Courses
A list of current and past courses offered at UCDC is provided below. Use the drop-down menu to select the relevant Quarter or Semester course listing. For detailed information about a course, click on the course title. You may also view a calendar of the full slate of courses for the current term by visiting the Course Schedule.
For information on future courses offered at UCDC, please see Future Courses.
*In the event of low enrollment, a class may be cancelled. Students will be informed as soon as possible and enrolled in a different class.
Core Seminar
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Congress and Politics in Washington
This thematic research seminar explores the history of Congress—the first branch under the Constitution—and its role in making public policy, as well as other issues in contemporary politics and government. The subject matter will cover the...
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General Research
Gathering knowledge and learning the truth about the world around us is a fundamental part of human development and progress. While most of us take knowledge and truth for granted, the process by which we understand our political, social, cultural,...
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International Development
This course introduces students to the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as agents of advocacy and socio-political, economic and cultural change. The emphasis is on a) examining ways in which the NGO sector operates at the local, national...
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International Policy
"This seminar is designed to help you to engage critically and think systematically about crucial questions that are global in scope and to guide you through the process of developing a significant research paper. This is not a field seminar in...
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Judicial Process and Politics
The theme of this course is that the judiciary is a political institution in the American scheme of government. This topic couldn’t be more relevant than it is now in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election as we witness courts across the...
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The American Presidency and Executive Power
Most Americans can name several presidents and even have opinions on “good” versus “bad” presidents. But how do we evaluate and measure what presidents do and our expectations for their leadership? This course will put the modern presidency in...
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The U.S. Supreme Court
"Gay marriage. The death penalty. Abortion. Health care. Cell phone privacy. The U.S. Supreme Court has heard cases on all of these topics in recent years, and its decisions ultimately touch the lives of all Americans. In this class we will study the...
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Washington Focus
Much is said about Washington. Much of it is wrong. This course will immerse students in the history, politics, culture, character and diversity of the nation’s capital. You will learn about Washington’s transformation from a remote federal city into...
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Washington Media
"What is the difference between “fake news’ and journalism? Does objectivity exist? Why does President Trump call the news media the “enemy of the people.? This seminar explores the rapidly evolving relationship between the news media, governing and...
Quarter Elective
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Advocacy and NGOs
This course introduces students to the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as agents of advocacy and socio-political, economic and cultural change. The emphasis is on a) examining ways in which the NGO sector operates at the local, national...
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Road to the White House 2020: Understanding the Money, Message and Media of Modern Presidential Campaigns
This course will look at all aspects of national campaigns, from the evolution of political parties and advertising, to the messages of potential 2020 candidates, the impact of social media and role of outside interest groups. The class will provide...
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US Foreign Policy
This course examines contemporary issues in U.S. foreign policy, focusing primarily on a series of regional case studies including the Persian Gulf (Iran and Iraq); the Middle East and North Africa; U.S. and Japan, the Koreas & East Asia;...