The major goals of IRACDA are to produce a workforce in STEM with a strong commitment to teaching diverse undergraduates, particularly at institutions with a history of training students underrepresented in higher education; to facilitate the progress of postdoctoral candidates toward research and teaching careers in academia; and to promote linkages between the research intensive institution and partner institution that can lead to further collaborations in research and teaching.
UCLA is a member of the CIRTL (Center for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning) network, whose online seminars (including the CIRTL Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs) are integral components of our training curriculum. As IRACDA scholars, you will be awarded CIRTL certificates, documenting your achievements at multiple stages in the training curriculum.
Notably, in addition to preparing you for teaching at the college or university level, this elite educational experience supports your research through strong and consistent faculty mentoring.
The four-year training curriculum for IRACDA scholars at UCLA includes the following components:
Year 1. Fall Course: Intro to EvidenceBased Undergraduate Teaching. WinterCourse: Teaching as Research. Start Cal State LA teaching practicum with teaching observations and giving 1-2 lectures. Co-instruct a Cal State LA undergraduate journal club in collaboration with other IRACDA Scholars.
Year 2. Participate in Summer Institute on Scientific Teaching. With a faculty mentor, co-teach a Cal State LA course and begin a Teaching-as-Research project. Co-instruct Cal State LA undergraduate journal club.
Year 3. Co-instruct Cal State LA undergraduate journal club. Finish Teaching-As-Research project and
complete CIRTL certification, if desired.
All Years. Participation in UCLA’s CIRTL Community, the STEM Education Research Journal Club, monthly teaching reflection meetings, and annual IRACDA meeting. Engage in scheduled meetings with IRACDA Leadership, Cal State LA faculty mentors, and UCLA research mentors, and participate in career preparation seminars.