• WASHINGTON SEMINAR (University Studies 194, 4 units graded)
  

In the Washington Seminar taught by UCI faculty, students tap into the resources of Washington, including congressional hearings, policy-maker interviews, political debates, historical and archival sites, artistic venues, and much more. In addition to local field trips and guest speakers, students will be challenged to interact in the social and political dimensions of the nation's capital.

Students must make oral presentations and complete a paper on their specific internship or directed research experiences. Students will also be required to keep a detailed, reflective journal and complete written reports in conjunction with their oral presentations.

Click here for a past Seminar course web site, including class syllabus.

• FIELD WORK (4-8 units P/NP)

Field work is used in conjunction with the Washington Seminar to provide students with a social, political, cultural, educational, and academic experience in Washington, D.C. 

Click HERE to find out more about internships.

• DIRECTED RESEARCH (4-8 units graded)
  

Directed research is an opportunity for students already conducting research or interested in gaining research experience to participate in a hands-on experience in Washington, D.C. Students will have to opportunity to personally collect data and conduct interviews in their area of pursuit.

Students conducting directed research can receive between 4-8 units graded, to be determined by their UCI faculty sponsor on the UCI campus. They will be guided by their UCI faculty sponsor at UCI, with the help of the UCI faculty in D.C. to develop and execute a research project. Directed research will be used in conjunction with the Washington Seminar to balance a student's academic load with the unique social and political resources of Washington, D.C.

All students have the distinct opportunity to take courses in many fields from faculty from all UC campuses.  Many of the electives emphasize politics and public policy and carry political science credit, but courses in other disciplines, such as art history, sociology, and economics are generally available.  Topics vary from quarter to quarter.  Usually there are at least six courses from which to choose, and all are four-unit upper division courses tailored to take advantage of Washington's unique resources for study and research.  All courses meet once a week in the evening (three hours).

Students may or may not take elective courses to maintain a normal 12 unit load for financial eligibility, depending on the demands of their internship or directed research. 

Take a look at elective courses previously offered at the University of California Washington, D.C. Center.