Skip to main content
Department of Economics Economics
  1. HOME
  2. Undergraduate Program
  3. Resources for Current Students
  4. Opportunities for our Majors
  5. Undergraduate Pedagogy and Learning Apprentice

Undergraduate Pedagogy and Learning Apprentice

Previously known as the Undergraduate Instructional Apprentice (UIA), the Undergraduate Pedagogy and Learning Apprentice (PLA) is an upper-division student who serves as an assistant in an undergraduate course under the supervision of a faculty member. The purpose of the apprenticeship is to learn the methodology of teaching through actual practice in a regularly scheduled course. Students earn credit by enrolling in Econ 195P. 

Minimum requirements for being a PLA

  • Completion of at least 90 units of course work at UC San Diego (if you are a transfer student, your transfer units are included)
  • Completion of at least six upper-division Economics classes, including the relevant core courses
  • Minimum GPA of 3.5 in Economics major coursework (including lower division), and minimum overall GPA of 3.3
  • Completion of the course to which you are applying
  • Achievement of an "A" or better in the requested lower division course
  • Achievement of an "A" or better for the requested upper division course and course prerequisites as well as other courses in the sequence

Application for Spring Quarter 2026

  • Will be accepted for review beginning Friday, 2/6/2026.
  • Must be completed and submitted by Friday, 2/20/2026. To apply:
    • Complete the online application (requires online login)
    • Note: while faculty preferences and academic records are taken into account, other factors (such as availability and scheduling) are also considered.

Benefits

  • Learn how to teach through actual practice
  • Develop professional relationship with faculty member
  • Earn four units of UD Economics elective credit (ECON 195P) for work performed
  • Solidify knowledge of economics

Duties of a PLA 

  • Attend all lectures 
  • Hold office hours (one hour per week)
  • Hold occasional review sessions

Working Hours

  • Service period of employment - first week of the quarter through the end of final exam grading
  • Weekly hours - 3 hours of lecture attendance; 1 hour of office hours; and varying time requirements for holding review sessions. Under no circumstances are PLAs authorized to work on average over 10 hours per week
  • Without exception: PLAs must carry out job responsibilities through final exam grading

ECON 195P Enrollment:

  • Required enrollment in ECON 195P, Introduction to Teaching Economics, for four units 
  • If appointed, you will be cleared to enroll upon completion of necessary paperwork
  • May earn up to eight units of credit for Econ 195/195P (students may not serve as a PLA for credit more than once for the same course)

Review the UC San Diego Pedagogy and Learning Apprentice FAQ. For any questions regarding the Pedagogy & Learning Apprentice process, please write to econugtutor@ucsd.edu.