Luskin Transfer Students

Before you arrive on campus

Statistical Package R “Boot Camp”

If you did not use the statistical package R Studio during Community College, or in your professional experiences, you should make time to review the free online resources before starting  classes at UCLA, especially before taking PUB AFF 115 and before beginning the capstone requirement.

• Statistical Package R “Boot Camp” Flyer

Experiential Learning Capstone Interest Survey

Students pursuing the BA in Public Affairs complete a three-quarter experiential learning capstone in their final year at UCLA. The Public Affairs Undergraduate Program coordinates the annual capstone internship matching process, where students interview with community organizations in order to secure a capstone internship site. All eligible public affairs majors complete the Capstone Internship Survey as a precursor to the internship matching process. New transfer students will receive the survey link after they complete their new student session (or, orientation) in the summer. Contact the Public Affairs Capstone Advisor and Coordinator via MyUCLA Message Center for questions about the Public Affairs experiential learning capstone.

2-year Plan of Study

The Public Affairs program offers a lot of flexibility with upper division course selection, and it pairs well with many of the campus minors. We encourage you to embrace this academic freedom by customizing a 2-year plan of study. This plan should be a “living” document, adapting and growing throughout your time on campus. You can view a sample 2-year plan here. To outline a personalized program plan, contact a Luskin Undergraduate Program academic counselor here.

Your first month

The Quarter System

Don’t forget, UCLA is on the quarter system. This means you get to choose new classes three times a year: Fall, Winter, and Spring (Summer is optional). Each quarter, your classes will run for 11-weeks (10 weeks of class sessions, 1 week of finals).

While it may feel like you are sprinting from the first day of classes, to midterms, and then straight to finals, there are many benefits to the quarter system. Namely, you have more opportunities to take fun, interesting courses and to participate in other academic or non-academic programs. Plus, if you’re not enjoying a class, have no fear, it will be done in 10 short weeks!

You can view your quarterly enrollment appointment times on MyUCLA > Academics > Enrollment Appointments. You can learn more about enrollment appointments on the Registrar’s Office website.

Requirements and Courses

Take some time to familiarize yourself with your major requirements and your double major or minor options. Reviewing the BA in Public Affairs degree requirements on your degree audit report (DARS) can help you prepare your two-year plan of study, while the Public Affairs course offerings list can help ensure you get the classes that are the most relevant to your interests and goals.

Transfer students who are pursing the Public Affairs major have the option to pursue a double major and/or minor, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the respective major or minor. Students who are interested in pursuing a double major and/or minor must work closely with a Luskin academic counselor to ensure they can complete all degree requirements within their time-to-degree and at a manageable pace and course load. Students are not granted additional time to complete a double major and/or minor.

For questions about your degree requirements and eligibility to pursue a double major and/or minor, please schedule an appointment with a Luskin undergraduate counselor via MyUCLA Message Center.

Your first quarter

Meet with a Luskin Undergraduate Counselor

We highly recommend you schedule an introductory meeting with a Luskin undergraduate counselor during the Fall Quarter. The goal of this initial meeting is to learn more about you and your interests so that we can help you organize your goals and map out your plan of action for your time at UCLA. You can schedule an appointment with a Luskin undergraduate counselor via MyUCLA Message Center.

Stay Connected! – Luskin Undergraduate Newsletter and Social Media

Students are encouraged to stay connected with the Luskin Public Affairs Undergraduate Program by joining our mailing listserv and following us on social media.

The weekly electronic Luskin Undergraduate Newsletter features:

• Luskin Undergraduate Opportunities
• General UCLA Events & Opportunities
• Internship, Scholarship, Job, and Graduate School Opportunities,

Students who declare the Public Affairs Pre-Major, Major, or Luskin Minors are automatically added to the Luskin Undergraduate listserv and receive the weekly electronic newsletter. The newsletter is emailed every Wednesday afternoon.

Follow the Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program on social media (@UCLALuskinUG) to:

• read about students’ experiences in the Public Affairs major and Luskin minors,
• access opportunities available to Public Affairs majors and Luskin minors,
• learn about UCLA resources that support your academic success, career readiness, and personal wellbeing, and
• receive academic policy reminders.

Tag us using #UCLALuskinUG and #UCLALuskin for an opportunity to be featured in our Instagram stories!

Your first year

Campus Resources

Take advantage of the many resources campus has to offer. All of the resources, plus many more, can support your academic, professional, mental, emotional, and physical well-being and happiness.  Learn more about the resources available to you at the links below:

• UCLA Campus Life: Visit the UCLA Campus Life website to learn more about the UCLA community, events, and resources.
• UCLA Student Affairs: Visit the UCLA Student Affairs website to learn more about life on campus, resource centers & programs, health & wellbeing, and services.
• UCLA Transfer Center
• UCLA Bruin Hub (for commuting students)

California Policy: UC Center Sacramento (UCCS)

Overview of UC Center Sacramento

The University of California Center Sacramento (or, UCCS) advances the University’s mission of teaching, research and public service with an integrated program to train future state leaders, to address challenging public-policy issues confronted by the nation and state, and to carry out the University’s mandate to assist state government.

UCCS is located one block from the State Capitol Building. Operated by UC Davis, UCCS offers a distinctive academic program in public policy to students from throughout the university’s 10-campus system. The program provides students with an opportunity to study through seminars and internships in and around the state Capitol.

Learn More and Apply to UCCS

Visit the UC Center Sacramento Program Dates and Deadlines website here for information about the application process and deadlines. To learn more about the program, contact the UCLA UCCS Program Representative here.

Applying UC Center Sacramento Course Work Toward Degree Requirements

Courses completed through UC Center Sacramento can satisfy degree requirements. Contact the Luskin Undergraduate Program academic counselors to discuss applying your UCCS course work toward degree requirements.

Students pursuing the BA in Public Affairs who participate in UCCS can petition to satisfy the first quarter of the public affairs experiential learning capstone requirement. Learn more about the public affairs experiential learning capstone here.

National Policy: UCLA Quarter in Washington Program

Overview of the Program

Since fall 1990, the UCLA Quarter in Washington Program (or, UCDC) has offered students the only UCLA opportunity to intern in Washington, DC while remaining a full-time UCLA student. Quarter in Washington sends 30 UCLA undergraduates to study in Washington each fall, winter, and spring quarter. Each quarter offers the same one-on-one faculty interaction and meaningful internship placements.

The program offers a structured and supportive introduction to independent research, intensive attention to students’ intellectual development and writing skills, exciting internships, and the chance to make life-long career connections at the national level.

Learn More and Apply to Quarter in Washington

Visit the Quarter in Washington Program website here for information about the application process and deadlines. To learn more about the program, contact the Quarter in Washington Program Representative here.

Applying Quarter in Washington Course Work Toward Degree Requirements

Courses completed through Quarter in Washington can satisfy degree requirements. Contact the Luskin Undergraduate Program academic counselors to discuss applying your Quarter in Washington course work toward degree requirements.

Students pursuing the BA in Public Affairs who participate in Quarter in Washington can petition to satisfy the first quarter of the public affairs experiential learning capstone requirement. Learn more about the public affairs experiential learning capstone here.

International Study: UCEAP and UCLA Global Internship Program

UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP)

The University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) is the official, system-wide study abroad program for the University of California. UCEAP is partnered with 115 universities worldwide and offers programs in 42 countries. These UC-approved programs combine immersive learning with engaging activities. UCEAP students enroll in courses abroad while earning UC units and maintaining UCLA student status. Many programs offer internships, research, and volunteer opportunities.

Visit the UCEAP website here to explore programs and learn more about the application process for each program.

UCLA Global Internship Program (GIP)

Students who participate in the UCEAP UCLA Global Internship Program (linked here) intern with organizations and companies abroad for academic credit! The Global Internship Program offers an array of work opportunities in diverse career sectors and locations throughout the globe. The program is a great way to increase industry knowledge and employability. Internship placements are approximately 8 weeks long in all program locations. Internship are for academic credit only and are unpaid.

Applying UCEAP and GIP Course Work Toward Degree Requirements

Courses completed through UCEAP and UCLA Global Internship Program can satisfy degree requirements. Contact the Luskin Undergraduate Program academic counselors to discuss applying your UCEAP and UCLA Global Internship Program course work toward degree requirements.

Students pursuing the BA in Public Affairs who participate in the UCLA Global Internship Program can petition to satisfy the first quarter of the public affairs experiential learning capstone requirement. Learn more about the public affairs experiential learning capstone here.

Undergraduate Research

Why Do Research?

Conducting research as an undergraduate is an excellent way to gain experiences and skills that will benefit you both academically and professionally, preparing you for graduate school and a wide variety of careers.

Participating in undergraduate research allows you to:

• Work one-on-one with faculty
• Participate in cutting-edge research projects with far-reaching impacts
• Make significant contributions to a field you care about
• Enhance your competitiveness for high-level employment and admission to graduate and professional schools

UCLA Undergraduate Research Center for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

The UCLA Undergraduate Research Center for the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences serves all students in humanities, arts, social science, and behavioral science disciplines. Explore the URC website to learn more about the research opportunities, programs, and services available to undergraduate students. You can visit the URC undergraduate research portal to search for undergraduate research opportunities.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities for Luskin Undergraduates

Visit the Luskin Undergraduate Research website here to explore the research opportunities the Luskin School of Public Affairs offers to undergraduate students. Visit to Luskin faculty page to learn more about the research conducted by Luskin faculty.

Earn Course Credit for Undergraduate Research

UCLA undergraduate students can earn course credit if they are participating in research. Undergraduate research courses are numbered 99 (lower division Student Research Program) and 196-199 (upper division research tutorials). Students pursuing the BA in Public Affairs or a Luskin minor, can petition to have upper division research tutorials satisfy major or minor requirements.  To learn more about research tutorials, how to enroll in research tutorials, and when to enroll in research tutorials, contact the Luskin Undergraduate Program academic counselors via MyUCLA Message Center.

Involvement and Career Readiness

Internship Courses

Students who are participating in internships have the opportunity to request to earn course credit for an internship. Internship courses are upper division tutorials numbered 195 or 195CE. To be eligible to earn course credit for an internship, students must meet the eligibility criteria and the internship must meet the learning objectives of an internship course. To learn more about internship courses, visit the UCLA Center for Community Engagement internship courses website here.

Center for Community Engagement

The UCLA Center for Community Engagement connects UCLA undergraduates with the diverse communities of Los Angeles through meaningful, interdisciplinary work that emphasizes academic excellence within undergraduate education. CCE also offers community engaged research opportunities and scholarships to UCLA students. These programs include: Community Engagement and Social Change Minor, Astin Community Engaged Scholars, Change Maker Scholars, Jumpstart, and JusticeCorps. Visit the Center for Community Learning to learn more about these programs.

UCLA Career Center

The UCLA Career Center offers services and programming the fosters and supports students’ career readiness. To access Career Center services, students must login to their Handshake account. Through Handshake students can schedule appointments with a career engagement educator, receive resume and cover letter feedback, register for career center events, and search for and apply to internships and jobs. Visit the UCLA Career Center website to learn more about the services available to students