Courses

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Courses

Students in the Summer Start program have access to a wide variety of UC Davis courses to help gain a competitive edge on their college education. Participants take 8 to 10 units, which typically corresponds to 3 to 4 courses. Summer Start students have access to unique courses not offered in the academic year and with smaller instructor-to-student ratios.

Summer course registration takes place in June, making it possible to complete placement exams in May and have results before registration. Summer Start participants build a summer course schedule from the options below.

Required Course

Academic Skills: Navigating the Research Institution (2 units)

All students in the program take this required orientation course. Learn what professors expect, master essential skills to navigate the UC Davis system, and discover resources to help you succeed.

Entry Level Writing Requirement Course Series

All University of California students are required to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) within a certain period of time. Multilingual students who have not satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement may be required to take the online English Language Placement Exam (ELPE) in May. Complete the English Language Testing Questionnaire on MyAdmissions to determine whether you need to take the ELPE. Your ELPE score will determine which of the courses listed below to register for during your first quarter on campus.

UWP 21 - Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing (4 units)

Students who receive a score of less than 70 on the English Language Placement Exam (ELPE) are placed into UWP 21. UWP 21 is limited to 18 students per section and is taught by highly experienced instructors who specialize in working with the writing of multilingual students. This course focuses on developing critical thinking and academic reading and writing skills necessary to analyze information. Students gain an awareness of their strengths and needs for writing clearly in academic English. If students are placed into UWP 21, they must satisfy the ELWR by the end of Winter quarter, second year.

UWP 22 - Intermediate Academic Reading and Writing (4 units)

Students who pass UWP 21 with a C- or higher OR receive a score of 70-79 on the English Language Placement Exam (ELPE) are placed into UWP 22. UWP 22 is limited to 18 students per section and is taught by highly experienced instructors who specialize in working with the writing of multilingual students. This course helps students develop reading and writing strategies to understand and work with sources across genres. Students practice writing in various contexts with increasing complexity and clarity. If students are placed into UWP 22, they must satisfy ELWR by the end of Fall quarter, second year.

UWP 7m - Entry Level Writing: Practices in College Reading & Writing for Multilingual Writers (4 units)

Development of multilingual writers' composition and English language skills across genres and disciplines. Integrates college-level reading, critical thinking, and written communication, using texts from across the curriculum. Students will be placed in this course based on their ELPE score. Students must take the course for a letter grade and receive a C or higher to fulfill ELWR. P/NP grade mode is not permitted if the course will be used for satisfaction of the ELWR.

Oral English Course

UWP 20: Oral English (3 units)

Take advantage of this summer-only offering to strengthen oral English skills. Not available in the academic year. Intensive practice in oral English for advanced ESL students. Students will learn to identify and modify features of their pronunciation that limit their ability to communicate clearly. Students will also learn and practice strategies for effective participation and leadership in academic tasks.  (P/NP grading only)

Math Course Series

MAT 12: Pre-Calculus (3 units)

Prerequisite: two years of high school algebra, plane geometry, plane trigonometry; and obtaining required score on the Precalculus Diagnostic Examination. Topics selected for their use in calculus, including functions and their graphs, slope, zeroes of polynomials, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, sketching surfaces and solids. 

MAT 16A: Short Calculus (3 units)

Limits; differentiation of algebraic functions; analytic geometry; applications, in particular to maxima and minima problems. Prerequisite: two years of high school algebra, plane geometry, plane trigonometry, and satisfying the Mathematics Placement Requirement. Note: Math 16A may count toward your mathematics requirements. Consult your college major adviser for specific advice.

MAT 21A: Calculus (4 units)

Functions, limits, continuity. Slope and derivative. Differentiation of algebraic and transcendental functions. Applications to motion, natural growth, graphing, extrema of a function. Differentials. L’Hopital’s rule, and satisfying the Mathematics Placement Requirement.

First Year Seminars

First Year Seminars are for-credit courses (1-2 units), offered for letter or pass/no pass grading, limited to 19 students or less, and taught by faculty committed to student success. 

To Be Announced!

General Education Courses

ECH 1: Design of Coffee (3 units)

ECH 1, The Design of Coffee, is intended to serve as a non-mathematical introduction to how engineers approach and solve problems, as illustrated by the process of roasting and brewing coffee. Students will learn the principles and practice of brewing a truly excellent cup of coffee while earning course credit and gaining an introduction to chemical engineering.

FST 10: Food, Folklore and Health (3 units)

Ancient and modern food folklore in relation to health and well-being. Food safety, organic food, herbalism, food preservation and nutritional enhancement. GE Credit: Science and Engineering or Social Sciences. Limited space available.

More courses to be announced soon!