Academic Resources

Education Abroad Center

207 Third Street, Suite 120
(530) 297-4633; Fax (530) 297-4695
http://eac.ucdavis.edu

The opportunity to study abroad is one of the richest educational experiences a student can have. When students return from study abroad in places like Italy or Hong Kong, they describe their time abroad as an experience that changed their lives. Students study abroad to see the world, to study their academic interests in a global context, to learn a language, to prepare for a job in the global economy and to add distinction to an application for graduate or professional school.

The Education Abroad Center (EAC) can help students decide which program is best for them, whether to study abroad for a summer, quarter, semester or a full year and when to go abroad (freshman through senior years). The EAC Coordinators also participate in freshman seminars, offer financial aid workshops and can advise on programs that have internship opportunities. The EAC also administers the Global and International Studies (GIS) minor, which is sponsored by the Humanities Program in the College of Letters and Science.

The EAC is home to the University of California Education Abroad Program (EAP), to UC Davis Quarter Abroad and to UC Davis Summer Abroad. The EAC also provides advising for students interested in non-UC “independent” programs and administers the Non-UC Study Abroad (NUCSA) leave program. Finally, the EAC advises and provides student services for international EAP Reciprocal Exchange students.

First-Year Seminar Program

1350 Surge III
(530) 752-6050; http://cetl.ucdavis.edu/first-year-seminars/students/

The UC Davis First-Year Seminar Program gives first-year students the opportunity to study with faculty members in small groups, meeting in settings more informal than the ordinary classroom. The seminars focus on a current intellectual interest of the faculty member. All seminars emphasize student participation, providing intense intellectual exchange among students and between student and teacher.

Mathematics and Science Teaching Program (MAST)

104 Everson Hall
(530) 754-9621; mast@ucdavis.edu, http://mast.ucdavis.edu

The UC Davis Mathematics and Science Teaching Program (MAST) program helps students explore mathematics and science teaching careers while working on their math, science, or engineering degree. Part of the statewide University of California Science and Mathematics Initiative, MAST offers seminars on education, internships in K-12 classrooms, and academic advising to help students choose coursework compatible with multiple goals, including preparing for a teaching credential program.

Student Farm

(530) 752-7645; http://studentfarm.ucdavis.edu

The Student Farm offers students a wide range of educational and research opportunities in sustainable agriculture through numerous internship offerings, formal courses (e.g., in organic crop production, sustainable agriculture and environmental education) and research efforts. Opportunities include several staff-supervised hands-on projects such as organic vegetable production and marketing, on-farm composting, tractor operations and environmental education tours for school children. In addition, students may conduct field and greenhouse experiments in various aspects of sustainable agriculture or other individual projects. The Student Farm is a part of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute and is located on the west edge of the campus core, near the Rec Pool. The Student Farm is open to all students, regardless of major or background.

Washington, D.C. Program

230 South Hall
(530) 752-6652; http://washingtonprogram.ucdavis.edu

The University of California hosts a system-wide academic and residential program for undergraduate students attending from each of the UC campuses. Housed within the UC Washington Center (UCDC), an 11-story, state of the art facility, convenient to public transportation, and located in downtown D.C., the programs provide undergraduates an opportunity to enrich their education while in residence for one quarter in the nation's capital. The program's principal activities include enrollment in credit-bearing courses, participation in academic internships, and opportunity to explore the many educational, cultural and historical activities in the Washington area.

UCDC is open to undergraduates from all majors who will have upper-division standing by the start of the quarter in which they plan to participate. A GPA of at least 3.000 is recommended for admission although not required. Applicants are also evaluated based on overall relevant experience, a written statement, and letters of recommendation.

The program offers both an 11 week academic year component, where students earn academic credit and continue to be registered as full-time UC Davis students during the quarter in which they participate; and a 10-week summer component with a credit or non-credit option. The academic component includes an internship that requires students to work three to four days per week as interns in Congress, federal agencies, interest groups, trade associations, research institutions, media corporations, museums, or in other organizations related to the interests and objectives of individual students; a research seminar that requires students to write a research paper in consultation with Washington Program faculty and graduate fellows; and an upper division seminar chosen from elective courses that vary each quarter but typically include international relations, history, political science, public policy and other social sciences; the arts and humanities; and science policy. In addition to regular instruction, seminars often include guest speakers, observations of congressional committees and federal agencies, and other relevant Washington experiences. Courses are taught by UCDC faculty appointed by the various UC campuses, or visiting faculty from the Washington area.