UC Irvine Extension

I am disappointed with the extension course I took. I have a Bach degree, but decided to go a different route and become a Paralegal. After much research I had narrowed it down between 2 schools and decided UCI would be the best choice. Here’s how it goes (at least for the Paralegal)-they only allow you to take x amount of classes in an actual classroom. Basically lets take Civil Lit. 1 for example-it’s on rotation, fall semester it will be online, then winter in class. They set it up so the classes you need and want to take in an actual classroom setting are not available when you need them and you have to give in and take the online class which is at least $ 100 more?! For a professor you never see face to face to hop online from home 3 times in a qtr and try to give as much lecture as possible in a limited amount of time… that somehow costs the school more $? You pay more to teach yourself in a nutshell. I’ll get back to the «online» classes in a bit. So… the whole program is set up to allow you to finish in 1.5 years if you bust your behind and evenly split all course work ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ in classroom/​online. Say there’s a REALLY difficult class you know you need to take in a class, like «legal research» but you are on a track taking as many classes as you can to obtain your certificate in 2 years, you are eventually forced to waste time if you wait until said difficult class is offered in an actual classroom with live teachers. This is only my personal experience-​I come from zero background in law, I knew after stepping foot in a law library that I was lost, confused and needed help. Yet to keep «on track» towards my goal date of obtaining my cert I took Legal Research online. I will give praise to the teachers in actual classrooms. They are hands on and I learned a lot. I’d say the class I learned the most in would be Torts, the teacher was very involved with all students and planned lessons where you learned quite a lot while having fun. Back to legal research, it was my last class, at the end of the finish line only being offered thru webinars that qtr (of course). All I can say is-​I spent countless hours in a few law libraries-​mostly Chapman as UCI’s hours were odd and I only had a small window of time to access their library as a law student. I drove out to Chapman from Irvine many times, and would email my online professor from the library when I just could not figure out a homework assignment, or even find a book! He never got back to me the same night. I scolded myself and told myself I should have waited until this class became available «in a class room» BUT WAIT. here’s the kicker… I had already taken the max amt of units I could in a classroom-​I had to take this final class online! I will never understand why this extension insists you split up your classes and take half as a normal college setting, and half online where you basically are stuck literally teaching yourself how to navigate a law library when you have a psych degree! Ahhhhh! I am a visual learner, and struggled in all of my online courses. I understand most professors are working attorneys, however if you cannot answer emails promptly after 7pm (when we are allowed to use the library as merely «extension students») Then maybe you shouldn’t take on the extra job of teaching?. Now I’m not here to say all of the online courses were like this, in fact some of them got back to me
sum up my experience-​I found that the in class elective teachers had a ton of enthusiasm-​great torts class, great corp law class… but when it came to the necessary classes ie contracts, civil lit, I found those guys to not be nearly as enthusiastic as my elective teachers were. Overall I learned very little, I still cannot grasp finding certain law books, or research things correctly as I taught myself that part and didn’t do a good job at it– I never imagined I’d have to teach myself a new subject while paying out of my pocket (but I can shoot off Torts 3 yrs later!) After I received my certificate I sent out hundreds of resumes and not 1 single interview. Sigh– I wanted more than anything to work in law. I eventually had to disable my email addy as this one woman that worked for the extension dept continued to email me 1x month for a year to take a survey! I responded to her I have yet to find a job in the field, so I will not take the survey. I unsubscribed over and over, yet she kept sending them. Really? A survey is more important than the 8 grand I wasted? They always say experience over education is key and it’s true. If you are currently somehow lucky enough to score a gig in a law office and you understand a lot of what goes on, then by all means-​take the course, you’ll get more out of it than someone who has never worked in a law office, but wants to; b/​c believe me you will end up teaching yourself half the course work. I’ll take a gander as to why the program is half like many online schools you see on the tele… cha-​ching

Extension is expensive. I was here for 1 year language studying, and now I’m a formal uci student.
A good place to start getting used to the American life though.

Really horrible took a sql queries class and instructor doesn’t even respond to questions. Very disrespectful especially since I’m paying $ 800. Was thinking about doing a certificate definitely will not waist my time taking another course here.

Currently going here for my last certificate in Oracle Database Administration on the weekends. Pretty much I didn’t have a life for the past two years, but that’s okay. I really like the professor and plus everything is hands on. I could have chose a closer place to get training but can’t say no… to it’s advertisement as one of the top 5 schools since 2001 to become a Oracle Database Administration.

Finally got through to someone who said they removed me from mailing list. Months later still getting mail. I never opted in to email/​mail and they don’t really provide a way to opt out or unsubscribe. Unacceptable.

I am currently taking Human Resource Classes at UCI extension with hopes of getting my HR certificate. The classes here are great. They are on the expensive side but all the instructors really know their stuff. Because I don’t have much experience in HR, these classes have helped me with my job better.
The staff over at extension are always helpful and always handle any issues quickly. The offer a wide variety of classes that can help you decide if a certain job field is right for you.
If you are looking for some type of continuing education that will help you in the professional realm but is not too stressful, considering a course through extension is worth looking into.