International Summer Program (ISP)
UCI DCE International Summer Program allows motivated domestic and international students over the age of 18 to meet and study at a Top 10 public university in small classes focused on Project- and Skill- Based Learning. Students enroll in 1-3 concurrent courses over the course of 2-, 4-, 6-, or 8-week sessions. Multiple program intakes and flexible schedules allow for culturally diverse classrooms while individual course prerequisites ensure an appropriate level of instruction for all students.
Additionally, students will have the opportunity to attend a variety of special presentations, tours, advising sessions, and social events over the course their program, interacting with students from various summer programs and courses. UCI dormitory housing and programming will also be available. Students will build practical skills, gain invaluable experience, and become better prepared to attend a competitive university or start a career.
Course content and schedules are subject to change at the University’s discretion. All courses taught in English and open to international and domestic students. Courses with less than 15 students enrolled may be cancelled. Courses are graded on an A-F scale (letter grades).
Program Benefits
- Enhance your resume or university applications by taking undergraduate-level courses taught by UCI faculty or field experts.
- Get involved with project-based learning in some of UCI’s strongest fields of study: computer science, engineering, business, humanities, and more.
- Develop academic writing, critical thinking, presentation, and career-ready
- Learn about UCI and how to enhance your academic and professional
Eligibility and Requirements
- All courses are open to students aged 18 and older
- Domestic students aged 15 and older are eligible to attend with parental consent
- Groups of international students under 18 may attend if accompanied by group leader/teacher and advanced DCE approval. Additional fees may be applied to international groups with students under the age of 18.
- International students MUST take at least one of the following courses:
- Speaking & Listening; or
- Advanced Writing Composition
- Students MUST meet the individual course prerequisites (below).
- F-1 visas are required for non-immigrant students who:
- Enroll in 18 or more hours per week of Academic English courses; and/or
- Enroll in any 400-level academic course
- NOTE: I-20s will only be issued for lengths of study 4-weeks or greater
- B-2 visas or ESTA waivers are required for non-immigrant students who:
- Enroll in less than 4-weeks of study;
- Enroll in less than 18 hours per week of Academic English courses; and/or
- Do NOT enroll in any 400-level academic course.
Enrollment Options
Students may choose to enroll in a program package or individual courses.
- Program packages are offered in 2- or 4-week sessions between July 22 and September 13, 2024.
- Individual courses are offered in 2-, 4-, 6- or 8-week sessions between July 22 and September 13, 2024.
Instructors
Read the biographies of selected instructors you will be learning from.
International Summer Program Overview
Students may choose to enroll in a program package or individual courses. See Enrollment Options section below for more information.
Program Packages
Package Fee: $3,080
Includes: All application and student services fees, tuition for two courses, info session & guest lectures, 14 nights in shared UCI dorm room, and three meals per day
Not included (but not limited to): Airfare and weekend activities
Optional Fees:
- $150 Roundtrip Airport Transfer
- $100 UCI Health Insurance
Course Options:
2-Week Academic Session A: July 22 – August 2, 2024
- Academic Writing Composition (required); and
- JavaScript Programming
2-Week Academic Session B: August 5 – August 16, 2024
- Academic Writing Composition (required); and
- Oneof the following:
- Intro to Analyzing Data
- Leadership & Project Management
Note: This part-time program is not eligible for the Form I-20.
Package Fee: $1,375
Includes: All application and student services fees, tuition for two courses, info session & guest lectures, and 8 hours of conversation partner meetings
Not included (but not limited to): Airfare, housing, meals, transportation to campus, weekend activities
Optional Fees: $150 Roundtrip Airport Transfer
$100 UCI Health Insurance
Course Options:
2-Week ESL Session A: August 5 – 16, 2024
- Speaking & Listening (required); and
- One of the following:
- Leadership & Project Management
- American Culture
- Business Communications
- ESL for Pharmacy & Biology
2-Week ESL Session B: August 19 – 30, 2024
- Speaking & Listening (required); and
- One of the following:
- Leadership & Project Management
- American Culture
- Business Communications
2-Week ESL Session C: September 3 – 13, 2024
- Speaking & Listening (required); and
- One of the following:
- American Culture
- Business Communications
Note: This part-time program is not eligible for the Form I-20.
Package Fee: $5,600
Includes: All application and student services fees, tuition for two courses, info session & guest lectures, 28 nights in shared UCI dorm room, and three meals per day
Not included (but not limited to): Airfare and weekend activities
Optional Fees:
- $150 Roundtrip Airport Transfer
- $200 UCI Health Insurance
Course Options:
4-Week Academic Session: July 22 – August 16, 2024
- Academic Writing Composition (required); and
- One of the following:
- Healthcare Management
- International Finance, Trade, and Supply Chain
- Expressive Design with IoT Devices and Robots
- Intro to AI and Machine Learning
- Intro to U.S. Law: Contracts
Package Fee: $2,550
Includes: all application and student services fees, tuition for two courses, info session & guest lectures, and 16 hours of conversation partner meetings
Not included (but not limited to): Airfare, housing, meals, transportation to campus, weekend activities
Optional Fees:
- $150 Roundtrip Airport Transfer
- $200 UCI Health Insurance
Course Options:
4-Week Academic Session: August 5 – 30, 2024
- Speaking & Listening (required); and
- One of the following:
- Leadership & Project Management
- American Culture
- Business Communications
Note: This part-time program is not eligible for the Form I-20.
Individual Course Fees
| Application Fee | $200 (non-refundable, one-time fee) |
| Student Services Fee | $80 per 2-week session |
| Tuition: 1 & 1.5-unit courses | $550 per course |
| Tuition: 2-unit courses | $800 per course |
| Tuition: 2.5 & 3-unit courses | $1,200 per course |
| Early Bird Discount | 15% tuition discount applied to applications received prior to April 1, 2024 |
| Late Fee | 10% of tuition fees will be added to applications received after June 21, 2024 (non-refundable) |
| UCI Housing Deposit | $400 (non-refundable, due with application, applied to total housing balance) |
| UCI Dormitory Housing | $1,700 per 2-week session (Includes shared room and three meals a day) |
| Airport Transfer | $75 (one-way, LAX-UCI) |
| UCI Health Insurance | $100 per 2-week session |
Course Schedule
Courses that are offered multiple times will not repeat curriculum, allowing students to continue a course, such as Speaking & Listening, for up to 8 weeks. Various site visits (e.g. campus labs, facilities, and academic departments), guest lectures, and cultural activities will be offered each two-week session to all students at no additional cost to students.
- JavaScript Programming* (1.5 units)
- Advanced Writing Composition** (2 units)
- Business Communication** (1.5 units)
- American Culture** (1.5 units)
- Speaking & Listening** (1.5 units)
- Intro to U.S. Law: Contracts* (2.5 units)
- International Finance, Trade, and Supply Chain* (2 units)
- Intro to Analyzing Data* (3 units)
- Advanced Writing Composition** (2 units)
- Speaking & Listening** (1.5 units)
- Advanced Writing Composition** (2 units)
- Leadership & Project Management (1 unit)
- ESL for Pharmacy & Biology** (1.5 units)
- Intro to Analyzing Data (1.5 units)
- Business Communication** (1.5 units)
- American Culture** (1.5 units)
- Speaking & Listening** (1.5 units)
- Leadership & Project Management (1 unit)
- Advanced Writing Composition** (2 units)
- Business Communication** (1.5 units)
- American Culture** (1.5 units)
- Speaking & Listening** (1.5 units)
- Business Communication** (1.5 units)
- American Culture** (1.5 units)
- Speaking & Listening** (1.5 units)
* 400-level course. Requires F-1 visa for non-immigrant students.
** Academic English course. Requires F-1 visa if non-immigrant students enroll in 18 or more hours per week.
Required courses in bold.
Courses with less than 15 students enrolled may be cancelled.
| REQUIRED COURSES (International students MUST take one) | ||
| Course Title | Units/Hours | Prerequisite |
| Advanced Writing Composition** | 2 units / 20 hours | iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent |
| Speaking & Listening (ESL) – Levels A-E** | 1.5 units / 3.5 hours | none |
| OPTIONAL COURSES | ||
| Course Title | Units/Hours | Prerequisite |
| American Culture (ESL) – Levels A-E** | 1.5 units / 13.5 hours | none |
| Business Communication** | 1.5 units / 13.5 hours | iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent |
| ESL for Pharmacy & Biology** | 1.5 units / 13.5 hours | none |
| International Finance, Trade, and Supply Chain* | 2 units / 20 hours | iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent |
| Intro to Analyzing Data | 1.5 units / 15 hours | iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent |
| Intro to Machine Learning & AI* | 3 units / 30 hours | I&C SCI X426.59 Intermediate Python or equivalent experience; iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent |
| Intro to U.S. Law: Contracts* | 2.5 units / 24 hours | Prior coursework in law; iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent |
| JavaScript Programming* | 1.5 units / 15 hours | Basic HTML knowledge; iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent |
| Leadership & Project Management | 1 unit / 10 hours | iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent |
* 400-level course. Requires F-1 visa for non-immigrant students.
** Academic English course. Requires F-1 visa if non-immigrant students enroll in 18 or more hours per week.
Course Descriptions
International students MUST take either Speaking & Listening or Academic Writing Composition. All other courses are optional
This course is offered at varying levels of English proficiency to help students improve their speaking and listening skills while learning about American culture. Students will learn and practice language appropriate for common everyday situations. The instructional methods used in the class are interactive and communicative, and students will have many chances to speak and participate during class.
Instructor: various
Recommended for: students interested in improving general English language skills
Prerequisites: none
Dates: July 22 – August 2, August 5 – 16, August 19 – 30, & September 3 – 13.
NOTE: New content will be covered in each session.
Schedule: M-F, daily meetings will be held sometime 9am-12pm
Total Units: 1.5 (13.5 hours)
The goal of this course is to prepare advanced and native English speakers for academic writing at the collegiate level, particularly in relation to their chosen fields of study. Students will learn to develop and express ideas effectively for a variety of purposes (expository, analytic, and argumentative), audiences, and occasions. Students will also study and apply various rhetorical strategies used in different academic and professional disciplines. Students will be expected to identify the writing process, evaluate and use various types of evidence, identify and use effective prose, engage with others’ ideas, and properly cite sources.
Instructor: Linda Gruen, Ph.D.
Recommended for: students interested in pursuing a degree in the U.S. who do not yet meet undergraduate English proficiency requirements
Prerequisites: iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent
Dates: July 22 – August 2, August 5 – 16, August 19 – 30
NOTE: New content will be covered in each session.
Schedule: M-F, daily meetings will be held sometime 9am-12pm
Total Units: 2 (20 hours)
This course is offered at varying levels of English proficiency to help students learn about and understand selected topics in the culture of the US and Southern California and the principles behind them. Students will create a final project, such as a poster, presentation, skit, or video, to compare an aspect of American culture, such as a custom, holiday, or tradition, with their own culture.
Instructor: various
Recommended for: students interested in improving general English language skills
Prerequisites: none
Dates: July 22 – August 2, August 5 – 16, August 19 – 30, & September 3 – 13.
NOTE: New content will be covered in each session.
Schedule: M-F, daily meetings will be held sometime 9am-12pm
Total Units: 1.5 (13.5 hours)
This course is designed to maximize oral participation and listening comprehension in a business context. Students will explore business topics and news while focusing on English listening comprehension and oral communication skills. Students experience authentic business language through group role-plays, discussions, and listening to current news and speeches by key business leaders.
Instructor: various
Recommended for: students interested in improving general business and career-related English language skills
Prerequisites: iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent
Dates: July 22 – August 2, August 5 – 16, August 19 – 30, & September 3 – 13.
NOTE: New content will be covered in each session.
Schedule: M-F, daily meetings will be held sometime 9am-12pm
Total Units: 1.5 (13.5 hours)
The goal of this course is to help intermediate-level students improve their ability to use English in discussing and working with several topics related to pharmacy and biology, such as medical equipment and procedures, case studies, and life science research. They will learn and use new vocabulary related to the topics covered and practice describing causes and effects involved in those topics.
Instructor: various
Recommended for: students interested in improving general business and career-related English language skills
Prerequisites: none
Dates: August 5-16
Schedule: M-F, daily meetings will be held sometime 9am-12pm
Total Units: 1.5 (13.5 hours)
Whether students plan to work for a global corporation or local business, it is vital to understand the distribution and financial systems of their target markets. In this course, students will discover the impact of the international financial markets in today’s global economy and learn how and why international companies use the four financial markets – stock, bond, foreign exchange, and money – to manage their international financial operations. In addition, students will explore the supply chain including physical transportation, infrastructure, inventory and packaging, customs privileged facilities, developing efficient freight pricings, the role of service providers, and marine cargo insurance.
Instructor: Bradley Holt, M.P.I.A.
Recommended for: students interested in international business
Prerequisites: iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent
Schedule: TBD – classes will be held sometime M-F, 9am-6pm
Total Units: 2 (20 hours)
Learn how to turn data into information for business goals. This introductory analytics course starts with an overview of data analytics to introduce the different types of data and fundamental concepts behind collecting, storing, and analyzing data.
Instructor: Hasan Hboubati, M.S.
Recommended for: students interested in pursuing a degree in business or data analytics
Prerequisites: iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent
Schedule: TBD – classes will be held sometime M-F, 09:00 – 18:00
Total Units: 1.5 (15 hours)
This course introduces concepts and topics essential to AI and Machine Learning. Starting with a foundational understanding of machine learning models such as predictive analytics algorithms, logistic regression, artificial neural networks, and introductory natural language processing, students will also learn major concepts on the design, architecture, and applications of networks. The course will focus on practical knowledge and skills through practice exercises and project work designed to teach students how to implement machine learning algorithms using real-world examples. It is also the first course in the Machine and Deep Learning specialized studies certificate.
Instructor: Arin Ghazarian, Ph.D.
Recommended for: students who have completed coursework in Python
Prerequisites: I&C SCI X426.59 Intermediate Python or equivalent experience; iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent
Schedule: TBD – classes will be held sometime M-F, 9am-6pm
Total Units: 3 (30 hours)
This course introduces international students to the structure and function of U.S. legal institutions and the common law system of adjudication, in which the law is drawn from judicial decisions (case law) rather than statutes or the Constitution. To study legal reasoning through case law, we will focus on the common law of contracts. In the classroom, we will practice the Socratic Method to promote active learning and critical thinking: through shared dialogues, students will participate in discussions and engage in common law reasoning. Students will also complete short written assignments throughout the course to practice legal analysis and writing.
Instructor: Maryam Meechka Zomorodian, J.D., Ph.D.
Recommended for: Students interested pursuing a law degree
Prerequisites: Prior coursework in law; iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent
Schedule: TBD – classes will be held sometime M-F, 9am-6pm
Total Units: 2.5 (24 hours)
Learn how to make web pages more exciting and compelling by adding interactive features that react to externally-driven events. This introductory level course covers the fundamental concepts needed to write simple scripts in JavaScript and prepares students for further study in web programming. Students will learn about event handling and how to perform in-browser manipulation of the Document Object Model (DOM).
Instructor: Christian Hur, M.S.
Recommended for: Students interested in acquiring marketable JavaScript skills
Prerequisites: Experience with HTML; iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent
Schedule: TBD – classes will be held sometime M-F, 9am-6pm
Total Units: 1.5 (15 hours)
Leading successful teams is a goal that every project leader can attain by understanding team dynamics, leadership styles, organizational culture, and psychological needs. This course will provide a holistic view of teambuilding and introduce the foundation of behaviors and skills needed to deliver efficacious happy high-performance teamwork.
Instructor: Karen Nguyen, M.S.
Recommended for: students interested in building inter-disciplinary leadership skills
Prerequisites: iBT TOEFL 60 or equivalent
Schedule: TBD – classes will be held sometime M-F, 9am-6pm
Total Units: 1 (10 hours)