Here you will find detailed descriptions about the CSI course offerings, including how each course satisfies UCLA requirements.
All students who select “writing requirement” will be enrolled in English Composition 3 until scores are received and proper placement can be determined. Once scores have been received and placement has been determined, students will be moved to the proper course or asked to choose another option.
CSI students who select “writing requirement” will be placed into English Composition 3. After test and placement scores have been received students may stay in that course, be moved into English Composition 2, or be asked to choose another option.
See “CSI Course Descriptions – Composition” for more information.
The current placeholder course of English Composition 3 is scheduled for the evening, in order to avoid scheduling conflicts during registration. The actual sections during CSI will take be offered in the afternoon and students’ schedules will be finalized during New Student Session 105 that all CSI students attend.
English Composition courses will generally be in person, with 1 section of English Composition 3 offered online.
General Chemistry for Life Scientists I (4 units) — Introduction to physical and general chemistry principles; atomic structure based on quantum mechanics; atomic properties; trends in periodic table; chemical bonding (Lewis structures, VSEPR theory, hybridization, and molecular orbital theory); gaseous and aqueous equilibria; properties of inorganic and organic acids, bases, buffers; titrations.
Satisfies: 1 GE; Foundation of Scientific Inquiry – Physical Sciences
Life Science majors: Chem 14A is part of the preparation for most majors in the life sciences and the Anthropology B.S. major. Students who complete this course can continue in the second course of Chemistry (14B). In CSI, life science majors can choose 2 from Chemistry 14A, Life Sciences 7A, or Life Sciences 30A to begin work on 2 courses required for their majors.
Physical science majors, including engineering majors, should not take this chemistry series for their majors.
For 2023, this lecture for this course will be online, but discussion sections will be in person.
Introduction to Communication (5 units) — Introduction to study of interpersonal and mass communication using interdisciplinary approach. Exploration of basic methods and theoretical perspectives that social scientists and others use to study interpersonal and mass communication, and basic concepts used to describe and explain that communication. Historical overview of each major mass media. Study of significant current topical issues related to means of communication that reach large numbers of people.
Satisfies: 1 GE; Foundation of Society and Culture – Social Analysis
Communication Studies majors: While this major requires an application, the course is part of preparation for the major.
Cell and Molecular Biology (5 units) — Introduction to basic principles of cell structure and cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
Satisfies: 1 GE; Foundation of Scientific Inquiry – Life Sciences
Life Science majors: Life Sciences 7A is part of the preparation for most majors in the life sciences and the Anthropology B.S. major. Students who complete this course can continue in the second course of the Life Sciences 7 series (7B).
In CSI, life science majors can choose to take 2 from Chemistry 14A, Life Sciences 7A, or Life Sciences 30A to begin work on 2 courses required for their majors.
Mathematics for Life Scientists (5 units) — Mathematical modeling as tool for understanding dynamics of biological systems. Fundamental concepts of single-variable calculus and development of single- and multi-variable differential equation models of dynamical processes in ecology, physiology, and other subjects in which quantities change with time. Use of free computer program Sage for problem solving, plotting, and dynamical simulation in laboratory.
Satisfies: Major Preparation; LS 30A is part of the preparation for all majors in the life sciences.
In CSI, life science majors can choose to take 2 from Chemistry 14A, Life Sciences 7A, or Life Sciences 30A to begin work on 2 courses required for their majors.
Differential and Integral Calculus (4 units) — Differential calculus and applications; introduction to integration.
In order to enroll into Math 31A students will need to take the Math Diagnostic Test by July 1. For more information, see UCLA Department of Mathematics.
Satisfies: Major Preparation; Math 31A is part of the preparation for all majors in the physical sciences, all majors in Engineering, and the Economics and Business Economics majors.
Calculus of Several Variables (4 units) – Introduction to differential calculus of several variables, vector field theory.
In order to take Math 32A, students have to have credit for Math 31A, a prerequisite. Course credit can come from college courses taken or Advanced Placement exams. Please contact newstudents@college.ucla.edu to verify if scores or courses taken will apply as credit for Math 31A.
Satisfies: Major Prep; Math 32A is part of the preparation for all majors in the physical sciences and all majors in Engineering.
Film and Music (5 units) – History of music and cinema, particularly ways music is used to produce meanings in conjunction with visual image.
Satisfies: 1 GE; Foundation of Arts & Humanities – Visual and Performance Arts Analysis and Practice.
Introduction to American Politics (5 units) — Introduction to the basic institutions and processes of democratic politics. Treatment of themes such as constitutionalism, representation, participation, and leadership coupled with particular emphasis on the American case.
Satisfies: 1 GE: Foundation of Society and Culture – Social Analysis; American History & Institutions requirement. Political Science majors: this course is part of the preparation for the major.
Introductory Sociology (5 units) — A survey of the characteristics of social life, processes of social interaction, and tools of sociological investigation.
Satisfies: 1 GE; Foundation of Society and Culture– Social Analysis
Sociology majors: this course is part of the preparation for the major
Communication Studies majors: this course is part of the preparation for the major. Global Studies majors: this course can be used as part of the preparation for the major.
University Studies 10A. Ace UCLA: Critical Strategies to Achieve Undergraduate Excellence (2 units) — Imparts students with critical strategies to achieve undergraduate excellence at top-tier research institutions. Study of research university’s mission, rigors, and expectations of students, as well as its pedagogical implications. Cultivation of formal space on campus where UCLA students learn to engage collaboratively with their diverse community of scholars; to comprehend and apply effective learning strategies and theoretical s of college student development; to navigate complex structure of UCLA; to practice resilience and growth mindset; to think critically about diversity and their identity; and to be fully aware of their value to intellectual fabric of institution as contributors to innovative research and scholarship.
This course is an optional third course but space is limited to 40 students total.
During registration, University Studies will be scheduled for the evening to avoid timing conflicts. During CSI, the courses will be offered throughout the week between 9 am – 6 pm. Because space is limited in University Studies, if there are more than 40 students enrolled when you register, you will be placed on the wait list which also tracks order of registration. University Studies enrollment will be finalized during New Student Session 105.
The course will be live, meaning you must attend at the scheduled time. You will be enrolled into a placeholder section until New Student Session. The placeholder section shows as TR evenings to avoid time conflicts with other courses. This will change; the sections of this course will be offered between 9 am – 6pm.