UCDC

The UCDC (quarter in Washington, D.C.) Program supervises and supports students who pursue internships and academic study in the nation’s capital. The program is open through a competitive application process to juniors and seniors (occasionally sophomores) in all majors. Students enroll for fall, winter, or spring quarter, earning 12-18 course credits, and continue to be registered as a full-time UCSC student. Applicant selection is based on academic record, a written statement, a letter of recommendation, and possibly a personal interview.

Students spend 30 hours each week at their internships. Washington, D.C. offers a wide array of internship possibilities, from working on Capitol Hill or in a government agency to interning for a major media outlet, a nonprofit organization, or a cultural institution. Internship placements are selected by students based on their interests, with the assistance of UCDC program staff as needed.

Students also attend a weekly research seminar. An essential component of the Washington program, the seminar enables students to draw on Washington’s rich variety of research opportunities to complete a research paper on a subject related to their internships.  In addition to the research seminar, students may also opt to take one upper-division elective course from a range of classes offered by faculty at the Washington Center. Elective classes are offered in several disciplines, including the social and natural sciences, arts, and humanities. All courses take advantage of Washington’s unique resources for study and research.

Internship placements are geared toward student interests, including but not limited to:

-science and the environment
-government and public policy
-human rights
-education
-health
-electoral politics
-the arts
-law
-business and finance
-media and communications


This program is managed through the Global Learning Office.