What Is Break Through Tech AI?
The Break Through Tech AI Program helps students gain the skills they need to get jobs in the fastest-growing areas of tech, including data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, through the following: AI/ML skill modules, industry mentors, and resume-building projects.
How It Works
Hosted at UCLA, the 18-month Break Through Tech AI Program will help you master the skills necessary to get jobs in the fastest-growing areas of tech: data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
SKILLS BASED CURRICULUM
Developed by industry and academic leaders, students begin with a summer ML Engineering curriculum that teaches the critical, practical skills that help qualify candidates for entry-level jobs in the field including skills in building data analysis pipelines, training and validating ML models, while gaining experience with common ML/AI libraries.
INDUSTRY PROJECTS
Next, students join the AI Studio where they work in teams to solve industry challenges and develop a portfolio of AI projects that demonstrate their capabilities.
MENTORING AND CAREER COACHING
Throughout the program, students receive career coaching, mentorship and summer internship placement support, all aimed at helping participants successfully launch their AI tech career.
Interested In Applying?
The Break Through Tech AI is a free program for second-year and third-year undergraduate students in Southern California. Applicants should be majoring (or planning to major) in computer science, mathematics, engineering, or a related STEM discipline. Applications for the 2025/2026 cohort will open January 2025.
Have unanswered questions? Send us an email at nfeliciano@g.ucla.edu.
Why UCLA?
Ranked the #1 public university for the sixth straight year, UCLA is a powerhouse in research breakthroughs, and lends its innovative approach to Break Through Tech students through our new collaboration. Known as the birthplace of the internet, the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering is also where countless other fields took some of their first steps — from artificial intelligence to reverse osmosis, from mobile communications to human prosthetics. In 2021, UCLA became the first university to win an XPRIZE led by a civil engineering team that was awarded a $7.5 million grand prize in the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE. UCLA Samueli is consistently ranked in the Top 10 among U.S. public engineering schools. In 2021, the school launched its Science Hub for Humanity and Artificial Intelligence in collaboration with Amazon Science to address humanity’s pressing challenges through cross pollination of academic and industry research that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence.
This program really kickstarted my whole career, both academically and professionally. I have a newfound confidence and I am beyond excited to see what the future holds for me. The support I received and the friendships I have made has made this experience so valuable to me.
Break Through Tech AI was a very special program for me because it was the first time I saw women as the majority in an AI space. For so long I’ve felt I don’t belong in my male dominated classes, but I was able to find a community here to learn from and support me.
This program took me from simply being passionate about AI, to seeing and charting a course towards a career path that is tangible and concrete.
Meet the UCLA BTT Team
Glenn Reinman
Faculty Director
Kevin Graham
Site Director
Wei Wang
Instructor
Shahani Waas
Assistant Director, AI Studio
Nicole Feliciano
Assistant Director, Recruitment and Placement
Sofia Lee
Assistant Director, Career Services