UCLA Extension is the continuing learning branch of UCLA which offer a wide range of courses for part-time study; you might have seen a few of their buildings in Westwood. I found out that you can go to the first lecture of ANY of the classes they offer for FREE!!
Classes began this Monday and I've already taken three classes: acrylic painting for beginners, elements of design, and intro to art history. Here is the
monochromatic "egg painting" I did in Monday night's class, it's got
potential, right? :)Most of the classes consists of 12 meetings per quarter condensed into 3-hour lectures which means the first class is not just your standard boring discussion of the syllabus but actually dives right into the subject which is neat, and a great opportunity for anyone wanting to try out a class before they commit. It's also pretty cool to meet and listen to all these different professors, their stories/backgrounds, and the way they teach. And the best thing about all this? Because it's not something you have to do, going to school is actually fun! ;p
If you're like me and prefer to read through a print catalogue (course outlines) and highlight the ones you're interested in, you can pick one up at any of their locations. Or you can look at the course descriptions on the website or download the e-catalogue online. Here's the fine print on their official policy for "Visitors":
You may attend, without charge, the first scheduled class in a course of 6 or more meetings -- unless otherwise stated and if space/enrollment limitations permit. Visitors are not permitted at single-admission, weekend, or online courses.You're supposed to call them (310) 825-9971 to check if a course has closed (meaning full) before you visit, but I was also told that checking the status of the course online would suffice. Locations/times don't tend to change but I'd say the website would be more accurate than the print catalogue. Also, even if a course is full, I would still go and check it out because there are almost always no-show's for the first class. Sit in the back if you're feeling self-conscious (but then it might be extra awkward when you have to shout to explain that you're just visiting) or get there early and ask the prof if it would be okay if you sat in.
There were also a number of very cool classes where visitors were not allowed. We don't have the extra budget for me to take these classes out of pure interest, but if you do, I would totally recommend signing up! Here are a few that caught my eye:
- Exploring the Los Angeles Art Scene: A 6-Month Program
- Fashion Forward: Dress and Style throughout the Centuries
- Vintage I, or, An Introduction to Wine
- Sneak Preview: Contemporary Films & Filmmakers
On the other hand, the undergrad courses on the main UCLA campus, especially the lower level ones, tend to be enormous and often with many absences--I must admit I skipped out on my fair share of classes back in undergrad--so you can happily sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Here, again, is the official policy on auditing from the Registrar:
With the consent of the instructor, registered students and interested individuals are permitted to audit classes. Arrangements are made directly with the faculty member under any rules the faculty member may establish, and those auditing ordinarily do not participate in discussions, examinations, or written papers. Audited classes are not recorded on the Study List or on transcripts for regular session courses.The 2012-2013 academic calendar will help you figure out when terms begin and end. Then, look through the course catalogue (or download the PDF version) to see the descriptions of all the courses available. Finally, check out the Schedule of Classes to see details on time/location the course is held and go to class! (Try not to be late, it's rude and disruptive, especially for someone who's not even paying.)
Happy Back to School! :)
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