UCDC Courses
A list of courses can be accessed using the drop-down menu below. Select Fall Quarter 2021 or Fall Semester 2021.
For *preliminary* information about each course, click on the course title.
Please note: 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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A Biden-Harris Presidency : Understanding Executive Power in Historical and Contemporary Context
Most of us have been inundated with elections and politics for the past year. Many Americans can name several presidents and even have opinions on “good” versus “bad” presidents. But what do they actually do and how do we measure and evaluate their...
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Congress In History and In Transition
Congress and other branches of the U.S. government were designed nearly two and a half centuries ago under circumstances and reflecting values and philosophies that bear little relationship to contemporary America. All of these institutions have...
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General Research: Developing Critical Writing and Thinking Skills Through Independent Research
Stephen Colbert coined the term “truthiness” to describe the tendency of people to “go with their gut” rather than facts and evidence in evaluating the world around them. We are all affected by biases that obstruct critical thinking. Challenging these...
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Reducing Poverty and Inequity: Lessons from International Development
This is an introductory course to the International Development field. The focus is on some of the key questions, challenges, and achievements in this field. Materials from the course (readings, documentaries, discussions of current events) will...
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Research in World Politics in Interesting Times
This seminar is designed to help you to critically engage with the dizzying array of problems faced by human societies today and to guide you through the process of developing a significant research paper on a topic of your choice related to world...
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The U.S. Supreme Court: Conflict, Change and the Court
Immigration. LGBT rights. Healthcare. Abortion. The death penalty. Cell phone privacy. The U.S. Supreme Court has decided cases on all of these topics in recent years, and its decisions ultimately touch the lives of all Americans. In this class we will...
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Washington Media: Fake News, Social Media, and the Reshaping of American Politics
What is the difference between “fake news""and journalism? Why does President Trump call news organizations “the enemy of the American people""? Should the media report what people want to know or ought to know? Does objectivity exist?
This...
Quarter Elective
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Power and Purpose: Understanding U.S. Foreign Policy
This course explores the ideas and assumptions that guide U.S. foreign policy. We will consider how U.S. leaders choose to engage with the rest of the world -- and consider how they might in the future -- by focusing on a number of recurring themes...
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Washington History, Institutions & Rituals Myth vs. Reality
Much is said about Washington, D.C. Much of it is wrong. This course will immerse students in the history, institutions, demographics, and rituals of nation’s capital. You will learn about Washington’s transformation from a remote federal city to the...