Crashing courses at UCLA or USC (credit, home, school district)

[BoredRestless]

Hello,

I already have a degree and I'm not interested in actually enrolling (paying) for school again, however, there are some courses I would like to just take even if I don't get academic credit for it. Is it possible to find class schedules to simply crash some classes at UCLA or USC? I know at my college there were plenty of classes that were just in a big lecture hall and someone could walk in and listen without anyone paying any attention.

Anyone have any advice for making this happen? Thanks

[13Bulldog]

I'm sure you've already ruled out coursera and edx?

[BoredRestless]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm looking to physically be in a class. Online courses are great but I honestly don't get much out of them. I need to be in a different environment than my home to get myself into learning mode.

[Mr. Zero]

Caltech has the Watson Lecture Series that's open to the public. I wouldn't be surprised if UCLA and/or USC have something similar.

[SpaceMonkyPunks]

I can't believe this needs to be said, but don't just try and look up schedules and walk into a regular/for credit class. As you are not a student, you'd be trespassing and they'd have every right to call the cops on you. Look up open to the public lectures and classes.

I take lots of online courses and workshops, and self-study pretty religiously. Sorry to be blunt, but let me be honest with you: If someone feels like they don't 'get a lot' out of online courses....that's a personal problem. Post-college learning is really what separates the boys from men, or whatever phrase you want to use. If you can't learn w/o a teacher breathing down our neck, then you're not self-motivated enough IMHO.

[RosieSD]

UCLA has a great program called UCLA Extension that offers tons of classes open to anyone who wants to take them. Here's the link: https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/BrowseCourses.aspx

USC also has a "continuing education" program with tons of classes open to anyone who wants to take them. Here's the link: http://continuingeducation.usc.edu/

These are not free (no free rides in higher ed, unfortunately), but they do fit the description of what you are looking for.

If you want something less expensive, look into classes at your local community college or your high school district's adult education program.

[theraven24]

It's one thing to crash a class one or two times, but to crash the entire course? What the hell, dude?

Community classes are much cheaper. Sign up and pay for those. One shouldn't be looking to steal from prestigious 4-year institutions such as USC and UCLA by sitting in lectures and refusing to pay. This shouldn't be encouraged.

[eureka1]

In this day and age the idea of sneaking onto a campus without authorization is just plain dumb. REAL dumb.

[SpaceMonkyPunks]

Originally Posted by eureka1

In this day and age the idea of sneaking onto a campus without authorization is just plain dumb. REAL dumb.

Especially when that campus that had an active shooter only a month or two ago.

[SportyandMisty]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkyPunks

Sorry to be blunt, but let me be honest with you: If someone feels like they don't 'get a lot' out of online courses....that's a personal problem.

Semantically speaking, you are correct: it is a personal problem. But that is not the end of the story.

Research shows there are 3 main categories of learners, with a few examples in parentheses:

* those who learn best by reading (textbooks, online, academic papers, etc)
* those who learn best by seeing (a lecture or live tutorial or even recorded presentation)
* those who learn best by doing (for example, wiring a circuit board or writing code or writing a research paper)

While we all can do all 3, research indicates we typically do better in one of those 3 environments than the other 2 (putting aside other obscure ones).

The great news is the OP recognizes she/he has a preferred style of learning and wishes to learn in that environment.

***********

TO THE OP: Try asking the professor if you may audit the lectures in the back, space permitting.