Prep Program
Prep is designed to help students build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the demanding environment of graduate study. The program offers a structured review of key classroom and professional competencies, along with insight into the academic expectations and community at the school.
Students may participate in a combination of skill-building academic sessions and career development programming throughout the summer. Participation levels and instructional hours vary depending on individual Prep requirements. Students may also choose to engage in additional components most relevant to their preparation needs. Prep is ideal for anyone who wants to be up to speed on the first day of classes and positioned for academic and professional success.
Updated: Feb. 6, 2026
Schedule subject to change. Most Prep programming will be offered fully in person. Math Camp will be held virtually, while all other sessions will take place on campus.
Registration
Some students who do not yet have sufficient academic or professional preparation for a particular area of study are conditionally admitted to their degree program and required to complete specific Prep session(s) as part of their admission. Admissions will notify admitted students of any required Prep components via email.
All Students (except those in the BA-MIA and BA-MPP joint degree programs) must register for Prep through GPS Admissions. Please contact the Admissions team if you need assistance.
Joint Degree Program Students Only (BA-MIA and BA-MPP): You will be contacted directly regarding your Prep requirements. If you have questions about your requirements, please contact gps-studentaffairs@ucsd.edu.
Registration Fees
GLI Courses
GLI ESL Summer Session I – $1,500
GLI ESL Summer Session II – $1,500
Prep Courses
MIA/MPP/MCEPA Students – $800
Analytical Writing
Quantitative Methods and Math Camp ("One Class" for fee consideration)
Economics and Math Camp ("One Class" for fee consideration)
Students taking more than one prep course are offered the following sliding scale (excluding ESL):
One Class – $800
Two Classes – $1,400 (Discount of $200)
Three Classes – $2,000 (Discount of $400)
If you need to request a payment deferral for your Prep fees, please contact GPS Admissions, gps-apply@ucsd.edu.
Orientation
Aug. 24, 2026 – Prep Students Only (In Person Only)
Sep. 21, 2026 – All Incoming Students (In Person Only)
Virtual Mandatory Orientation
International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) – International Students Only (Date TBD)
Graduate Education & Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) – All Students (Date TBD)
Admitted students are required to attend all new student orientations. These sessions offer academic advising, opportunities to meet classmates and faculty, and key information from campus partners to help you maximize your graduate experience.
Analytical Writing (AW)
MCEPA, MIA and MPP only:
Session Dates: Aug. 24 – Sep. 18
Lecture: Time TBD
Location: TBD (in person, on campus)
Course Material: None required
MAS-IA only:
Session Dates: TBD
Lecture: Time TBD
Location: TBD (in person, on campus)
Course Material: TBD
These courses are designed to prepare you for the kind of analytical writing expected at GPS. Analytical writing involves developing a clear argument and supporting it with factual evidence drawn from multiple sources.
Through these sessions, you will strengthen your ability to:
- Read critically and engage thoughtfully with texts;
- Think analytically;
- Write clear, well-structured arguments;
- Select and use evidence effectively;
- Apply proper citation form and responsibly use the intellectual property of others
Math Camp
Mandatory Prerequisite for Quantitative Methods (QM) and Microeconomics (Econ)
Session Dates: Aug. 3 – Aug. 14 (virtual, prior to in-person Prep)
Lecture: Time TBD
TA Session: Time TBD
Location: Remote/Virtual
Course Material: None required
Math Camp reviews the algebraic and calculus concepts used in the core courses. This course is required for students registered for the QM and/or Econ components. Topics include:
- Linear and nonlinear equations
- Functions
- Exponential and logarithmic operations
- Differential calculus
- Problem-solving, optimization and constrained optimization
Quantitative Methods (QM), including Math Camp
|
*Math Camp must be taken before Quantitative Methods (QM) |
Session Dates: Aug. 24 – Sep. 18
Lecture: Time TBD
TA Session: Time TBD
Location: TBD (in person, on campus)
Course Material: "Modern Business Statistics with Microsoft Excel" (6th Edition) by Anderson, Sweeney and Williams [ISBN: 9781337115186]
The QM component provides students with the set of quantitative skills required for core courses. Topics include:
- Exploratory Data Analysis
- Introduction to Probability
- Introduction to Distributions
Economics (ECON), including Math Camp
|
Math Camp must be taken before Microeconomics (Econ) |
Session Dates: Aug. 24 – Sep. 18
Lecture: Time TBD
TA Session: Time TBD
Location: TBD (in person, on campus)
Course Material: “Managerial Economics" (8th Edition) by William Samuelson [ISBN: 9781119554912]
The Econ component prepares students for core economic and management courses. The course builds on the basic mathematical tools acquired in the first week of the QM component and provides students with a set of useful tools and concepts for economics and finance. Topics include:
- Comparative advantage and specialization
- Demand: utility, individual vs. market demand and consumer surplus
- Supply: profit maximization and producer surplus
- Elasticity: price, income and cross-price
- Maximization: using calculus and graphs
- Market structure: perfect competition, monopoly and oligopoly
- Expected value and net present valuation
Career Orientation Program
The Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC) welcomes you to GPS! Please read the information below carefully and check back for important required dates to add to your calendar. It is important that we work with you before the academic year begins, as many internship opportunities - particularly with large consulting firms and other major employers - have early fall application deadlines.
For students participating in the summer Prep program, CPDC has designed a series of sessions to provide a strong foundation for managing your career proactively. Whether you are entering graduate school with limited professional experience or as a seasoned professional, these sessions will help you take full advantage of the opportunities available at GPS.
You are making a significant investment in your future by embarking upon an intensive master’s degree program, and our goal is to help you maximize the return on that investment. Career Orientation sessions will include:
- An overview of CPDC and UC San Diego Career Center resources, programming, employer engagement and recruiting timelines
- Alumni panels and career insights from GPS graduates
- One-on-one and small group resume reviews and coaching sessions
Check back soon for the required CPDC programming dates and full calendar of offerings.
Non-Prep or enrolled in ESL courses during Prep
If you are not required to attend Prep or enrolled in ESL courses, you will be given the option to participate in an alternative Career Orientation. However, if you are in town, please join us for Career Orientation and meet your classmates in advance. An email with more information will be sent out in June/July.
MAS-IA Career Orientation
Career Orientation is not a requirement for MAS students; however, those interested in utilizing CPDC resources now or in the future are welcome to participate in Career Orientation. If you are taking Prep, please join us for the full six-week Career Orientation.
Important requirement for MPP, MIA, MCEPA, and Joint Degree students: Participation at Career Orientation is required in order to access GPS CPDC's services at any point - both as a student and as an alum. Attendance will be taken. Students who do not participate will not be eligible for:
- Career coaching and advising
- Access to the GPS CPDC job board
- Summer internship funding
- Professional development funding
If you do not plan to use CPDC services (for example, you intend to remain in your current position after graduation), you may request an exemption by completing this form. If you have Career Orientation related questions, please email GPS-careers@ucsd.edu.
GLI Academic English
ESL Summer Session I (for international degree students)
Orientation Date: TBD
Dates: TBD
Lecture: Time TBD
Location: TBD (in person, on campus)
Course Material: TBD
ESL Summer Session II (for international degree students)
Orientation Date: TBD
Dates: TBD
Lecture: Time TBDLocation: TBD (in person, on campus)
Course Material: TBD
These courses are designed to prepare international students for graduate-level classes in the fall and to instill confidence in everyday English speaking and listening skills. Intensive Integrated English combines face-to-face classroom instruction with a self-paced online curriculum that is monitored and evaluated by the instructor to reinforce weaker skills that can be practiced by the individual student. Through small group and class discussion, students will develop the following critical academic skills:
- Reading and skimming for main ideas and key phrases
- Paraphrasing and summarizing
- Writing well-supported paragraphs and essays
- Giving and receiving feedback during peer editing and class discussions
- Improving listening and note-taking skills
- Expanding and applying knowledge of vocabulary and grammar