The University of California Washington Program (UCDC) academic program integrates academic study with experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to apply classroom concepts in real-world settings. The curriculum spans governance, policy, social justice, scientific inquiry, culture, and history, ensuring a broad yet cohesive academic experience.
The UCDC Academic Program consists of two key components:
Internship
Seminars
Students receive academic credit for their internship and seminar, totaling the required minimum of 12 units, ensuring every UCDC student is registered as a full-time student on their campus. Campuses vary in the number of credits for the internship and seminar. For campus-specific information, connect with your campus coordinators.
*All students are required to have an internship to participate in the program.
Internships are the cornerstone of UCDC. Students have a wide range of internship opportunities in DC, ranging from political offices on Capitol Hill and in the federal executive branch, to non-profit institutions, museums, scientific laboratories, advocacy groups, cultural institutions, and news organizations. Students usually work three to four days each week, and leave one whole day available for their seminar course and other academic work.
For more information, visit the Internships page.
*All students are required to take a minimum of one seminar.
A fundamental part of the UCDC academic curriculum is the seminar, a weekly course taught by local Washington experts and visiting UC professors. Students are free to choose the seminar that best suits their interests or internship.
UCDC uses Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) to provide a clear, cohesive framework that ensures our curriculum is intentional and aligned with student learning goals. Organizing courses into four PLO-based categories creates a structured yet flexible approach, connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences in DC while integrating with academic majors and programs across the UC system. This model allows students to engage deeply with government, policy, social justice, and cultural narratives, building essential skills for academic and professional success.
The UCDC program works to ensure the academic accommodations students are accustomed to on campus are fulfilled while participating in the UCDC program. If you anticipate needing ADA accommodations for your academics, we’re here to support you—just be sure your home campus sends the necessary documentation before you arrive in Washington, D.C.
Please direct all questions and paperwork to: academics@ucdc.edu.