Explore one of the most important new innovations in technology today through real-life projects
Develop hands-on experience with machine learning
The new IoT (Internet of Things) thrust is one of the most important trends in technology today. IoT systems provide sensors and actuators in our global environment, on the scale of nations and cities, to individual buildings, homes, vehicles, and the rapidly expanding world of wearable devices. Machine learning is one of the most important new innovations for engineering system design and development. It enables development of the first computational systems that autonomously learn and recognize specific events, conditions, and the characteristics of complex systems. The UCLA Engineering Design Summer Institute: The Internet of Things will provide a rapid introduction to machine learning suitable for IoT systems in a manner that is inherently accessible and meaningful to precollege students. This 3-week program will be hosted directly on the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering’s IoT platform. Completion of hands-on engineering design projects, preparation of a short report describing projects, and presentation of results is expected.
Engineering Design Summer Institute: Internet of Things Program Overview
Introduction to sensors: An overview of microsensors commonly used in IoT devices. Students directly use these sensors in our IoT platform, writing machine learning algorithms.
Fundamentals of machine learning: Students will learn the basic concepts of machine learning and neural networks.
Creative Applications: Learn how machine learning is used in motion pattern recognition fundamental to navigation and autonomous driving.
Expert Guidance: Interact with industry experts and researchers who are pioneers in the fields of microsensors, IoT, and machine learning.
Hands-on Projects: Work on real-life projects, experimenting with machine learning algorithms.
Hands-on Experience: Gain practical experience through coding sessions, interactive workshops, and guided projects.
The program features extensive lab hours to go over hands on experiments with IoT systems, as well as an introduction to C programming workshop. In addition to the lectures, there will be feature presentations by industry-expert guest speakers. The students will be given a state-of-the-art IoT platform which they will own for future experiments.
The students are required to submit a final project accompanied with a report and a brief video presentation. The project is open-ended, where the students can innovate and implement their own version of the IoT system, for any relevant application. Each student will give a short live presentation of her/his work on the last day of the session. Refreshments will be served.
Applications are reviewed and admission to the program is granted on a rolling basis starting February 15th. Applying at your earliest convenience, prior to June 13th, is highly recommended.
The program has application requirements for admission. Eligible applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 3 weeks.
Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process:
- An unofficial transcript from grade 9 to present reflecting a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
- If your school transcript utilizes a different grading system, please submit your transcript as is. If available, please attach a translation/equivalency guide.
- INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: If you are an international student, a transcript refers to your complete secondary academic record. To learn more about converting your grades into a US-based GPA, please click here.
- If your school has a translation/equivalency guide, please also include it with your transcript. If you do not have a translation/equivalency guide, please still submit your most up-to-date transcript as is for staff to review.
- Value statement: At the time of registration, ALL applicants will be prompted to submit a few short sentences reflecting on their pursuit of participation in a UCLA Precollege Summer Institute. Please note that students are strongly discouraged from relying on ChatGpt/AI tools for their application responses and are encouraged to submit original and authentic answers.
- Program Statement: Applicants must provide a few short sentences (up to 200 words) to describe their experience in:
1. Basics of physics covering mechanics and electricity/magnetism,
2. Basics of calculus covering functions, integrals, derivatives, and trigonometry,
3. Software development and computer programming,
4. Working with electronic devices.
Please describe any courses you have completed in the areas mentioned. - Take a quiz comprising a few simple questions on the areas described above.
Engineering Design Summer Institute: Internet of Things is a commuter program, there is NO on-campus housing available for the Engineering Design Summer Institute: Internet of Things through the institute program or UCLA Summer Sessions. Additionally, please note that only students aged 17 and older as of June 23rd, 2025 are eligible to sign a housing contract, and not all program dates correspond to when contracts are available. Students interested in exploring this option should review information at UCLA Summer Housing.
Participants of the Engineering Design Summer Institute: Internet of Things must commute to the UCLA campus each day of the program. Specific location information (e.g. classroom) will be provided to enrolled students closer to the start of the program.
Parking
Summer Sessions parking permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students have the option to purchase a summer term permit or a daily permit.
Please review the Transportation and Parking Services web page and read the “Summer Quarter Parking (All Students)” section for more information on all permit types, including cost.
Coursework
Engineering 1IT; 2 units
Grading
Students will receive a letter grade upon completion. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.
In order to successfully complete the program, students must not have more than 2 excused or unexcused absences.
UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support
Qualified students attending grades 9th – 11th in Spring 2025 in the state of California may be eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need- and merit-based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. Students must be 15 years old by the first day of Summer Sessions 2025 on June 23rd in order to participate in a Precollege Summer Institute and/or apply for Summer Scholars Support. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute.
Summer 2025 deadline to apply: March 15.
Session A: June 23, 2025 – July 11, 2025
Session B: July 14, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Program Type: Commuter
Program Eligibility: 9th-12th grade in Spring 2025*
Application deadline:
- Session A & B: June 13, 2025
Enrollment Deadline:
- Session A: June 20, 2025
- Session B: July 11, 2025
*All participants must be at least 15 years of age by the first day of Summer Sessions 2025 on June 23rd, no exceptions allowed.
The schedule and syllabus are subject to change. Enrolled students will be given updated materials closer to the program start date.
Fees and Payment Info
The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer. This is a summary of fees that commonly apply to the selected student type.
Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.
Meet your Instructors
Hooman Darabi
InstructorHooman Darabi is a continuing lecturer with the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also a Fellow with Broadcom, as a part of the wireless connectivity and communications (WCC) group. Broadcom WCC team is responsible for supplying chips for mobile and access wireless networking, Bluetooth short-range connectivity, as well as navigation for the top smart phone manufacturers, and particularly Apple.
His research area is radio frequency (RF) circuits and systems, focused on mixed-mode, analog and RF circuits with particular contributions in novel receiver architectures, SAW-less receiver front-ends to address coexistence challenges, voltage controlled oscillators and PLLs, as well as digital transmitters. He has over 85 IEEE peer reviewed and conference papers, and over 250 patents with Broadcom, and have been recognized as a Broadcom top inventor. He is an IEEE fellow.
Engineering Design Summer Institute: Internet of Things FAQs
- A notebook computer (Apple Mac or Windows) is required for each class session.
- Students will be provided with an IoT kit and the required accessories to connect to their notebook computers at the beginning of the program.
Still have questions? Check out the general Summer Institutes FAQ.