John Muir College
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"John Muir College" redirects here. For the John Muir College that became part of Pasadena City College in 1954, see Pasadena_City_College#History.
| John Muir College | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Motto | Celebrating the Independent Spirit |
| Founded | 1967 (Second) |
| Provost | Susan Smith |
| Dean of Students | Patty Mahaffey |
| Asst. Dean of Students | Jill Corrales |
| Dean of Academics | Kay Reynolds |
| Resident Dean | Pat Danylyshyn-Adams |
| Students | 3,797 |
| UCSD Percentage | 19% |
| Status | undergraduate, liberal arts |
| Core Course | Muir Writing |
| Festival | Muirstock; Sun God |
John Muir College is one of the six undergraduate colleges at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The college is named after John Muir, the environmentalist and founder of the Sierra Club. It boasts a humanitarian emphasis focused on the "spirit of self-sufficiency and individual choice". Its general education requirements are more loosely structured than those of the other colleges, with an emphasis on "sequences" and individual study. The college opened in 1967, at the height of the American environmentalist movement triggered in part by Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring. John Muir College describes itself as the "Heart of UCSD" and boasts a strong and distinct character after nearly forty years of existence. The flexibility of the general education requirements often encourages a large number of students to pursue multiple bachelor degrees. Muir College's writing program incorporates college level writing over a two-quarter period, with general critical writing during the first quarter and a themed rhetorical analysis program during the second.
[edit] Landmarks
Several of the most notable landmarks on the UCSD campus are located at Muir College. Sun God, the colossal statue designed by late French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, stands herald over the grounds of the campus. The 8- and 11-story twin residence halls Tenaya and Tioga stand as testament to the nature-conserving policies of Muir as well as examples of the prevalent architectural style of the 1960s. Muir's connection to California's Yosemite Valley continues with the Half Dome Lounge and the dining hall Sierra Summit. Every Halloween, Muir students drop a giant pumpkin from the top of the tallest residence hall as part of the Halloween Carnival.
