UCLA Undergraduate Academic Advising and Enrollment Guide

College Counseling Units at UCLA

• FCP (Initial Advising): This is the immediate advising unit for students during the orientation process.
• Center for Academic Advising in the College: Specifically serves students within the College of Letters and Science.
• Academic Advancement Programs (AAP): This unit is dedicated to historically underrepresented students, which includes first-generation college students, low-income students, and others from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Honors Program: For students specifically enrolled in the Honors Program. If a student is not currently aware of being in the program, they likely are not in it yet, though admission later is possible.
• CA Athletics: Dedicated counseling for student-athletes.
• Categorization Rule: If a student does not fit into AAP, Honors, or Athletics, they default to the Center for Academic Advising.

Important Academic Terminology

• Study List: A comprehensive list of all classes a student is enrolled in for a specific term (e.g., Fall $2026$).
• Degree Audit Report (DAR): A digital tool that tracks a student's progress toward degree requirements tailored to their specific major, minor, and college. It helps students identify which requirements are fulfilled and which classes are needed.
• College Adviser: Focuses on broad degree requirements, academic journeys, and personal development.
• Department Adviser: Provides specific information regarding requirements for a particular major or minor within their academic department.
• Major: The primary field of study resulting in a Bachelor’s degree.
• Minor: An optional secondary field of study consisting of approximately $7$ to $9$ classes.
• General Education (GE): Classes intended to provide a well-rounded education by introducing ideas outside the major.
• Unit Credit: Measured in units; determines a student’s class standing (Freshman, Sophomore, etc.) based on the total quantity of units earned.
• Title Credit: Transferable coursework that does not have a direct UCLA equivalent but provides unit credit toward graduation and may satisfy general requirements.
• UCLA Course Credit: Transferable work that translates directly into specific UCLA courses.
• Grade Credit: Work that factors into the calculation of the UCLA Grade Point Average (GPA).

University and College Graduation Requirements

• University Requirements: Mandatory for all UCLA undergraduates regardless of their specific college (e.g., American History and Institutions, Entry Level Writing).
• College Requirements: Specific to the College of Letters and Science, including Writing I, Writing II, Quantitative Reasoning, Foreign Language, Diversity, and General Education.

Detailed Breakdown: American History and Institutions (AH&I)

• Fulfillment Criteria:
  • Achieving a $B$ average in one year of high school American History, Government, or Civics. (Note: Honors or AP courses are weighted, aiding in meeting the $B$ average).
  • Score of $500$ or higher on the SAT Subject Test in U.S. History.
  • Score of $3$ or higher on AP U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, or African American Studies.
  • Score of $5$ or higher on the International Baccalaureate (IB) History of the Americas Higher Level (HL) test.
  • Transfer of an approved course from another institution with a grade of $C$ or higher (or Pass).
  • Completion of an approved UCLA course with a grade of $C$ or higher (or Pass).
• Exemptions: International students on $A-1$, $A-2$, $F-1$, or $J-1$ visas may petition for an exemption, though it is not automatic.
• Overlap: AH&I can double-count toward General Education (GE) or major requirements.
• Deadline: Required by graduation.

Detailed Breakdown: Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)

• Fulfillment Criteria:
  • Score of $3$ or higher on AP English Language, English Literature, Seminar, or Research exams.
  • Score of $680$ or higher on the evidence-based reading and writing section of the SAT (specifically the pen-and-paper version, not the digital SAT).
  • Score of $30$ or higher on the ACT English Language Arts OR a combined score of $63$ or higher on the ACT English plus Reading sections.
  • Score of $5$ or higher on IB Higher Level (HL) English A exams OR a $6$ or higher on IB Standard Level (SL) English A exams.
  • Grade of $C$ or higher in a transferable college composition course ($4$ quarter units or $3$ semester units).
  • Placement into English Composition $3$ via the UC Analytical Writing Placement Process (AWPP/IPP).
• ESL Context: Students for whom English is a second language may take the IPP; placements may include concurrent enrollment in English $1$ or $2$ with English $4$.
• Deadline: Must be completed by the end of the first year (ASAP).

College-Specific Requirements: Writing, Reasoning, and Language

• Writing I:
  • Score of $4$ on AP English Language or Literature.
  • Score of $5$ on IB HL English A.
  • Grade of $C$ or higher in UCLA English Composition $3$, $3D$, $3E$, or $3SL$.
  • Deadline: End of the third quarter (first year).
• Writing II:
  • Fulfill by passing a specific "Writing II" course (indicated by a W in the course title) with a grade of $C$ or higher.
• Quantitative Reasoning:
  • Score of $620$ on SAT Math Section OR $550$ on SAT Subject Test Math Level 1 or 2.
  • Score of $26$ or higher on ACT Math.
  • Score of $3$ or higher on AP Calculus, Computer Science, or Statistics.
  • Score of $5$ or higher on IB HL Mathematics, Computer Science, or Calculus.
  • Transfer of an approved college course OR completion of an approved UCLA course with a grade of $C$ or higher.
• Foreign Language:
  • Score of $3$ or higher on a Foreign Language AP exam (Note: Latin requires a score of $4$).
  • Placement into Level $4$ or higher on a UCLA department exam (demonstrating competency through Level $3$).
  • Transfer of a third-level college foreign language course.
  • Passing the equivalent of a third-level language class with a grade of $C$ or higher (or Pass).
  • Exemptions for certain visa types ($F-1$, $J-1$) held to ESL requirements or students who attended high schools taught in a foreign language for at least $2$ years.
• Diversity:
  • Completion of an approved UCLA course with a grade of $C$ or higher.

General Education (GE) Foundations

• Structure: GEs are divided into three main "Foundations" totaling $10$ courses across $45$ units.
• 1. Foundations of Arts and Humanities ($15\,\text{units}$):
  • One course in Literary and Cultural Analysis.
  • One course in Philosophical and Linguistic Analysis.
  • One course in Visual and Performing Arts Analysis and Practice.
• 2. Foundations of Society and Culture ($15\,\text{units}$):
  • One course in Social Analysis.
  • One course in Historical Analysis.
  • One additional course from either Social or Historical Analysis.
• 3. Foundations of Scientific Inquiry:
  • Two courses from Physical Science.
  • Two courses from Life Science.
  • Requirement: One of the four science courses must be worth at least $5\,\text{units}$.
• Grading: Must be completed with a grade of $D-$ or higher if taken for a letter grade, or a Pass ($C$ or higher).

Academic Policies and Grading

• Course Numbering:
  • Lower Division: $1-99$.
  • Upper Division: $100-199$.
  • Graduate: $200+$.
• Major Structure: Includes "Preparation for the Major" (lower division) and "Upper Division" courses. A minimum $2.0$ GPA is required.
• Time to Degree: First-year students must graduate by the end of the Spring or Summer following their fourth year.
• Minimum Units for Graduation: $180\,\text{units}$.
• Concurrent Enrollment: Prohibited (cannot be enrolled at UCLA and another institution during the same regular term).
• Deadlines:
  • Add classes: Until Friday of Week $3$ (no fee/notation).
  • Drop classes (non-impacted): Until Friday of Week $4$ (no fee/notation). Later drops incur a $\$50$ fee and a transcript notation.
  • Drop classes (impacted): Must drop by Friday of Week $2$.
• Academic Notice/Probation: Occurs if GPA falls between $1.5$ and $2.0$. Below $1.5$ may lead to dismissal.
• Residency: $35$ of the last $45\,\text{units}$ must be taken at UCLA. At least $24$ upper-division units in the major must be completed in residence.

Special Academic Programs: Clusters, Fiat Lux, and University Studies

• Freshman Clusters:
  • Year-long, interdisciplinary classes ($3$ quarters) for first-years only.
  • Taught for a letter grade.
  • Completion of the full year satisfies $4$ GEs and Writing II (if Spring grade is $C$ or higher).
  • Provides Honors credit.
• Fiat Lux:
  • $1$-unit, mandatory Pass/No Pass seminars restricted to first-years.
  • Small class sizes (max $20$) focused on niche topics like "Dinosaurs."
• University Studies:
  • $2$-unit, mandatory Pass/No Pass courses open to everyone.

Course Enrollment Procedures and MyUCLA Mechanics

• The Orientation Rule: Students are limited to enrolling in only $3$ classes at orientation ($4$ if including a Fiat Lux or University Studies).
• MyUCLA Navigation:
  • Class Plan: A tool to build hypothetical schedules.
  • Subject Area Search: Search by department (e.g., Life Sci for LS $7A$).
  • Lecture vs. Discussion: Enrolling in the Discussion section automatically enrolls the student in the associated Lecture.
  • Alternates: Students are advised to have at least $6$ alternates per class.
  • The "Orange Dorito of Death": An orange or yellow triangle icon indicating specific enrollment restrictions or notes that must be read.
  • PTE (Permission to Enroll): A code requested from professors if a class is full; during orientation, if a PTE is prompted, students should consider the class full and move to an alternate.
• Enrollment Appointments: Occur in two phases (Pass $1$ and Pass $2$). Pass $1$ typically allows enrollment in roughly two classes ($10\,\text{units}$).

Administrative Tools and Privacy (FERPA)

• FERPA: Federal law protecting student academic privacy. Public info includes name and degree; protected info includes grades, GPA, and financials.
• Third-Party Access: Optional permission for parents to view MyUCLA info.
• BruinBill: The portal for housing, tuition, and fee payments.
• Holds: Located under the "Academics" tab; can prevent enrollment if not resolved.
• Message Center: Portal for communicating with counseling units and departments.

Questions & Discussion

• Question (CalGetsi): A student asked about CalGetsi and its role.
  • Response: CalGetsi, IGETC, and UC Reciprocity are transfer agreements, typically for students coming from community colleges. While IGETC/Reciprocity can broadly satisfy GE requirements, CalGetsi helps but may not immediately fulfill the foreign language requirement without further checks.
• Question (Discussion Timing): Should a student take a discussion before or after a lecture?
  • Response: It is personal preference. Taking it after a lecture allows building on presented information, but taking it before can prepare one for the lecture concept. Neither is incorrect.
• Question (GPA Weight for AH&I): Does AH&I in high school have to be AP?
  • Response: No, a standard high school course qualifies as long as the student maintains a $B$ average.