Theme Housing

This hall strives to be an inclusive and non-judgmental community where diversity and the exploration of identity are celebrated. While all residents are welcome, Open House is intended as a safe and affirming environment that recognizes unique needs and challenges to the LGBTQ community. Residents of any sexual orientation or gender identity (including, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex, transgender, and queer) are encouraged to apply, as are allies and supporters of the LGBTQ community. In conjunction with Student Housing and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center, collaborative programs will foster community, encourage self-expression and create an atmosphere of openness and learning. In order to best serve its residents, Open House is the only hall in Middle Earth with gender-inclusive roommate assignments, allowing for students to request a roommate of any gender identity/expressions.

This hall houses only female residents and functions as a General Interest theme community.

Add to the adventure of your first year at UCI by embracing outdoor exploration of the world around us! Build community as you share incredible experiences in the outdoors—guided trips, paddling and rock climbing. Develop wellness practices and leadership skills while connecting with the great outdoors. Our team of adventure ambassadors have a year of unique, adventurous, and epic experiences ahead! No prior experience needed.

Sierra is a living-learning community located within Mesa Court Student Housing in which all residents of Sierra Hall are enrolled in “Social Ecology 74A/B/C: Moral Development and Just Community” for the entire academic year. The Sierra program offers first-year students an in-hall, year-long class with an engaging pedagogy, responsive curriculum, and intentional staffing model that focuses on character development, values clarification, and a variety of issues in diversity, identity, and society. The Sierra program has a rich history at UCI, with more than 2,000 hall alumni. More available on the Sierra Program Page.

Academic Excellence – Black Scholars (AEBS) – programming explores connections between scholarship, identity, wellness, and social and political issues. Hall members enroll in Thrive@UCI, a 1.3 unit course that supports student success.

This house is open to all Engineering majors (and welcomes students on the cusp of deciding to major in Engineering). This house offers residents the opportunity to meet, socialize, study and learn with other engineering students.

The George Washington Carver House brings together students who share an interest in learning more about the Black/African American culture. Sponsored by the Center for Black Cultures Resources and Research (CBCRR), the house will be staffed by a student programmer from the CBCRR. This program aims to help students learn more about themselves, develop leadership skills, build community, explore career options, and become engaged community members who are socially, culturally and personally responsible.

The Humanities House provides an intellectual and social environment for students of the Humanities. This residence is for students who are interested in learning about humans and how people from various cultures have expressed themselves across the ages in literature, film, art, etc. Humanities House provides the opportunity for students with similar interests and educational goals to communicate and share ideas. Residents will participate in faculty dinners, film screenings, international events and other program activities. Priority consideration is given to Humanities majors who have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

This house is geared toward students who are pursuing a major or minor offered under the Bren School of ICS, or who simply have a strong interest in the various fields of information and computer science. 

The International House is a living-learning opportunity for students who want to increase their knowledge and understanding of different cultures, share international perspectives, and build friendships with students from around the world. Half of the residents in the International House are international students and half are students from the U.S. The house offers a wide variety of cross-cultural activities and learning experiences, including special dinners, culture nights, holiday festivities, study abroad interest sessions, intramural sports, and specialized academic course offerings. Residents are expected to be actively involved in the community and participate in programs and activities. This community includes primarily undergraduate students, but may be open to a limited number of graduate students who are visiting UCI through an EAP/Reciprocity program.

Anyone who loves being active outdoors can find a home with the Outdoor Adventure Themed House. Our residents share a love for the environment, appreciation for natural beauty and a passion for adventure. The house will also serve to develop leaders in the area of outdoor adventure, recreation and education. Overall wellbeing, civic engagement and general enthusiasm for the outdoors will be themes that run through all of our programs and will be defining characteristics for all residents.

The Spectrum House is a unique community that celebrates and affirm the cultural experiences for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning students and their allies through programming, community development, an increased visibility of LGBT students & issues, and providing a safe space for LGBT students and their allies. Focusing on creating an inclusive and welcoming campus environment for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities, the Spectrum House promotes the understanding about sexual orientation, gender, and other aspects of diversity to enhance students’ leadership skills, personal development, and multicultural awareness. Residents who choose to live in the house will be asked to complete Safe Zone training.

Students in the Sustainability House are invited into a holistic, community living learning experience. Residents collaboratively build skills and knowledge to enact a simple yet rich lifestyle, grounded in the urgency of the global climate crisis and the invitation the crisis provides to create deep and lasting fundamental changes in the way we live. Residents learn stewardship through multidisciplinary hall programming that guides residents in audits of energy and water use, recycling and waste patterns, and local food production possibilities to lessen the group’s total impact on the environment. Residents learn essential community building skills and are offered programming on interrelated environmental, economic, and social justice concerns. The house boasts a wide variety of activities including vegetarian dinners, faculty and community interactions, organic gardening, aquaponics, and student led projects. Residents are expected to be actively involved and participate in programs and activities. This house agreement may require service hours of cooking, gardening, or household project planning work each week. Residents are encouraged to enroll in a for-credit class to complement their experience and receive recognition for their efforts. Priority is given to those students who are pursuing a major or minor related to global sustainability. The house is sponsored by the Global Sustainability Resource Center and the Housing Sustainability Program.

The Transfer House strives to foster a sense of community among the transfer students at UCI and provides resources for them in order to enhance their academic and social experience. The Transfer House supports transfer students as they facilitate their transition and overall success at UCI and directs students to appropriate campus programs and services. 

In collaboration with the Transfer Student Center and Transfer Admissions strives to cultivate a sense of belonging for transfer students in their transition to and through UCI. We aim to promote student success for students of all backgrounds through resources and programming responsive to the legacy of the African and African American Diasporas. Transfer students will build community and receive assistance to maximize their academic and social experience at UCI. Transfer students will receive support as they navigate campus resources, programs and services to enhance their overall college experience.

Firebaugh House serves as a safe and welcoming space for students to develop a better understanding of immigration status-related issues, and empower themselves and one another. Residents will have the opportunity to develop political consciousness and personal growth as they foster diversity and awareness in the UCI and Arroyo Vista Community.