Summer Session Teaching
The School of Biological Sciences at UC San Diego is a vibrant center of scientific discovery, innovation, and collaboration. Teaching courses during Summer Session allows for continuous student progress and exploration. Each year, more than 14,000 students enroll in summer to accelerate their time to degree and enrich their student experience.
Biological Sciences invites you to consider teaching during Summer Session. In general, classes are taught during short 5-week sessions. You can teach one, or multiple classes.
Applications are being accepted for the Summer Session Instructor Pool on a rolling basis. Please note, there are campus deadlines to submit proposed courses so the bulk of applications move through as a cohort. There may be opportunities to fill gaps or propose courses after a deadline, so all are encouraged to apply.
Application Link (login required)Timeline
- Completed applications will be reviewed by the Biological Sciences' Education Committee early November.
- Applicants will be notified if the application is forwarded to Summer Session for final approval in mid-November.
- Summer session notifies BioSci of approved courses/instructors in December.
- Course scheduling and other administrative processes will occur in January.
Summer Session 2025 Dates
Summer Session 1: June 30 - August 2
Summer Session 2: August 4 - September 6
Additional details can be found in the most recent UC San Diego Summer Session Guidebook.
Biology Courses
Special attention is drawn to the courses listed below as these are core undergraduate courses that many students are required to complete. However, you may propose any undergraduate Biological Sciences course that is listed in the General Catalog.
Lecture Courses
- BILD 1 (The Cell)
- BILD 2 (Multicellular Life)
- BILD 3 (Organismic and Evolutionary Biology)
- BIBC 100 (Structural Biochemistry)
- BIBC 102 (Metabolic Biochemistry)
- BICD 100 (Genetics)
- BICD 110 (Cell Biology)
- BIEB 102 (Introductory Ecology-Organisms and Habitat)
- BIEB 150 (Evolution)
- BIMM 100 (Molecular Biology)
- BIMM 110 (Molecular Basis of Human Disease)
- BIMM 120 (Microbiology)
- BIPN 100 (Human Physiology I)
- BIPN 102 (Human Physiology II)
- BIPN 140 (Cellular Neurobiology)
- BI** 194 (Advanced Topics) see below for details
Lab Courses
- BILD 4 (Introductory Biology Lab) 2-units
- BIBC 103 (Biochemical Techniques Lab)
- BIEB 121 (Ecology Lab)
- BIMM 101 (Recombinant DNA Lab)
- BIMM 143 (Bioinformatics Lab)
Special Topics (BI** 194) Courses
Teach a 2-unit BI** 194 course of your choice on a topic based in Biological content. Topics will be vetted and approved by Biological Sciences before being proposed to campus.
- Enrollment is generally capped at ~30-40 in summer topics courses
- No Final exam required
- No discussion sections (seminar only), thus no Instructional Assistant support
Details about BI** 194 courses can be found here. Please note, the document is used for academic year course coordination, so not all details pertain to Summer Session.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Biology or related field completed by the date of appointment, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Previous teaching experience at the college and/or university level. Serving as an Instructional Assistant may fulfill this requirement.
- Current UCSD faculty/instructors/postdocs must be up to date on all mandatory campus trainings in order to be considered for Summer Session teaching opportunities.
PhD Students Teaching Opportunities
Biological Sciences invites PhD students who have advanced to candidacy to consider teaching during the Summer Session. In general, classes are taught during short 5-week sessions. Students can teach one, or multiple classes.
PhD students have two avenues to participate in teaching during the summer.
The first option is as a Summer Graduate Teaching Scholar.
Information for the Summer Graduate Teaching Scholars Program can be found at the Teaching Scholars page.
The Summer Graduate Teaching Scholars Program provides an opportunity for advanced graduate students to participate in a faculty-mentored teaching program. This is an excellent professional development opportunity for graduate students interested in teaching. Additionally, the program increases Summer Session course offerings and provides undergraduate students the opportunity to take courses taught by some of our best advanced graduate students who have an interest in teaching.
The School of Biological Sciences may elect to provide department approval for select, advanced graduate students to teach in Summer Session as participants in the program. Eligible graduate students will be appointed as Associate Instructors.
BioSci Department Approved Summer Graduate Teaching Nominees will be announced immediately following the SGTS registration deadline each year. Students who are approved must also register for the SGTS program by their deadline.
Completing the BioSci form linked here is the path to requesting departmental approval: BioSci Summer Graduate Teaching Scholars Program form.
The second option for PhD students is to apply to teach as an Associate Instructor without participating in the SGTS program.
If you are interested in teaching during Summer Session as an Associate Instructor without participating in the SGTS program, please review the above for additional information and timelines and complete the Summer Session Teaching Proposals application.
Questions? Send them to biosummer@ucsd.edu
UC San Diego is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong institutional commitment to excellence and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.