Division of Undergraduate Education

A Richer Academic Experience

Almost 90 percent of UCLA undergraduates earn a degree. The Division of Undergraduate Education would like to push that percentage even higher – and to offer each student the richest possible experience.

Even before students start classes, they get involved with New Student Orientation and College Summer Institute, just two of the programs that introduce new students to academic life. Besides learning their way around campus, students are introduced to services from the library to student health. Most important, the students get advice and help in enrolling in classes.

The Academic Advancement Program and College Academic Counseling are also Undergraduate Education programs. We are proud that so many first-generation college students come to UCLA, and we are committed to giving them the resources they need to succeed.

Undergraduate research is another priority. When Randy Schekman ’71 won the Nobel Prize in 2013, some people were surprised to learn that he began his research career as a UCLA undergraduate. The opportunity to do undergraduate research is a long tradition at UCLA; more than half of all our graduates get research experience, some as early as their first year.

Other innovative programs from the division include:

• Fiat Lux freshman seminars – small (20 students or less) seminars focused on a single topic, often taught by senior faculty.

• Clusters – theme-based clusters of classes for first-year students taught by cross-disciplinary teams of faculty. There are 10 themes, including The Longevity Revolution and The History of Modern Thought. Some clusters are also open to transfer students.

• Community Learning – the opportunity to participate in civic engagement through a variety of structured, rigorous academic courses that link theory with practice. Students often work with community groups, getting real-life experience as they complete their course work.

• Capstone Projects – individual or group projects that require students to engage in a creative, inquiry-based learning experience that deepens their knowledge and integration of the discipline.

The division’s Honors Programs work in partnership with community colleges. When it comes to graduation rates, transfer students at UCLA are typically just as successful as students who begin their college careers at the university.

Gifts to the Division of Undergraduate Education provide scholarships and other academic support to students.