly home; Victorian optimism has taken a piece of my heart. I want to be more aware, to see myself and others as more than separate components of a larger system, to seek out individual bodies in need of physical and emotional care. And more than foundational awareness, I want to be available to anyone who feels that need as well. 

 

Academic Spotlight: Emergency Services

The emergency services programs at PUC prepare students to be leaders and highly skilled professionals in the emergency and fire responder fields. If you’re considering a career in the fire service, law enforcement, disaster relief, or emergency medical services, a degree in emergency services from PUC may be for you. 

 Programs offered:

  • A.S. in Emergency Services
  • B.S. in Emergency Management

 A Faculty’s Perspective

“By far my favorite thing at PUC is the people I have the opportunity to interact with every day. I love my students! They keep me on my toes. My co-workers have been so inviting and supportive. What more could you ask for?” – Matthew Russell, instructor of emergency services

Fast Facts 

  1. PUC’s emergency services program educates students who are seeking a two-year or four-year degree to prepare them for a wide variety of careers within the field of emergency services. Students interested in becoming EMTs and paramedics can take the A.S. degree route, while those wanting a management level position can continue on with the B.S. degree. 
  2. Training and volunteer emergency service opportunities are available to PUC EMS students at the Angwin Volunteer Fire Department. Students can gain real-life experience while still in school and also give their careers a head start! Read “Choose Your Own PUC Adventure: Be a Volunteer Firefighter” to get a behind the scenes look at what it’s like to volunteer with the AVFD. 
  3. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates emergency services professions will be among the fastest-growing fields in the U.S. through at least 2026. Employment of EMTs and paramedics is projected to grow rapidly, at about 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, with a median pay of $34,320 in 2018. For emergency management directors, employment is projected to grow at around 8 percent or about as fast as average for all occupations, and the median pay for those occupations was $74,420 in 2018. 

What You Can Do With This Major

There are a variety of different careers available for students interested in the essential intersection of healthcare and public service.

  • Emergency dispatcher
  • Emergency management coordinator
  • EMT/ambulance driver
  • Firefighter
  • Homeland security officer
  • Hospital/community emergency preparedness 

Learn more about the emergency services program at puc.edu/academics. Our team of admissions counselors can answer any questions you have about PUC’s EMS program, or the other majors the college offers. Call (800) 862-7080, option 2 or email admissions@puc.edu to get connected with a counselor now and start learning about all the options available to you!

PUC, A Beach Town?

By: Dana Negro

When you think of the Napa Valley, surrounded by beautiful vineyards and majestic forest beds, you don’t immediately think of the beach but you might be surprised. 

As someone born and raised in a beach town, the thought of spending my college years away from easy access to sand and waves was enough to give me pause. But what I came to find is PUC is in the PERFECT location—whether you love to hike the forest, ski the slopes, or yes, catch a wave—you’re just a short road trip away. And because I’m kind, I’ll spare you the googling and tell you five of the best beaches near PUC. You’re welcome!

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Dillon Beach (1 hour and 25 minutes from PUC)

Would you like to know the absolute best thing about Dillon Beach? It’s a dog beach! That’s right, there are puppies everywhere. Pack up your car with some blankets and friends, swing by Giugni’s for some sandwiches, and head off for an afternoon of relaxing and puppy-petting. Pro-tip: Official beach parking is $10 so unless you want to park in town and take a nice walk, you’ll need to bring some cash. Have everyone in the car chip in! 

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Goat Rock Beach (1 hour and 30 minutes from PUC)

Goat Rock is probably the beach most frequented by PUC students. Every year the Student Association, as well as multiple student clubs, have both church and vespers services here. Pro-tip: The area is a harbor seal birthing place between March and July so during those months we wouldn’t necessarily recommend going for a swim, BUT it’s a great spot to view incredible sea life and maybe catch a cute seal pup on camera. 

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Fort Point Beach (1 hour and 51 minutes from PUC)

Surfs up! While Fort Point isn’t the closest beach in the San Francisco area, it’s worth the extra drive simply for its beautiful location. Fort Point Beach lives right under the famous Golden Gate Bridge which guarantees a great view and great photo opportunities! Head towards the city, grab a board, and hang ten. Pro-tip: If you’re not from around here, it’s important to note: you’ll want to bring a jacket and if you’re surfing, a wetsuit! 

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Capitola Beach (2 hours and 49 minutes from PUC)

Located in the heart of the quintessential beach in Santa Cruz County, Capitola is by far not only my favorite beach but also my favorite place on earth. Take a break from the ocean by wandering in and out of the cute little village shops, grab a slice from the famous Pizza My Heart’s original location, or treat yourself to some local ice cream. You really can’t go wrong. And if you’re looking for that perfect photo opportunity, you don’t have to look far, with a row of brightly colored buildings locals refer to as “The Venetians” right on the water’s edge, you really can’t take a bad shot. Pro-tip: Wait till sunset for even more stunning photos.

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Glass Beach (2 hours and 50 minutes from PUC)

Do love collecting sea glass? Spending time looking for that bright cobalt blue color? Or maybe just looking at and taking photos of it? Glass Beach is pretty famous for its coastline covered in colorful glass pieces smoothed from years in the sea. The glass makes up about half the shore and mixed with the dark-colored sand, is a pretty remarkable sight. Pro-tip: It’s actually illegal to remove any cultural or natural features from a state beach so be sure to take lots of photos and selfies! 

Well, there you have it, folks! Five fantastic beaches for when you really need some ocean therapy and time away from campus. For more information about life in Northern California, visit our NorCal page on the PUC website! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic Spotlight: Honors

For the intellectually curious and the academically adept, the Honors Program at PUC provides a stimulating environment for completing General Education requirements for any baccalaureate degree with a cohort of serious scholars in seminars focused on in-depth understanding through lively discussions.

Honors courses encourage the exploration of challenging ideas through analytical reading, careful thinking, and stimulating discussions. These courses focus on depth of knowledge through a thematic approach that intertwines disciplines.

Why should you join the Honors Program at PUC?

  • Take an Honors seminar in another country
  • Be well-prepared for graduate and professional school
  • Take fewer General Education classes, making space for a potential second major 
  • Take home a diploma stamped “With Honors” 

Check out the Honors Program’s Instagram account @PUCHonors to see photos from their recent study tour to England!

Program entry requirements:

  • Strong reading and writing skills
  • Minimum 3.5 high school GPA
  • SAT of 1700 or ACT of 26
  • Highly motivated to pursue understanding

A Student’s Perspective

Recent graduate Laurel Kwon, who studied English and Honors at PUC, recently completed her final Honors project, for which she translated her understanding of Jane Eyre into a 10-minute piano composition. “I thought it would be fun to connect my English major side with my musical side,” she says. Read “Words to Notes: Honors Student Composes Piano Version of Jane Eyre” to learn more about Laurel’s capstone Honors project. 

You can also hear from alum Emily Mathe about her experience with Honors at PUC by reading her “4 Reasons You Might Belong in the Honors Program” blog post and why you should consider joining the Program!

Apply to the Honors Program

Apply to the Honors Program at PUC today! Visit puc.edu/honors to learn more about the Program, including faculty mentors, seminars, the capstone project, and other student opportunities. Freshmen enrollment is limited to 20 students per year. Online applications are reviewed monthly until all seats are filled. 

Questions? Our team of admissions counselors can talk with you about the college’s Honors Program and all of the academic programs the college offers. Call (800) 862-7080, option 2 or email admissions@puc.edu to get connected with a counselor now and start learning about all the options available to you! 

 

Your PUC Summer Checklist, Part II

Summer is in full swing, and we hope you’re having a blast, whatever you’re doing! Besides all the fun, there’s also plenty to do if you’re an accepted student and are planning on being here in September. (If you aren’t accepted and don’t know what you still need to take care of, check out our “Your PUC Summer Checklist, Part I” blog post and get in touch with your admissions counselor for more details.) 

If you’ve taken care of the important things like paying your enrollment fee and worked with your advisor to register for classes, here are five things you can do to be as prepared as possible for New Student Orientation, which starts on Wednesday, September 18! 

Get your PUC ID card

Your PUC ID card is one of the most important things you can have! Not only does it allow you to buy books at the PUC Bookstore and check-in and out of events giving you credit, but it’s also how you eat! Set up a visit and get your ID card ahead of time

Talk with the Teaching & Learning Center

Starting college can be challenging, but at Pacific Union College, we have great resources in place to help students succeed, because student success is our priority. The Teaching & Learning Center was created for that very reason and offers free group tutoring and a writing lab. The TLC staff will also work with students who have disabilities to offer extra individualized support and accommodations. You can reach out to them by calling (707) 965-7688 or emailing tlc@puc.edu

Register your vehicle with Public Safety

All PUC vehicles are required to have a parking permit displayed at all times. You can pre-register your vehicle using your Lantern account, using information from your driver’s license, state vehicle registration, and vehicle insurance. Visit the Public Safety website at puc.edu/publicsafety for more information and to get started.

Start buying supplies for your new dorm room

One of the most exciting things about getting ready for college is buying supplies and thinking about decorating your dorm room. Where do you even start? That’s where our “Your Ultimate PUC Packing List” blog post comes in! Don’t forget to check in with your future roommate too so you don’t end up having two of everything. 

Reserve your books at the bookstore

Did you know you can buy or rent your textbooks from the PUC Bookstore? You can even pre-order them so all you’ll need to do is stop in and pick them up when you get to campus for Orientation. Get started now at puc.bncollege.com.  

We can’t wait to have you here in just a few weeks! If you haven’t already, don’t forget to register for New Student Orientation so everything is ready for you when you get here and officially join the Pioneers family.

 

Important New Student Deadlines

Are you planning on being at PUC this fall? Here are some important dates and deadlines you will want to make note of!

  • Pay enrollment fee — ASAP
  • Register for classes with your academic advisor — ASAP
  • Check Your PUC Email — Weekly
  • Complete the housing reservation application — ASAP
  • Provide admissions with your final Transcript
  • Submit your health information form — August 1
  • Complete the immunization form — August 15
  • Finalize your financial arrangements — August 26
  • Authorize parent or third party to receive notifications of billing statements (not required)
  • Register for New Student Orientation (NSO) — August 30
  • Register your parents/family members for Parent/Family Orientation — August 30
  • Select a dining plan—September 1
  • Download the New Student Orientation app—September 16
  • Register your vehicle—September 16
  • Complete alcohol education/sexual assault prevention online courses—August 30
  • Waive of accept health insurance—October 4
  • Submit documentation for disability support and accommodations (if needed)— ASAP
  • Attend New Student Orientation—September 18 (REQUIRED)

If you have any questions related to New Student Orientation or arrival, you can contact the office of student life at studentlife@puc.edu or (707) 965-73626, and the team will be able to answer your questions or point you in the right direction. We are so excited to help you begin your journey as a Pioneer and to welcome you in September!

Academic Spotlight: World Languages & Cultures

PUC’s world languages & cultures program not only prepares students to speak another language but also learn to understand and appreciate different cultures for a greater understanding of our increasingly interconnected world. Students are encouraged to study abroad where they can fully immerse themselves in a new environment, giving them an unparalleled collegiate experience.

Programs offered:

  • Major in Language and Culture Studies, B.A.
    • Emphasis in Arabic
    • Emphasis in French
    • Emphasis in German
    • Emphasis in Italian
    • Emphasis in Portuguese
    • Emphasis in Spanish
  • Major in Spanish Studies, B.A. 

Alumni Highlight

Shanna Crumley, ’12, an intercultural communication and Spanish alumna of PUC, was part of a team that built an app using blockchain technology for use by refugees and others who no longer have access to personal records. The app won the SIPA Dean’s Public Policy Challenge Grant competition in 2018, a year-long entrepreneurship challenge consisting of several rounds and culminating in a $30,000 first-place award. Read “Rebuilding Their Futures: Alumna & Faculty Win $30K Grant for Refugee Work” to learn about Shanna’s experience creating the app.

Fast Facts  

  1. Through Adventist Colleges Abroad, students have the opportunity to spend time learning languages in the countries where they are spoken, including places such as Spain, France, Germany, Italy, England, and Argentina.
  2. Graduates from world languages & cultures programs have obtained employment in state government, education, business, medicine, and many other fields where their language skills and cultural knowledge are a tremendous asset. 
  3. As the world becomes more global and connected, the demand for professionals who can work well with others from a variety of cultures and backgrounds will continue to grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow rapidly, at about 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, with a median pay of $49,930 in 2018. For foreign language and literature teachers, while employment projections are not available, the median pay for those occupations was $79,160 in 2018. 

What You Can Do With This Major

Equipped with the skills to communicate with people from different cultures across the globe, there’s no telling where you might end up with a degree in world languages & cultures. 

  • Ambassador
  • Law
  • Library science
  • Social work
  • Teaching
  • Tourism
  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Writer/Journalist
  • Youth/Mission outreach 

Learn more about the department of world languages & cultures at puc.edu/academics. Our team of admissions counselors can answer any questions you have about these programs, or the other majors the college offers. Call (800) 862-7080, option 2 or email admissions@puc.edu to get connected with a counselor now and start learning about all the options available to you!