LSAMP Undergraduate Program

The LSAMP Undergraduate Program offers various activities and benefits throughout the year. Once a student's initial application is approved, the student is responsible for submitting a continuing application each academic year. In order to continue receiving benefits of the LSAMP Undergraduate program, participants must do the following

(1) Retain a declared, eligible STEM major (see eligible majors on the About LSAMP section of this website)

(2) Complete the annual continuation 2-page application

(3) Participate in one or more LSAMP activities throughout the budget year including summer; and

(4) Attend at least three LSAMP-approved seminars per semester (if you want to receive Early Registration.)

Program Activities

MATH Boot Camps and Science & Engineering BREEZE Workshops

During the summer, the CSU-LSAMP program @ Cal State LA offers two types of non-AY activities for help with science, engineering and mathematics (SEM) courses: The MATH Boot Camps and the BREEZE Workshops. The MATH Boot Camps, are held in July through early August. They are designed for new incoming STEM freshmen and transfer students as well as continuing STEM students, who based on the Entry Level Math (ELM) test or performance in other math courses, placed in a math course that is below what they need to complete the math requirements for their major. Students are given the pre-Boot Camp placement exams by the campus Testing Center to determine their math knowledge and preparation. They are then placed into the specific Boot Camp for their math level. The goal is for each student to be able to successfully test out of this math course and move into the next level of math in the fall term. If this is not possible for the student, the Boot Camp provides enough material and problem-solving activities that they can successfully complete their math course i n the fall term. A post-placement test is given at the end of the Boot Camp for each participant. Boot Camps meet 4-6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 4-6 weeks depending on the specific math Boot Camp and needs of the participants.

During the summer and winter sessions, the CSU-LSAMP program @ Cal State LA runs the Science and Engineering BREEZE workshops. The Science and Engineering BREEZE Workshops focus on the critical course materials that have created roadblocks to student success in specific science and engineering courses that LSAMP students will take during the academic year. In science, BREEZE workshops are offered for general biology; biostatistics, cell biology and genetics; general chemistry; organic chemistry; calculus-based physics; and non-calculus based physics. In engineering, BREEZE workshops are offered for statics; statistics and probability for engineers; structural mechanics; circuit analysis; electric machines; strength of materials; thermodynamics; and data structures & algorithms. The Science and Engineering BREEZE workshops meet daily for 2-4 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 2-4 weeks depending on the specific BREEZE workshop and the needs of the participants.

Academic Excellence Workshops

The CSU-LSAMP program @ Cal State LA currently supports development of workshops in all of the major lower division and upper division science, engineering and mathematics gatekeeper courses. These numerous SEM courses are offered during the fall and spring semesters. Most of the STEM departments have incorporated 1-unit workshop courses to the lecture course, which serve as the AEW workshops for all students including LSAMP students. Additionally if there is not already a 1-unit adjunct workshop the LSAMP program, offers additional workshops for such courses as demand warrants. 

Textbook Loaner Program

The CSU-LSAMP program @ Cal State LA provides loaner materials to students who show significant need for textbooks and study materials for STEM classes taken throughout the academic year and AEW workshops for specific SEM courses. Students can sign out these materials for a semester on a first-come, first-serve basis after consideration of level of participation in LSAMP activities and attendance at workshops and other meetings. Failure to return the material in the same condition as checked out results in the loss of early registration for the following term.

LSAMP Undergraduate Research Training Program

The CSU-LSAMP program @ Cal State LA offers the LSAMP Year-round Undergraduate Research Training Program. This research training program is designed to prepare students for entry level research positions either on campus or within a company. Students receive formal training on proposal and budget development, oral, written, and poster presentation skills, hypothesis development and testing, data analysis; and initial hands-on research experience during the academic year in their field of interest. During the summer they have the opportunity to continue in the same research group or join a new research group or program. Also during the course of this program, students are expected to apply to national or international summer research programs or internships to further expand their skill set.

Travel Awards

The CSU-LSAMP program @ Cal State LA provides travel funds for students to network and present their research at a professional conference. Please see the Travel Procedures handout located (where will it be located on the website?) if you wish to apply for travel funds to present your research at a professional conference. Additionally, there are limited funds available to attend and network at a professional conference without presenting. In order to be eligible for these funds, students must fill out the LSAMP Travel Request Form or  applications for specific conferences. Detailed instructions are available on the website in the Undergraduate forms folder.

International Activities

The CSU-LSAMP program @ Cal State LA encourages students to apply to an international research program in countries such as England, Hungary, Ireland, Brazil, Costa Rica, Belize, Chile or Thailand. Information regarding these programs will be posted on the website routinely and emailed to LSAMP students.

Graduate School Preparation Activities

The CSU-LSAMP program @ Cal State LA holds various workshops throughout the year which focus on preparing students for graduate school. These graduate school preparation workshops and other meetings are generally one to two hours (or in a few cases 1-2 days., They may include guest speakers, and they focus on topics such as (a) the process of applying to graduate school and suggestions on how to make it less stressful; (b) tips for putting together a “strong” application; (c) tips on choosing the right graduate program; (d) the graduate school interviewing process and peer reviews; (e) the type of commitment it will take to complete a graduate program; (f) the challenges of choosing a mentor for your graduate research; (g) other challenges you may face during your graduate studies; (h) how to pay for your graduate education; (i) graduate school funding sources; (j) the GRE; (k) what constitutes great letters of recommendation and how to get good letters; (l) networking at professional conferences; (m) how to write a quality abstract; (n) how to get your research published; (o) how to give quality oral presentations; (p) how to give quality poster presentations; and (o) how to apply for the NSF-GRFP and other graduate school fellowships. Prior to major national conferences, students will have the opportunity to deliver their presentations at one or more of our meetings.

LSAMP Academic and Career Advisement

In addition to the advisement you receive from your major department and/or academic advisement center, the CSU-LSAMP program @ Cal State LA provides additional support in terms of academic progress and career directions and decisions in STEM. If you have questions about career directions or decisions in STEM, with the help of the Career Center we will provide support for testing and determination of career directions. There are specific actions that each class level (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) should complete to successfully pursue a STEM career. If you encounter academic difficulties in your STEM major, we strongly encourage you to meet with one of the LSAMP coordinators. LSAMP can help track your progress to graduation and find assistance for you along the way. There are many features in GET including “My Planner,” your CAAR, and the EAB that are available to LSAMP advisors to assist you on your academic journey. Meeting with an LSAMP advisor will ensure you are making academic progress toward not only graduation, but also your desired career goal. If you need to meet with one of the LSAMP Program Coordinators, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Jefferson or Dr. Yamazaki via Appointment-Plus (https://www.appointment-plus.com/login.php). Choose the LSAMP Program Advisement Plan Development session for the type of session to schedule. Also note that Appointment-Plus may not be available during summer sessions so email Dr. Jefferson ([email protected]) or Dr. Yamazaki ([email protected]) if you have advisement questions.

CSU-LSAMP is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant # HRD-1302873 and the CSU Office of the Chancellor.