The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is a public land-grant research university located in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Tracing its roots back to 1891 as an independent teachers college, it joined the University of California system in 1944, becoming the third-oldest undergraduate campus in the system after UC Berkeley and UCLA. UCSB is distinguished by its commitment to interdisciplinary programs, innovation, and high-impact research, earning election to the Association of American Universities (AAU) in 1995, an elite organization of 59 leading U.S. universities and two in Canada. The university's coastal campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean fosters a vibrant academic environment, supporting extensive undergraduate and graduate education across fields like sciences, engineering, humanities, and social sciences. As a key component of the University of California system, UCSB serves as a hub for technological and scientific advancements, with a strong emphasis on teaching excellence and community engagement. It has subsidiaries and departments including the Coastal Fund, Department of Black Studies, and the Dow Materials Institute in partnership with Dow Chemical Company. The university's alumni have founded numerous companies, contributing to innovation in various sectors, and it plays a significant role in the regional economy through research initiatives and educational outreach. While celebrated for its academic achievements, the university has faced notable events, such as the 2014 Isla Vista killing spree involving UCSB students, highlighting ongoing campus safety discussions.