Prep Program 2008
The IR/PS Prep Program is designed to equip students with the skills and abilities to succeed in the demanding environment of MPIA graduate studies. The program provides a review of skills required in the IR/PS classroom, as well as insight into the academic and cultural environment at IR/PS. The program consists of three components: Academic Writing (AW), Quantitative Methods (QM), and Economics (ECON).
Component Descriptions
Academic Writing (AW)
August 4-September 9
Registration fee: $1200
The Academic Writing component of the IR/PS Prep Program concentrates on written English skills for academic purposes and provides the opportunity for students to improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills necessary for successful MPIA academic study. Students will participate in seminars, attend faculty lectures, make presentations, develop reading strategies, as well as write short essays and research papers. This component allows students to practice public speaking and working in groups with fellow classmates. AW also includes a section on case study methods (CASE).
Check-in will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 4 at IR/PS. After lecture on Monday, August 4, the group will have a lunch break and then a campus tour during which students will pick up their campus identification cards. At 2:00 p.m., there will be a computer certification session held in the IR/PS Computer Lab.
Class resumes on Tuesday, August 5 at 10:00 a.m. All students should provide their own materials such as pencils, paper, and IR/PS certified laptop. Any additional materials needed for the course will be provided to you. The last session of class will be held on Tuesday, September 9.
Quantitative Methods (QM)
August 4-September 10
Registration fee: $350
The QM component provides students with a set of quantitative skills required for IR/PS core courses, such as Quantitative Methods, Managerial Economics, and International Economics. Topics include:
• Elementary arithmetic: real numbers, absolute value, multiplication, division, powers, roots, logarithms, and sets
• Equations: linear equations, quadratic equations, and higher-order equation solving
• Elementary calculus: functions, derivatives, optimization, and area under the curve
• Elementary statistics: descriptive statistics, distributions, sampling and probabilities
Check-in will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 4 at IR/PS. During check-in, students will sign up for a computer orientation session. After check-in, the group will have a campus tour during which students will pick up their campus identification cards. At 12:00 p.m., lunch will be served. Class starts at 1:00 p.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m.
Computer certification sessions for students enrolled in the QM component will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 5 and 6. Class resumes on Tuesday, August 5 at 1:00 p.m.
For the first week of class, lectures will be held Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The purpose of this week is building a strong mathematical foundation that culminates in a review of basic calculus.
Starting Monday, August 11, lecture will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Review sessions held by teaching assistants will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This part of the QM component focuses on forming a basic foundation in statistics.
All students should provide their own materials such as pencils, paper, and IR/PS certified laptop. Any additional materials needed for the course will be provided to you.
The last session of class will be held on Wednesday, September 10 and will include a final exam that all participants must pass with a grade of C or better.
Economics (ECN)
August 12 - September 11
Registration fee: $350
The ECN component prepares students for IR/PS core economic and management courses, such as Managerial Economics, International Economics, and Finance. The course builds on the basic mathematical tools acquired in the first week of the Quantitative Methods 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
Check-in will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 11 at IR/PS. At check-in, students will sign up for a computer orientation session. After check-in, the group will have a campus tour during which students will pick up their campus identification cards. At 12:00 p.m., lunch will be served. From 1:00 p.m. to 3:00pm, computer certification sessions will be held in the IR/PS computer lab.
Lecture will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12. Your attendance is required at the lectures, which will be held every Tuesday and Thursday until Thursday, September 11. In the late afternoon, review sessions will be held by teaching assistants. This will be the time for you to review homework and receive additional instruction.
All students should provide their own materials such as pencils, paper, and IR/PS certified laptop. Any additional materials needed for the course will be provided to you. There will be a final exam given on the last day of the PREP-ECN, which is Thursday, September 11. You must pass this exam with a grade of C or better in order to successfully complete the PREP-QM component.
Excel
Fridays, August 15 - September 5
Registration fee: $0
The Excel component prepares students for the IR/PS core courses in Quantitative Methods, Globalization, and Finance. The component is optional and combines both in-class learning as well as on-line training. Students who have not used Excel in a professional setting are strongly encouraged to attend the sessions. Topics include:
• Formatting data and worksheets
• Importing, moving, referencing and organizing data
• Presenting data in charts and tables
• The use of functions, solver and macros
• Using data analysis tools and building scenarios
Getting Organized
Housing
UC San Diego does not offer summer housing for graduate students, but some graduate students rent their off campus homes and apartments during the summer months (July - September) and during the academic year (September - June). If you are in need of housing you can view the following online websites for more information.
First Class is a communications system for use by current and new IR/PS students. IR/PS students post available rooms under the following tabs within the system: Conferences, IRPS Conferences, Student Life, Communities, and Housing.
Craigslist has housing options offered by San Diego community members. Search for UTC, La Jolla, or UCSD to find housing options relatively close to campus.
You can also view the UC San Diego Off Campus Housing website for additional resources and information.
Student Identification Cards
To get your student identification card, please visit Student Business Services at Suite 355 in the Student Services Center. You will need to bring photo identification (e.g., passport or driver’s license) with you.
IR/PS has scheduled appointments with Student Business Services for PREP participants based on their component enrollment:
• AW students will pick up their identification cards on Monday, August 4 at 1:00 p.m.
• QM students will pick up their identification cards on Monday, August 4 at 11:00 a.m.
• ECN students will pick up their identification cards on Monday, August 11 at 11:00 a.m.
If a PREP student does not visit Student Business Services at the appointed time for his/her PREP component, it becomes the responsibility of the student to secure his/her identification card at another time prior to the computer certification session.
Computer Orientation and Certification
You must complete the IR/PS online computer orientation prior to your arrival to PREP. After obtaining your PID, and completing the orientation, you will receive your passwords for all IR/PS computer accounts, including email.
In addition to the IR/PS online computer orientation, you must have your laptop certified in the computer lab. During this visit, your personal laptop will be connected to the IR/PS network after confirmation that it meets the minimum required specifications. Each laptop must receive certification before you can use the IR/PS network. The time and date of your appointment is listed above, according to your PREP component enrollment. We will confirm your appointment time at check-in. Your session will be held at the IR/PS computer lab in building three of the Robinson Building Complex.
It is recommended that your get your student identification card before your computer certification appointment. Students who have their student identification cards at the time of their computer certification appointment will have their cards activated, giving them access to the IR/PS computer lab and student lounge.
Reporting For Class
Please allow enough time to arrive at IR/PS for your assigned check-in time. Please check the PREP calendar of public transportation, please be aware that, except for the campus loop shuttle and city bus 101, most shuttle and bus stops are approximately a 10-15 minute walk from IR/PS. Also, some shuttles have limited summer service during the time of the PREP program.
Maps and Parking
Parking is available with a parking permit in the Pangea parking structure, just west of IR/PS. Maps and directions to IR/PS and the Pangea parking structure are available here.
Purchase parking permits online at TritonLink. Please note that you will need your PID and must complete the IR/PS online computer orientation in order to purchase permits online. If purchased on-line, annual and quarterly parking permits must still be picked up at the parking office on the south side of campus. Free visitor parking is offered on the second floor of Gilman parking structure while picking up parking permits from the parking office. One-day and ten-day passes can be sent to you, but you will have to pay shipping fees.
Purchase parking permits on campus. There are a number of “in person” sales points on campus. See TritonLink for details. Hourly parking is available for $1/hour by purchasing a permit with cash or credit card on the top level of Pangea parking structure. There are considerable savings over this rate with pre-purchased permits. The UC San Diego campus is quite large, so please allow enough time to arrive at campus, purchase your permit, drive to IR/PS and find parking.
