Project Based and Experiential Learning Programs

The Innovation Challenge, Internships and Data Science programs develop the next generation technology workforce by educating undergraduate and graduate students on business and technical skills that are necessary to succeed in the real world. Students engage in a 10-week hands-on bootcamp like program augmenting their academic curriculum with digital skills using the Google Design Thinking framework and core, professional skills, such as project management, UI/UX, How to Pitch and conflict resolution. Students learn how to collaborate and work in diverse teams led by industry coaches who guide them through the process of ideating, validating and refining their solutions, to a final Minimal Viable Product (MVP), and finally present their solutions to industry judges during a pitch competition.

Open to undergraduate and graduate students, these programs are designed to accelerate the growth in the areas of:

  • Digital Skills: UI/UX, cloud, AI/ML, data analytics

  • Business Skills: project/product management, agile framework, how to pitch

  • Interpersonal Skills: problem solving, critical thinking, emotional intelligence

Students are provided real-world problems to solve through student teams. Students are connected with industry coaches (including Alums) who mentor and guide them weekly through the process of developing an MVP. Students are further supported by exposure to industry leaders in both the public and private sector to learn about roles in technology and potential internships or full-time employment opportunities. Students are exposed to various employment opportunities in technology including those students who don’t have STEM backgrounds but are eager to be part of the tech workforce. Students accepted into this program come from a variety of backgrounds and are selected using a blind resume review process in order to help remove bias and diversify participants.

If you are interested in being added to the waiting list, please complete the Student Interest Form here (requires UCLA SSO login)

Coming Soon in Spring 2025

Earn 4 upper-division units:
Psych 195B (for Cognitive Science majors) or ENGR 188 (for all other majors)

Student Testimonials

  • “I recently received a product management internship at a startup. I just started two weeks ago and so far, it's been really fun and exciting because of the different projects I get to work on! Alongside that, I also participated in Product Hacks and won first place! … if it weren't for the product bootcamp and all of [the Epicenter’s] help, I would not be where I am today.”

  • “I was amazed at every meeting of the amount of professionalism; the premium quality of the speakers, health experts, and coaches; as well as how much I could learn in such a short amount of time. Most of all I was amazed at the passion that you can instill in students through this program. It was truly an amazing experience that has opened my eyes to the possibilities that tech offers, and this experience will definitely alter what I look to do in the professional world.”

  • “The resources and the amount of guest speakers was impressive and very informative. I appreciate how well the program came together and provided a microcosm of what I imagine the tech industry & startups to look like. My team coach was amazing. He asked our team poignant questions, and gave us amazing feedback and connections.”