Study AbroAd at uCLA

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Welcome from the Dean of UCLA Extension

Greetings from UCLA Extension. We are pleased to welcome you to Study Abroad at UCLA!

Study Abroad at uCLA not only gives you the advantage of studying at a top-ranked u.S. university and earning university credit, it also lets you experience life in Los Angeles and at uCLA in much the same way American students do.

We believe that there is great educational value than stepping outside one’s “comfort zone”—that is, to break out of your normal routines and familiar surroundings, try something new, and immerse yourself in a different culture. Such opportunities hold the possibility of providing new ways of viewing life, new insights into your own culture, and a better understanding of yourself. What better way than in a well-known university like uCLA to gain cultural insights, meet new friends and col-leagues, and, at the same time, advance your academic and career goals?

the u.S. is going through a challenging but, at the same time, very exciting period in its history and development. We face great financial challenges; we are struggling with important social and political issues, and we are trying to understand where and how we fit into a changing world. It’s an interesting time to study abroad in the u.S.—to experience first-hand how American students, professors, and average citizens view the challenges we face and to examine how these views compare with yours as well as with those of students, professors, and average citizens in your own country.

We also welcome your participation in Study Abroad at uCLA for the diversity that you and other international students bring to the uCLA community. your presence, your ideas, and your friendship help American and other international students gain greater insights into your culture, and, thereby, their educational experience is enriched in the same ways that we hope yours will be.

In summary, we are confident that your experience at uCLA will be both memorable and rewarding, and we look forward to welcoming you in person to Study Abroad at uCLA!

Sincerely,

Cathy Sandeen, Phd, MbAdean, Continuing Education and uCLA Extension uCLA

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Study Abroad at UCLA

Study Abroad at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is offered by UCLA Extension and provides opportunities for qualified international students to

• Enroll in a full-time undergraduate program of study at uCLA and uCLA Extension

• Earn transferable university credits

• Study side-by-side with American students

• Experience life at a top-ranked u.S. university

• Live in the exciting city of Los Angeles

• Enjoy sunny Southern California and a variety sports and recreation

• Gain international experience which helps when applying for other academic programs and jobs

UCLA ExtensionuCLA Extension’s open doors Concurrent Enrollment Program makes it possible for both domestic and international students to enroll in uCLA courses without going through the formal admission process to become fully matriculated uCLA students. uCLA Extension also has years of experience in offering programs and services to international students and provides the necessary immigration documents so that you can obtain a student (F-1) visa to enroll in Study Abroad at uCLA. Extension’s other international programs include custom-designed programs for groups, over fifty F-1 visa-approved certificate programs, online courses and programs, and intensive English language programs.

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)Founded in 1919, uCLA is one of the top-ranked research universities in the u.S. and in the world. With its College of Letters and Sciences and 11 professional schools, uCLA serves nearly 40,000 students, making it the largest of the 10 campus university of California (uC) system. the uCLA Library system ranks among the top 10 research libraries in the u.S. uCLA professors have received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Science, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, and Guggenheim Fellowships. In terms of student admissions, uCLA is one of the most competitive universities in the uC system. uCLA students are well prepared academically and represent considerable diversity; although the majority of uCLA students are from California, students come from all 50 states in the u.S. and from 63 foreign countries. For many years, uCLA has been a popular destination for international students.

“being an international student in a cosmopolitan place like L.A. is a fascinating experience. Having a different ethnic background allows me to bring a new point of view to the table.”

�—�Rocio�Ponce,�Mexico

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Study Abroad at uCLA is designed for international undergraduate students who are enrolled in degree programs in their home university and who wish to study at uCLA in order to earn and transfer academic credit toward their degree programs. Study Abroad at uCLA allows qualified international students from all over the world to enroll through uCLA Extension in regularly scheduled uCLA and uCLA Extension courses for academic credit during fall, winter, and spring quarters. Students are welcome to combine enrollment in Study Abroad with enrollment in uCLA Summer Sessions, e.g., spring and summer and/or summer and fall. Students wishing to enroll in uCLA courses during the months of July, August, and September should enroll directly with uCLA Summer Sessions.

Enrollment in uCLA courses is limited to undergradu-ate courses in the College of Letters and Sciences (www.college.ucla.edu) in the following fields of study: the Humanities, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Enrollment is on a space-available basis, and you will need to meet course prerequisites and have the consent of the course instructor to enroll.

In addition, uCLA Extension offers courses in a wide variety of fields which are transferable for credit and recognized by uCLA. Fields of study include business and management, computer graphics and programming, engineering, entertainment studies, teacher education, and many more. See www.uclaextension.edu for more information about uCLA Extension courses and programs.

uCLA operates on the quarter system with academic sessions that are 12 weeks in length. Fall quarter begins in late September and ends in mid-december; winter quarter begins in early January and ends in mid-March, and spring quarter begins in late March/early April and ends in mid-June. Summer quarter begins in late June and ends in mid-September; summer quarter courses are offered through uCLA Summer Sessions (see www.summer.ucla.edu). See page 13 for uCLA academic calendars.

Study Abroad at uCLA is offered in cooperation with selected university partners and overseas study abroad consultants. For more detailed information about the program, including program fees and applications, please contact the organization listed on the last page of this brochure and/or visit the uCLA Extension web site at www.uclaextension.edu.

“you will be amazed at what a great opportunity it is to learn from another culture.”

—�Francesca�Riggio,�Italy

Program Overview

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Admission Requirements

Study Abroad at UCLA is a serious academic program for international students who are currently pursuing degrees in their home university and who already have completed at least one or two years of their degree programs. To enroll in the program, you must meet the following minimum requirements and send us:

• A completed program application, including financial certification.

• A completed and signed Proposed Study Plan (see program application).

• the non-refundable application fee (see program application).

• An official Internet-based test of English as a Foreign Language (toEFL - ibt) score of 100 or higher or an Academic International English Language testing System (IELtS) score of 7 or higher; scores must have been achieved within 23 months of your application date; scores 2 years old or older will not be accepted. you will need to request that your official toEFL score be sent to uCLA Extension; the uCLA Extension school code is 4910-0000. For IELtS, you need to indicate that you are applying for uCLA Extension’s Study Abroad at uCLA program when your register for the exam.

• official university transcripts in English to demon-strate academic success and a minimum grade point average (GPA) equivalent to a 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Consult your university or your study abroad consul-tant for GPA conversion tables for the grading system in your country.

• A letter of recommendation from your home institution, department, or academic advisor.

• A written statement of purpose, in English, explain-ing how the program fits into your study plan and educational objectives. the statement should be 2 typed pages or less.

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It will be helpful for you to understand some of the differences between being enrolled in Study Abroad at uCLA and being a fully matriculated uCLA student. Fully matriculated uCLA students go through an extensive application process which involves applying almost a year in advance of the quarter in which they plan to enter the university. For a university like uCLA, the application process is highly competitive and only a small percentage of the total applicants are accepted for admission. Admission is usually for a degree program, i.e., an undergraduate or graduate degree.

by comparison, enrolling in Study Abroad at uCLA is much easier. you can apply approximately two to three months in advance of your planned entry date, and if you meet or exceed the program requirements, your chances of being accepted into the program are good. Although you will not be a fully matriculated uCLA student and will not be accepted into a degree program, you will be able to enroll in uCLA courses for transfer-able credit and study side-by-side with uCLA students.

the process of enrolling in courses is also different for uCLA students than for students enrolled in Study Abroad at uCLA. Fully matriculated uCLA students enroll in their courses in advance through an online enrollment system. Although there are seldom course guarantees for any students at uCLA, uCLA students will have priority in enrolling for courses because they are enrolled in degree programs.

Students in Study Abroad at uCLA enroll in courses when they arrive at uCLA to begin their program. Provided that you meet course prerequisites and have the consent of the instructor, you will enroll in your courses on a space-available basis. your program advisors will guide you through the enrollment process, and they will suggest courses where the chances for enrollment are good. the advisors will also give you a letter of introduction explaining that you are an international student enrolled in Study Abroad at uCLA, and the letter will list the requirements that you met in order to enroll in the program.

during the first days of the quarter, you will have opportunities to visit courses that appear to meet your academic and personal objectives. Each visit will provide you with a general impression of the course and the professor as well as the chance to review the course plan for the quarter and the assignments that students will be expected to complete. In some cases, you quickly may decide that you don’t want to enroll in the course, and, in other cases, you may decide that the course matches your educational objectives.

Course Enrollment Process

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If you want to enroll, you will need to speak with the professor after class, present your letter of introduction, and ask if you may join the class. If there is space available in the course and if the professor agrees, she or he will sign an enrollment form, and you will be able to enroll in the course officially.

Again, your advisor will help you with the final steps of the enrollment process. It is important to realize that some popular courses may be full when you try to enroll; in that case, you will need to look for an alternate course.

Although this process might seem challenging at first, you soon will see that many uCLA students go through the same process. Since most professors are happy to have well-qualified international students in their courses, your international student status can work to your advantage. Past experience has shown that international students not only have managed this course enrollment process well, but also they have been able to enroll in the courses that meet their needs.

the key to making this enrollment process work is being flexible and having a well-developed list of courses. For that reason, in the program application we ask you to provide a preliminary list of 10 or more courses that will meet your objectives. this list will allow our academic advisor to assist you, and if a specific course is not available, you will have other course alternatives. thus, it’s very important to talk with the university advisor or study abroad consultant in your home country to be certain that courses offered through Study Abroad at uCLA are appropriate for you.

If you decide to enroll in uCLA Extension courses, the enrollment process is easier, and often you can enroll in courses in advance before the course begins. However, you still may want to visit courses first to make sure that they meet your objectives. Again, your academic advisor will assist you with the enrollment process. Please note that most uCLA Extension courses are offered in the evening between the hours of 6:30 and 10pm.

“Although I spent 80% of my free time doing homework, I still found plenty of time to socialize, work out, and explore Los Angeles and its variety of

cafés, clubs and beaches. In fact, I’m still in touch with several classmates I used to hang out with, who come from every corner of the world, such as Saudi Arabia, brazil, Japan, turkey and Argentina.”�—��Jean-Marc�Dedeyne,�Martinique

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Visas and Course Loads: Study Abroad at uCLA is regarded as a full-time program of study, and to comply with uCLA Extension and u.S. department of Homeland Security regulations, you will need a student (F-1) visa to attend this program. If you meet the program admission requirements, uCLA Extension will send you an I-20, which will enable you to apply for a student visa.

during fall, winter, and spring quarters, a full-time course of study is defined as 12 units of uCLA and/or uCLA Extension courses. Most uCLA and uCLA Extension courses carry four units of credit, so in most cases you will be able to enroll in three four-unit courses. If you wish to enroll in more than 12 units of credit, you will need to obtain permission from your program advisor, and you will need to pay additional fees for additional units of credit. However, three four-unit courses constitute a normal course load for most students.

Course Offerings and Restricted Courses: before deciding to apply for Study Abroad at uCLA, please take a close look at the fields of study and courses that are offered to ensure that the program will meet your personal educational objectives. We recommend that you visit the uCLA College of Letters and Sciences website (www.college.ucla.edu), and, for more detailed information, please see www.registrar.ucla.edu/schedule/schedulehome.aspx for course offerings during specific quarters. Please see www.uclaextension.edu for information about uCLA Extension courses, and for uCLA Summer Sessions, please visit www.summer.ucla.edu.

Course Enrollment Process (continued)

“I remember walking down the streets in Los Angeles and being blown away by the art scene. Every corner I turn has art and design. From graffiti of vivid colors and spectacular illustrations, trendy shops selling innovative products in creative packaging, to bus rides that offer a view of some of L.A.’s great architecture—the fun and quirky versus exquisite and intricate. L.A. still continues to wow and inspire me.”

�—�Jolene�Lai,�Singapore

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Course Offerings and Restricted Courses (continued): during fall, winter, and spring, you will not be able to enroll in uCLA courses in the School of Law; the School of Film, theater, and television; or in Graduate and Professional Programs, including Medicine, dentistry, the Graduate School of Management, and most courses in the School of Engineering. Since many international students want to take courses in business and manage-ment, it is important to realize that uCLA does not offer undergraduate degrees in business, and the number of uCLA business-related courses is limited.

However, uCLA Extension offers a variety of courses in business and Management, Entertainment Studies, and Engineering. uCLA Summer Sessions also offers more variety and options than may be available to you during fall, winter, and spring. In summary, you need to match your personal study plan and educational objectives with the programs and course offered at uCLA, uCLA Extension, and uCLA Summer Sessions.

Certificate and Transcripts: upon completion of Study Abroad at uCLA, you will receive an attractive uCLA Extension certificate. In addition, official uCLA Extension transcripts will be available at the end of each academic quarter. the transcript will report all of your uCLA and uCLA Extension courses as well as the grades and academic credit that you earned for each course. If you attend uCLA Summer Sessions, your courses and grades will be listed on a separate official uCLA transcript.

“Living in Los Angeles is a “must”—it is an experience that I would recommend to anyone. there is always something different to do.”

�—��Patricia�Pedraza�Isturiz,�Venezuela

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UCLA Extension Support Services

“Looking back at my experience, I always enjoyed the guest speakers who brought in relevant knowledge from today’s industry. Networking with your classmates is also important and tremendously helpful as this industry is all about connections! the Extension program I enrolled in is everything I

expected—professional, challenging, and fun, despite the amount of work. I realized this is what I have been searching for: the opportunity to study with young professionals of all sorts who are making an effort to do the best they can in this great melting pot.”�—��So�Yeong�Zoe�Lee,�Korea

uCLA Extension staff will be available to assist you in getting settled in Los Angeles, becoming accustomed to academic life at uCLA, and enrolling in uCLA and uCLA Extension courses. However, students enrolled in Study Abroad at uCLA should be independent and prepared to take initiative in managing their personal lives and academic responsibilities.

Program Orientation: At the beginning of each quarter, there will be an orientation for newly arrived and continuing students. In addition to pro-viding an opportunity for you to get acquainted, the orientation will provide information on aca-demic, administrative, and immigration issues, as well as information on housing, transportation, health services, activities and organizations, and other student services. Explanations will be given about how to enroll in uCLA and uCLA Extension courses. Advisors will be available to help you in group and in one-on-one meetings.

Housing: Student housing accommodations and meals are not included in the program price. uCLA campus housing is available only in summer. thus, you will need to make arrangements for off-campus housing during fall, winter, and spring quarters. Housing arrangements can be made in advance; however, you may wish to arrive in Los Angeles a week or two in advance of your program start date if you want to find an apartment to share or rent with other students. Consult your university or study abroad consultant for more information on housing.

ID Cards and Privileges: Shortly after the first orientation meeting, you will receive a uCLA Extension Identification Card, a uCLA recreation Pass, and a uCLA Library Card. the recreation card will permit you to use various uCLA sports and recreational facilities, and the library card will allow you to use and check out materials from uCLA libraries.

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uCLA is located about five miles from the Pacific ocean in one of the safest and most attractive parts of Los Angeles; it is surrounded on three sides by green residential areas, by the Santa Monica Mountains to the North and by Westwood Village to the South. Westwood Village is a lively commer-cial area noted for its first-run movie theaters and film premieres with bright lights, red carpets, and movie stars. the “Village” features a wide variety of student-oriented shops, a live theater, a major art museum, and a tremendous variety of food at all prices, including many types of fast food, cafés, Asian noodle shops, Middle Eastern special-ties, French pastry, and elegant conti-nental and California cuisine. Westwood and uCLA are served by three bus lines, and it’s just a short ride to beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Century City, Santa Monica, and to Santa Monica and Venice beaches.

First-time visitors are surprised at the size and beauty of the uCLA campus with its 419 acres, 174 buildings, and combination of romanesque and modern architecture. the campus offers endless variety with its beautifully landscaped Murphy Sculpture Garden, Sunset Canyon recreation Center, Mathias botanical Garden, theaters, museums, and many libraries. From a practical standpoint, uCLA boasts the largest student store in the u.S. with a number of branch stores throughout the campus, more than a dozen restaurants and coffee shops, banks, post offices, its own police station, and a state-of-the-art research hospital, which is ranked #1 in the Western u.S. and #3 in the u.S.

Famous for its athletic teams, uCLA offers a wide variety of sports and recreation facilities, including numerous outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts—most notably the courts that were built for the 1984 olympic tennis competition—tracks, a soccer field, and the John r. Wooden recreation and Sports Center with multiple gymnasia; racquetball, handball, and squash courts; weight training facilities; rock climbing wall; and exercise, dance, and martial arts studios.

uCLA offers a rich variety of cultural events and entertainment. Perhaps the most well known is uCLA Live, an annual entertainment series of world-class performing artists and groups. recent performers include: béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer, Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, omara Portuondo, Los Lobos, Max raabe & Palast orchester, Arlo Guthrie, and the Monterey Jazz Festival on tour; see www.uclalive.org/calendar.

Students enrolled in Study Abroad at uCLA will have numerous opportunities to interact with other uCLA students in their courses and through a wide variety of campus organizations, including those focusing on ethnicity, religion, politics, global issues, gender issues, professions and careers, specific fields of study, vocal music, instrumental music, dance, and many, many more. With its size and diversity, Los Angeles also offers a wealth of clubs, organizations, and activities in which students can participate.

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

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As part of the uCLA division of Continuing Education, uCLA Extension is one of the largest university continuing education programs in the world. uCLA Extension addresses the academic, career, and personal development needs of adult professionals, including international students. over 60,000 participants enroll in uCLA Extension courses and programs each year, and of that number over 10,000 are international participants. the majority of Extension instructors are experienced professionals who are currently working in their fields of specialization.

the courses they teach are usually directly related to what they do each day in their jobs. In nearly all cases and since many uCLA Extension participants are working professionals also, most uCLA Extension courses place a strong emphasis on practical applica-tion—providing professionals and students with the knowledge and skills they need in their careers and personal lives.

“I was beyond happy with the location, I loved the area. It was safe, not too big to walk around, and convenient for transportation. you can go anywhere from Westwood by bus. there are so many opportunities to see famous actors and actresses in the area also.”

�—�Wato�Kusui,�Japan

UCLA Extension

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UCLA Three-year Academic Calendar

2010 – 2011 2011 – 2012 2012 – 2013Fall Quarter Fall Quarter Fall Quarter

Quarter Begins: September 20, 2010 Quarter Begins: September 19, 2011 Quarter Begins: September 24, 2012

Quarter Ends: December 10, 2010 Quarter Ends: December 9, 2011 Quarter Ends: December 14, 2012

University Holidays: University Holidays: University Holidays:

Veterans’ Day: November 11, 2010 Veterans’ Day: November 11, 2011 Veterans’ Day: November 12, 2012

Thanksgiving Holiday: November 25-26, 2010 Thanksgiving Holiday: November 24-25, 2011 Thanksgiving Holiday: November 22-23, 2012

Winter Break: Dec. 24, 2010 – Jan. 2, 2011 Winter Break: Dec. 26, 2011 – Jan. 2, 2012 Winter Break: Dec. 24, 2012 – Jan. 1, 2013

Winter Quarter Winter Quarter Winter Quarter

Quarter Begins: January 3, 2011 Quarter Begins: January 4, 2012 Quarter Begins: January 2, 2013

Quarter Ends: March 18, 2011 Quarter Ends: March 23, 2012 Quarter Ends: March 22, 2013

University Holidays: University Holidays: University Holidays:

Martin Luther King Day: January 17, 2011 Martin Luther King Day: January 16, 2012 Martin Luther King Day: January 21, 2013

Presidents’ Day: February 21, 2011 Presidents’ Day: February 20, 2012 Presidents’ Day: February 18, 2013

Spring Quarter Spring Quarter Spring Quarter

Quarter Begins: March 28, 2011 Quarter Begins: March 28, 2012 Quarter Begins: March 27, 2013

Quarter Ends: June 10, 2011 Quarter Ends: June 15, 2012 Quarter Ends: June 14, 2013

University Holidays: University Holidays: University Holidays:

Cesar Chavez Holiday: March 25, 2011 Cesar Chavez Holiday: March 30, 2012 Cesar Chavez Holiday: March 29, 2013

Memorial Day: May 30, 2011 Memorial Day: May 28, 2012 Memorial Day: May 27, 2013

Summer Quarter Summer Quarter Summer Quarter

Quarter Begins: June 20, 2011 Quarter Begins: June 25, 2012 Quarter Begins: date to be announced*

Quarter Ends: September 9, 2011 Quarter Ends: September 14, 2012 Quarter Ends: date to be announced*

University Holidays: University Holidays: University Holidays:

Independence Day: July 5, 2011 Independence Day: July 4, 2012 Independence Day: July 4, 2013

Labor Day: September 6, 2011 Labor Day: September 5, 2012 Labor Day: September 3, 2013

*Please visit the UCLA Summer Sessions website (www.summer.ucla.edu) for details.

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About Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Average Temperatures and Rainfall in Los Angeles, California

January 19 C 9 C 8 cm February 20 C 10 C 8.2 cm March 20 C 11 C 6.8 cm April 22 C 12 C 2.6 cm May 23 C 14 C .8 cm June 25 C 16 C .2 cm

July 28 C 17 C .1 cm August 28 C 18 C .2 cm September 27 C 17 C .6 cmOctober 25 C 15 C 1.2 cm November 23 C 12 C 3.4 cm December 20 C 10 C 6.2 cm

Month Temperature Rainfall High Low

Month Temperature Rainfall High Low

Los Angeles (L.A.) is a cosmopolitan city, an exciting center of business, entertainment, and recreation. the largest port in the Americas, L.A. is known as the gateway to the manufacturing and trade industries of the Pacific rim. the city also is the undisputed center of the entertainment world, where television, movies, music, and new media are created.

Favorite recreational activities include visits to theaters, cinemas, museums, art galleries, amusement parks, and sunny beaches. you also can explore Los Angeles’s many ethnic communities and enjoy authentic restaurants, teahouses, and festivals.

rock climbing, surfing, sailing, and mountain biking are year-round sports; skiing and snowboarding in the nearby mountains are popular in winter months. From Los Angeles, you can easily explore California’s well-known national parks, such as yosemite, Channel Islands, death Valley, Sequoia, and Point reyes.

Los Angeles is an ideal place to continue your education, do business, and experience the best of life in exciting Southern California.

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Important Websites

www.ucla.edu

www.summer.ucla.edu

www.college.ucla.edu

www.registrar.ucla.edu/schedule/schedulehome.aspx

www.uclaextension.edu

www.uclalive.org/calendar

Not Printed at State Expense / 10188-09

UCLA Extension 10995 Le Conte Ave Los Angeles, CA 90024-1333

www.uclaextension.edu