UCLA Logic Center Summer School for Undergraduates
I had deleted this post, but I have been getting search engine hits for this permalink. So, here is what I have to say about this program:
- UCLA is well-known for its logic program, but I did not have to tell you this if you found this post through a search engine. The quality of instruction was generally satisfactory, although the lackluster first-order logic lectures did leave a lot to be desired. Forcing was an excellent course, even though it was taught by the least established faculty of the summer school; namely, a graduate student. I did not take nonstandard analysis, but what I have heard indicates that it was a good course.
- Mathematical maturity issue: The summer school website claims that the school “designed to assume little if any prior experience with logic.” This is false. You need either (1) a prior course or two in logic and set theory, or (2) the mathematical maturity of a typical first-year graduate student, or something along that line.
- But, it seems to me that these courses were not designed to replace the standard semester- or year-long logic courses. They were simply to challenge the students, and give them a little edge. In that regards, the program was very well-organized: the pace of the lectures was very fast, the problems sets were nontrivial, and, indeed, the students never suffered in boredom.
- The accommodations were excellent, if not a little excessive. We were treated with a spacious two-person, air-conditioned room with daily maid service, free breakfast and dinner, weekly trips and occasional feasts, and three-thousand dollar stipend for three weeks of taking courses.
- All in all, Professor Itay Neeman succeeded in creating a very attractive summer program. If there is another logic school next year, you—the reader—should apply.