Skip to Content

FUTURES Programs

Career pathway programs for high school students to fulfill passions, explore new interests and gain hands-on experience before entering the workforce or applying for college.

Your Future Lies Just Ahead

Choosing the right college or career pathway is not an easy decision. The UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies Futures programs enable students to fulfill their passions, explore new interests and gain hands-on experience before they enter the workforce or apply for college. Each program is designed specifically for high school students. The cutting-edge coursework is taught by leading industry experts in high demand fields. All programs culminate in an Award of Completion issued by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies for use on college applications and resumes.


Exciting news! Futures courses offered in partnership with high school locations may qualify for Career and Technical Education (CTE) course credit. High schools interested in providing CTE credit for select Futures courses are encouraged to reach out to us at precollege@ucsd.edu for more information and next steps.

Testimonials

Shape your future today in the areas of Computer Science, Business Management, Design and Life Sciences.

Hear from our students

Traducir

Si quieres ver la información de esta página en español.

Ver en español

Questions?

Browse commonly asked questions and helpful solutions.

View FAQ

Choose a Program to Get Started

Android Programming

This hands-on program teaches participants to design, code, debug, and test Android apps using Java and Android Studio, building skills for future studies or careers in programming.

Business Management

This program provides a practical foundation in business management, covering leadership, organizational behavior, marketing strategy, and decision-making through real-world case studies and hands-on skill development.

Digital Circuit Design

Explore the fundamentals of analog electronics, digital logic, and high-level description languages to design and build the digital circuits that drive today’s technology. (A-G Approved)

Front End Web Development

Gain the skills to design and build engaging, interactive, and responsive websites using HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and jQuery while applying professional coding practices and creative problem-solving.

iOS Programming

Get hands-on experience designing, coding, and testing dynamic iOS applications using Swift and Xcode, while building engaging, user-friendly interfaces and developing essential problem-solving and collaboration skills.

Machine Learning

This program provides a comprehensive foundation in machine learning, combining Python programming, applied mathematics, and hands-on projects to develop and implement algorithms for regression, classification, clustering, dimensionality reduction, and deep neural networks. (A-G Approved)

Marketing

Gain practical marketing skills and hands-on experience in strategy, branding, digital marketing, and market research while developing communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities for professional and personal growth.

Robotics with JavaScript

Learn to program robots using JavaScript, exploring automation, sensor data processing, and AI while gaining hands-on experience with Arduino-compatible robots and robotic simulations.

Translation and Interpretation

Gain advanced skills in Spanish-English translation and interpretation through intensive training designed to prepare bilingual students for professional certification and competitive opportunities.

Wireless Communications Technologist

Gain hands-on expertise in wireless technologies and digital media by exploring Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and advanced audio/video processing techniques.

About Futures

The UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies Futures initiative gives high school students the opportunity to explore career and college pathways through programs that offer practical and applied learning in high demand fields. Our courses and programs not only provide students with real-world skills and personal development, but also with opportunities for internships, professional employment, and educational advancement. These programs are specifically designed for high school students and adhere to the same rigor and standard of excellence upheld by the University.

All programs and initiatives coordinated by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies and its units are designed and implemented in full compliance with Proposition 209 and the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy. More information about Proposition 209 can be found here. More information about the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Browse commonly asked questions and helpful solutions

Students receive three (3) 90000-level pre-college units per course. Some participating high school locations accept these units to serve as elective units on students’ high school transcripts potentially being applied to high school graduation requirements. Contact your school counselor to confirm unit acceptance PRIOR to enrolling in the courses. In addition, some higher education institutions will accept these units as transferable units to be applied to undergraduate requirements. Please contact the institution as to specific guidelines on unit transfers. Students can request official transcripts from UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies to include in college applications and for professional pursuits.

Students enroll directly through the Futures website. Upon choosing a course within one of the program offerings, add the course to your cart and select your grading preference. Read and accept the terms and conduct policies to move forward with checkout. If you have a UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies student account, login to process your enrollment. If you do not have a UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies student account, create a new account here, then login with your new credentials. Follow the above steps until enrollment and payment is processed. If you have questions during this process, please contact Student Services at (858) 534-3400.

Visit UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies’s website and click order your transcript. Login with your student account credentials and follow the step-by-step prompts. If you have questions during this process, please contact Student Services at (858) 534-3400, option 3.

Yes, courses will be offered in sequential order as curriculum builds upon preceding courses.

Yes, payment plans are available on a case-by-case basis through UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. Payments are evenly broken up prior to the start of a program and are automatically charged to a credit card on file one time per month. For more information on payment plans, please contact precollege@ucsd.edu.

Once students have completed all three required courses within a Futures program track, students need to request an audit of their completion status by emailing precollege@ucsd.edu. A UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies staff member will complete the audit and contact Extended Studies' Student Services team to process the Award of Completion. Awards of Completion will be mailed directly to the address listed in the student account.

Students are required to earn a C- or higher to receive credit for a course and apply the course toward the requirement to earn an award of completion.

Futures courses run in line with a traditional academic year with enrollment opening by August and classes running from approximately September to June. Some courses are also run in a compressed format during the summer, making it possible to complete all three courses during one summer. 

Hear From Our Students

 

I had a slight interest in pursuing a business career and this program was useful in showing me some components of a job in business. It helped me refine my potential majors list for when I apply to colleges. I also found that my instructors were very friendly and I felt that they were really good at explaining things.

- Hector Avila

This program was a great way to test the waters of the CAD world! The videos were very easy to follow and their asynchronous nature made it easy to accommodate the rest of my schooling simultaneously. The teacher was also available by email and was extremely good about responding to questions in a timely manner.

- Kylie Staebler

It was a great experience and very helpful. I got to meet great professors from UCSD.

- Daniela Gonzalez

iOS Programming was a great course to take and I felt that I learned a lot through this. I was able to understand the basic knowledge and idea of how to code. Throughout this whole program, we created apps on Xcode and this was a genuinely enjoyable experience as we had to brainstorm how to write the code to make an app function.

- Donny Chau

During my sophomore year, participating in the UCSD business management course, I learned fundamental knowledge, and the team working activities were enjoyable especially through online.

- Elisha Liu

If I had one word for my experience in this program it would be: metamorphic. I learned many facts, information, and simply knowledge about business management in this program. In addition, this program also is a way to create lasting bonds with other individuals in your age group, especially with those who have similar interests.

- Anissa Ward

Have Questions?

Fill out the below form or contact us directly at precollege@ucsd.edu or 858-534-0804.