Undergraduate Student Initiated Education (USIE)
Empowering Students to Facilitate, Learn, and Lead
Undergraduate Student Initiated Education (USIE) empowers juniors and seniors to design and lead lower-division seminars for their peers under faculty mentorship. Founded in 2005-06 through student initiative, USIE allows undergraduates to shape academic inquiry and foster peer-driven learning at UCLA.
As of Spring 2024, over 140 student facilitators have led seminars enrolling more than 3,100 undergraduates, creating a dynamic space for intellectual exploration and collaborative discovery.
Through the independent study courses and pedagogy seminars, Student Facilitators develop a formal syllabus for their Spring seminars for review and approval by the USIE Faculty-Student Advisory Committee and the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC).
Why USIE?Curriculum & RequirementsEligibility & ApplicationPrevious USIE SeminarsFAQFaculty Advisory CommitteeContact
Why USIE?
Student Driven Experience
USIE is one of the only programs that allows undergraduates to design and facilitate their own courses
Faculty Mentorship
Every student facilitator works closely with a faculty Mentor to ensure academic quality and rigor
Interdisciplinary Learning
Students create seminars that explore diverse and innovative topics, often ones that are in line with today’s most current issues and topics
Program Requirements
Enrollment into USIE is a year-long commitment. Applications are due in Spring, for completion in the following year.
Year Overview
SPRING (application)
Applicants work with their faculty mentors to select a topic and develop a course proposal. Student applications are reviewed by the Faculty-Student Advisory Committee. Selection decisions are relayed to students by the end of the Spring Quarter.
Fall & Winter
Working closely with their pedagogy seminar instructors and faculty mentors, students complete a syllabus development seminar (Fall) to create a formal syllabus and a pedagogy seminar (Winter) to develop lesson plans and facilitation skills.
Spring
Facilitators offer their spring USIE seminars under the close supervision of their faculty mentor.
Required Coursework
Fall
Pedagogy Seminar (Honors 101E, 1 unit)
Contract Course (188 SA, 1 unit)
Winter
Pedagogy Seminar (Honors 101E, 1 unit)
Contract Course (188 SB, 1 unit)
Spring
Contract Course (188SC, 2 units)
Total Units: 6
Eligibility & Application
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria for consideration into USIE:
- At least 90 units completed by the end of Spring quarter 2025;
- Good academic standing;
- Prepared to enroll in a two-quarter pedagogy seminar:
- Honors Collegium 101E (1 unit, P/NP) during Fall
- Honors Collegium 101E (1 unit, P/NP) during Winter
- Prepared to enroll in a three-quarter contract course: [Faculty Mentor’s Dept] 188SA for Fall (1 unit, letter grade)
- [Faculty Mentor’s Dept] 188SB for Winter (1 unit, letter grade)
- [Faculty Mentor’s Dept] 188SC for Spring (2 unit, letter grade)
- Applicants seeking to co-facilitate a seminar must speak with the USIE Coordinator prior to submitting their application. Please request a meeting via email at usie@college.ucla.edu.
Application
Application Deadline: Monday, April 21, 2025, by 5:00 PM PST
Full Application Packet (Checklists & Forms)
Download Full USIE Application Packet
Required Forms & Documents (if needed separately)
Student Application Form
Faculty Mentor Agreement Form (Must be completed by faculty sponsor and emailed separately)
Resume
Submission Instructions
Upload all required documents to the Box link
Important: Your faculty sponsor must email the signed Faculty Sponsor Agreement Form directly to Kara Brown, at usie@college.ucla.edu
Preparation Recommendations
Select the Right Faculty Mentor
- Choose a faculty mentor with expertise in your seminar topic or a closely related field.
- Reach out at least 2–4 weeks before the application deadline—developing a strong syllabus takes time
Design a Unique Seminar
- Avoid duplicating existing UCLA courses—USIE seminars should explore new, interdisciplinary, or emerging topics
- Consider whether your topic will generate student interest and encourage active discussion.
Refine Your Course Scope
- Keep the topic focused—broad subjects can create workloads too large for a one-unit seminar
- Work closely with your faculty mentor to adjust scope, readings, and assignments for a manageable course load.
Pro Tip: Look at past USIE seminars for inspiration!
More questions? Check out the informational USIE workshop.
Who is eligible to be a USIE student facilitator?
Applicants must have 90+ units upon completion of the current Spring quarter, and be in good academic standing.
Can a USIE seminar be faciliated by more than one student facilitator?
The USIE program is ideally designed for a single student to create and facilitate his/her own spring seminar. While co-facilitation is not encouraged, those interested will have to complete the following:
- Schedule a meeting with the USIE coordinator (Kara Brown)
- Provide a statement that justifies why yo wish to co-facilitate an how it will enhance your spring seminar
- Provide a letter of support from your faculty mentor in which the faculty mentor agrees to mentor both facilitators and provide further support
- Complete and submit separate USIE applications
How many times can I facilitate a USIE seminar?
Students may only offer a USIE seminar once during their undergraduate career.
Faculty Advisory Committee
Jessica Lynch
Professor
Society & Genetics
Christopher Mott
Lecturer, USIE Pedagogy Instructor
English
Hannah Whang-Sayson
Assistant Director of Data Analytics, USIE Pedagogy Instructor
Teaching and Learning Center
Jennifer Lindhom, ex-oficio
Director, Honors Programs
Honors Programs
Meet the USIE Coordinator
Kara Brown is responsible for the administration of the USIE. Contact Kara at honorscollegium@college.ucla.edu for questions or concerns.
