Pathway Program & Courses | UCLA Extension

Pathway students on campus

Building paths to brighter futures.

Pathway at UCLA Extension is a two-year college program for students who identify as neurodiverse, offering a blend of educational, social, and vocational experiences. On campus, Pathway students attend classes and participate in the many social, recreational and cultural activities of a major university.

Living away from home while attending a college program is an important way to learn skills for independent living, and we recommend that all students take advantage of our residential option. However, students may also commute to Pathway as either full-time or part-time students.

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We build pathways to friendship, self-confidence, and achievement

Students who successfully complete the program receive an award of completion in Learning and Life Skills and are invited to attend the annual UCLA Extension graduation ceremony at the historic Royce Hall.

To expand upon the two year certificate in Learning and Life Skills, Pathway now offers an optional third year where students can specialize with an academic or career focus.

Pathway students in the classroom

Chapter 1: Introduction

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8 seconds

My name is Mia Friedman and I am in the learning and life skills program of UCLA Pathway.

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My name is Tyler Fisher and I'm, and I'm part of the Pathway UCLA Extension Program.

Chapter 2: What I enjoyed

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What I enjoyed about being a member of UCLA was to navigate this vast, stunning

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campus, but the best of all was to participate in Pathway's intensive

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internship programs. When I got to work for and with amazing, kind, and patient people that taught me more than I could have ever dreamed of.

Chapter 3: What I liked most

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Tyler, what did you like most about UCLA Extension?

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The thing I liked well UCLA Extension is that I get more--many job opportunities and internships, for example,

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I worked at the John Wooden Center for two quarters and then my and then after the two quarters, during my spring break, one of my friends from Pathway

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decided to call me up and say, "Hey, why don't you just try to work at the Student Activity Center. It's more relaxing and you could do a lot of independent studying.

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My favorite part is being with my friends and going to the

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games and exploring the museums and doing special events with them, like

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going down to the beach and going down to Veteran Park for barbecues also doing some movie events.

Chapter 4: What we liked most

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So we first found out about the Pathway program through a friend of my wife's, and once we learned, we investigated more and the more we learned, the more we liked it.

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Mia has experienced things. The best way you learn to live alone and to live independently is to live independently.

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The best way to learn how to cook or exercise is to do it, and she's participated in everything and so that's what we like about the program. She has

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actively been living independently, going to class, preparing meals. There's so many aspects of independent living that are important, so we love it.

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When I think about Mia's future, it makes me feel good, because I know she has so

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many different possibilities. So, in terms of the specifics, we--we know that

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because of this program, she's gonna be working, and she's already had a couple offers, which is amazing.

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After graduation, I'm planning on working for Skechers in a professional office setting just like my three internships.

Chapter 5: Whats next

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The next thing that I'm gonna do is to maybe find a job where my uncle works.

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I'm so appreciative and thankful for this life-changing experience that I've had at Pathway.

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And I'm ready to go out into the working world and become a real contributor.

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What does today mean for you and your family?

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When my extended family comes from Utah to visit me, they just feel like I'm--I'm a graduate student and they are being cheerleaders for me, so.

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All I can say right now is that I am proud to be a Bruin just like you and I love you with all my heart.

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You're the best.

Take a Tour

To ensure that Pathway is the right fit for you, we invite you and your family to learn more about Pathway at UCLA Extension. Our tour presentations cover program academics, residential life, internships, and independent living support.

Upcoming Tour Dates

MARCH 2026

Webinar Monday March 2, 2026 10:30-Noon PST
In Person Walking Tour Saturday March 14, 2026 9:30-Noon PST

APRIL 2026

Live Q & A Session Thursday April 9, 2026 12:00-1:00 pm PST + View Virtual Tour prior to session
Webinar Monday April 13, 2026 12pm-1:30pm PST
In Person Walking tour Saturday April 18, 2026 2:00-4:30 pm PST

MAY 2026

Webinar Monday May 11, 202612pm-1:30pm PST
Live Q & A Friday May 22, 2026 2:00-3:00 pm PST + View Virtual Tour prior to session
Webinar Saturday May 30, 2026 9:30-Noon PST

JUNE 2026

PW Live Q&A Friday June 5, 2026 12:00-1:00 pm PST + View Virtual Tour prior to session

Tour Dates for Summer Quarter will be Updated at end of May, you may check the drop down mentu, or contact Wendy Abarca at wabarca@uclaextension.edu directly for questions regarding tours for a larger group, such as a school field trips, tranisition fairs, or Webinar presentation for larger groups.

Royce Hall at UCLA

Schedule a tour On-Demand Virtual Tour

Explanation of Tour Formats

In-Person Tour: Join us for an in-person, outdoor presentation and tour of Westwood, led by program staff. The tour includes a visit to the Residential building where Pathway students live. Comfortable shoes and walking attire are strongly recommended; tours are subject to change due to weather conditions.
Online Webinar: Live Zoom presentation covering all aspects of the Pathway Program, conducted by program staff.
Online Q&A: Live Zoom question and answers session about the Pathway Program. Prior to the Q&A, please view the videos for the On-Demand Virtual Tour.

Program Curriculum

At Pathway, our students receive the benefits of a UCLA college experience.

Pathway uses a “learn by doing” approach, and the program features a curriculum of core courses, audit courses on UCLA’s main campus, UCLA Extension courses, and internships for our students to choose from. Life skills instruction takes place in the residential setting, as well as in the community.

Pathway student taking notes

Our students:

Enhance their academic skills to set the foundation for lifelong learning
Identify career goals and participate in activities that support future employment
Achieve more independence and participation in community activities
Increase social skills by developing personal and work relationships
Practice self-advocacy and self-determination in academic and daily living
Assess one's own needs and engage in a healthy lifestyle
Pursue self-enrichment activities that match personal goals

TK at UCLA John Wooden Center

Internships

Internships at Pathway promote positive, real employment experiences for our students to prepare them for the real world.

Our students are required to complete 100 hours during their two years, and are encouraged to try out a new internship each quarter. We work hard to match our students with internships that not only interest and excite them, but that will ultimately help them reach their goals once they graduate from the program.

Past student internships have included:

Life Skills

While participating in Pathway, students receive life skills instruction from our partner, Level Up Solutions, a California regional center vendor. An independent living skills assessment will determine the scope and frequency of personalized instruction to accommodate each students’ needs. Staff work with students to develop essential living skills to prepare them to live in the least restrictive, most inclusive and safe environment possible. Services are provided in the student apartments, on campus, and throughout the community.

Educational Coach Support

As a part the college experience, Pathway students are paired with a UCLA undergraduate who provides academic support and peer mentorship. We consider this to be one of the highlights of the Pathway program, as it enables further inclusion on UCLA's campus for our students.

Learn more about our curriculum

Get Started Today

Admission Applications for Start Of Fall 2026 Are Now Being Accepted

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Eligible students will meet the following criteria:

18 to 25 years old when starting Pathway
Ready to live independently
Have completed high school with a diploma, certificate of completion, or equivalent
Be able to safely get around campus independently after initial orientation
Be able to actively participate in completing the Pathway application and interview process
Have basic safety skills in unsupervised settings
Have family support and a personal desire to be successful in all aspects of Pathway
Have academic, vocational, and social experiences that contribute to success in Pathway
Meet eligibility criteria for Regional Center services or have the ability to purchase services privately

Pathway

Courses

Health and Nutrition I

IS: UCLA Recreation II

Mindful Advocacy: Disability Law, Policy, and What It All Means

This X Open course is an introduction to advocacy for people with disabilities. We will spend this session discussing the basics of disability rights and what it means to be a good advocate. If you enjoy this session, considering enrolling for the full Mindful Advocacy Course in the spring.

Mindful Advocacy: Interpreting Law and Policy for Individuals with Disabilities

Preparing for College with Pathway

Pathway has been offering the college experience to students with disabilities since 2006. Come join us to learn how to prepare your neurodivergent student for postsecondary education! We will cover how to start preparing your high school student for college, what funding sources available for programs like ours, and the core skills needed to succeed at the college level.

All donations to the Pathway Program go directly to our student scholarship fund. Consider contributing to student opportunities today!

Donate to Pathway

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