The UC Davis Distance Learning Program (DLP) is an outreach program intended to help fulfill the UC Davis mission of teaching, research, and public service. The DLP program is a partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) that is separate and independent from other efforts. DLP allows employees at LLNL to enroll in classes and pursue a graduate degree via recorded lectures with greatly reduced need to commute to the Davis campus. Many practicing engineers who take DLP classes would not be able to regularly attend UC Davis classes. Selected UC Davis classes are held in specially equipped studios and recorded lectures can be posted to course websites for viewing.

The courses available through the DLP are driven by student interest, within the graduate engineering course list.  The focus is on the departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and Materials Science Engineering. Within these departments, YOU TELL US what courses to offer! Students can find information about courses online in the UC Davis General Catalog. Within each department is a list and description of courses. DLP students select and request classes to be recorded from this list. The DLP staff then works with the academic department to schedule the course in specially equipped classrooms. When you register for a course through the UC Davis-Distance Learning Program, you are required to pay the standard UC Davis tuition or University Extension Open Campus fees, depending on your enrollment status.

Most lab employees admitted to degree programs enroll as a part-time student. Most Open Campus students enroll in one course per quarter, and the Open Campus fee is based on the number of units of the course you are taking.  Currently it is $1200 for a 4-unit Open Campus class.