Undergraduate Pedagogy and Learning Apprentices

The School of Biological Sciences affords undergraduates the opportunity to participate in an introduction to science teaching at the collegiate level through supervised experiences as Pedagogy and Learning Apprentices (PLAs), effective Fall 2025 (formerly Undergraduate Instructional Apprentice (UGIA)).

Pedagogy and Learning Apprentices (PLAs)

In addition to practical classroom experience under the direct supervision of a biology course instructor, PLAs will enroll in BISP 195P where they will also benefit from the instruction of a teaching faculty member, learning the fundamentals of instruction in a collegiate level science course. PLAs who successfully complete this experience earn four units of academic credit (BISP 195P).

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Prior completion of the same or equivalent course of the assignment. Instructor may require completion of certain courses with stipulated grades (often a grade of A or B expected). See also, Alternative Qualifying Courses
A cumulative 3.00 UC GPA at the time of application and during the quarter of assignment.
A minimum of 90 units completed or transferred into UC San Diego at the time of application.
Registered UC San Diego undergraduate with fees paid in the quarter of assignment.

Restrictions

Students may NOT assist in more than one course per quarter at UC San Diego.
Undergraduate Students may complete BISP 195/195P only once in the School of Biological Sciences. However, they may complete up to two PLA (formerly UGIA) assignments across all departments at UC San Diego during their academic tenure.
- Students that have previously served as a UGIA/completed BISP 195 with Biological Sciences are not eligible for a PLA position in Biological Sciences, but may be eligible for a Reader position.

For more information on Summer Session opportunities, please visit the Summer Session IA page.

All assignments are based on instructional needs and are offered solely at the discretion of the School of Biological Sciences. While an instructor may request a student as an IA, such a request does not guarantee placement, nor does it constitute an offer of apprenticeship or employment.

Current Application

Spring 2025 application will open on Monday, January 13th, and close on Sunday, January 26th at 11:59pm PST

Application for Spring IA position

Application Timeline

Application Periods and Deadlines
For participation in:	Application Opens	Applicants Notified of Decision
Fall	Late Spring Quarter	August, prior to the Fall term
Winter	Weeks 1 - 4 of the preceding quarter	By week 8 of the preceding Fall quarter
Spring	Weeks 1 - 4 of the preceding quarter	By week 8 of the preceding Winter quarter
Summer	Early Spring Quarter	By week 8 of the preceding Spring quarter

*Approximate timeline. Actual dates may vary.

BISP 195P

BISP 195P is a weekly seminar course in which students enroll when assigned as an Pedagogy and Learning Apprentice (PLA) via the application process. BISP 195P grades are based upon both weekly seminar and practicum (PLA duties) participation. Therefore, it is not possible to enroll in BISP 195P without a concurrent Pedagogy and Learning Apprentice assignment.

Four-unit course
Pass/No Pass
May fulfill an upper-division biology elective requirement
Assigned PLAs are responsible to enroll in and attend one section of BISP 195P

PLA Performance Expectations

Actual duties for a particular course may vary and will be defined by the supervising instructor. Typical duties may include:

Attend lectures
Participate in review/group sessions (in person or remote)
Hold office hours
Answer student questions
Proctor exams
Meet regularly with the instructor
Other applicable duties as assigned by the instructor
10 hours per week (average)

Performance Evaluations and Standards

PLAs are evaluated by the instructor of the course and by the students enrolled in the course via online evaluation surveys conducted at the end of the quarter.

PLA Time Expectations

PLAs typically commit an average of 10 hours per week to their assignment (110 total hours in the quarter). Most of the hours are accrued during the 10-week quarter and finals week. If required, instructors will inform PLAs of the need to assist in the pre-quarter week.

Note that IAs are not expected to reply to electronic inquiries from students at all hours or to spend excessive amounts of time replying to email. IAs should work with the supervising instructor to budget time for tasks accordingly, and feel free to refer students with extensive questions to office hours and/or section time.

Training

All students enrolled in BISP 195P attend a weekly seminar. BISP 195P grades are based upon both weekly seminar and practicum (PLA duties) participation.

FAQs for Assigned PLAs

Enrollment and Eligibility

Students must be registered and enrolled as a student in the quarter of service to be eligible to hold this assignment. Part time enrollment of at least 6 units does qualify for undergraduates.

Enrolling in BISP 195P

Pre-authorization to enroll in BISP 195P is provided prior to the start of the quarter, with instructions sent to @ucsd email. Please enroll through WebReg. BISP 195P is a required course, and PLAs must plan to enroll and attend one section during Weeks 1-5.

IA Resources

The IA Resource page includes information about office hours, make-up sections, review sessions, technology, etc.

Dr. Stanley Lo is the Faculty Advisor for Instructional Assistants. The Faculty Advisor is a point of initial contact for inquiries related to professional development as an IA, science of teaching, classroom effectiveness, or other questions and concerns related to ethics, behavior, or academic integrity.

Expected duties are noted in the "Performance Expectations" drawer on this page.

Application Status Listed as "Pending" Approval

PLA application status will likely appear as "pending" until Week 1 of the quarter of service. Please be aware that applications were pre-screened for eligibility, and in Biology, faculty have already reviewed the majority of student applications. Biological Sciences only forwards applications for which approval is anticipated. Assigned students who maintain academic eligibility (minimum 90 units complete and minimum 3.00 GPA) can plan and proceed as if the assignment is confirmed.

Contacting the Supervising Instructor

IAs may or may not receive instructions from the supervising instructor before the start of the quarter. If no communication is received, IAs are encouraged to proactively reach out to the supervising instructor via email. If unable to make contact, IAs should notify biota@ucsd.edu and attend the first class meeting. Discussion section assignments are coordinated directly with the supervising instructor.

Questions? Send to biota@ucsd.edu