Educational Opportunities
Students at UC San Diego are strongly encouraged to participate in opportunities that will help them develop the skills and knowledge to be competitive after their undergraduate years at UC San Diego.
Here are just some of the educational opportunities available to UCSD students:
The Academic Internship Program is open to any qualified UC San Diego junior and senior. The program will enhance a student's education by providing relevant and challenging off-campus fieldwork experiences. Student internships are available in a variety of settings: a political office in Washington, D.C., a conservation group in San Francisco, a medical laboratory in San Diego, or any number of other possibilities. Students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average at the date of application and have completed 90.0 units, including some upper-division course work. For further information, you may call (858) 534-4355
or visit http://aip.ucsd.edu 
. For the UCDC Internship Program call Career Services or visit their website at http://career.ucsd.edu .
The coherent study of African-American culture informs students about one of the most important ethnic and political groups in the history of America. The concerns and interests of African-Americans have set the stage for the advancement of political, educational, social and cultural movements in the United States and the world. A minor is comprised of seven courses totaling 28 units. At least four must be upper-division. The African-American Studies Minor is introduced by a core lower-division course that frames the minor from a historical or literary perspective. Following the core courses, the upper-division requirements center on three conceptual themes: history and context, politics and society, representation and voice. Completing an African-American Studies minor at UCSD indicates a student's firm understanding of a major portion of Western history, culture, and politics. Advantages of the AASM include:
- a deeper understanding of African-American culture
- an opportunity to diversify your intellectual interests
- enhancing writing and critical thinking skills that are necessary and beneficial, regardless of a chosen career
For more information on the African-American Studies Minor, please click here.
You may also call (858) 534-6013 or e-mail af-amstudies@ucsd.edu.
This program enables UC San Diego students with serious and genuine interest in studying at Dartmouth to participate in a campus exchange for one quarter. For additional information, you may contact the program coordinator at (858) 534-3580.
Students in good standing may request to pursue a double major. A double major must consist of courses that satisfy all lower and upper-division requirements for both majors and must include at least 40 upper-division units unique to each major. Courses taken in fulfillment of lower-division requirements may overlap. Double majors should be declared when the student has reached junior level standing (90.0 units), but students must declare a double major once they attain 135.0 units. Before declaring, the student must have completed significant work in prerequisite courses for both majors and should have a reasonable statement of purpose.
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 is required for approval.
Students with double majors must graduate with no more than 240.0 total units and within fifteen quarters at UC San Diego. Approval from both major departments and the college is necessary for official declaration of a double major. Double major petitions are available at the Academic Advising Office.
These 1.0 unit seminars offer freshman an ideal opportunity to learn and participate in current research in all fields. They are taught by senior UC San Diego faculty and researchers and are limited to 20 students. There are no midterms or finals. Students meet for only 8 to 10 hours during the quarter. They are only given P/NP. Topics differ every quarter. Check out the possibilities on TritonLink.
The Thurgood Marshall College Honors Program strives to address one of the greatest responsibilities and challenges of higher education: the education of students of exceptionally high academic achievement. The outstanding program provides the proper environment and organization for students to pursue individual excellence. Participation in the honors program entitles students access to specially designed honors courses, attendance at special, lectures, seminars, and other events as well as individualized counseling.
For more details, please click here to see the Honors program.
Thurgood Marshall College offers an Individual Studies Major that allows students to pursue a coherent course of study not formally offered at UC San Diego. To apply for this major, students must have a 3.25 grade point average, be in good standing, and have completed Dimensions of Culture 1, 2, and 3. Students must submit a written proposal with a supporting statement from a Senate ladder ranked faculty advisor, a list of prerequisite courses, and a proposed curriculum.
This major must have approval of the Thurgood Marshall College Curriculum Committee. For further information, you should contact the Thurgood Marshall College Academic Advising Office at (858) 534-4110.
Undergraduates interested in studying at another UC for one quarter may wish to apply to the Intercampus Visitor Program. Students must have a minimum 2.0 grade point average to apply. There is a fee for processing the form, as well as the registration fee. Note that some campuses have maximum unit allowances or require specific academic need. UC Los Angeles and Berkeley require two letters of support. Contact the Office of the Registrar, (858) 534-5958.
Minors are optional at Thurgood Marshall College. To keep as many options open as possible, we encourage students to consider a minor. Minors provide an excellent opportunity to broaden, enhance, and/or complement the major field of study. Requirements for minors offered by Academic Departments are listed in the General Catalog. The University also offers many unique interdisciplinary minors which examine an area of study from different academic perspectives. Students should discuss their interests in a minor with an Academic Counselor at Thurgood Marshall College. Minors can be declared online on TritonLink.
The Morehouse/Spelman Exchange Program provides interested students an opportunity to study on a historically Black college campus for one semester or one year. The exchange programs are at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges in Atlanta, Georgia. If you are interested, you may contact the Program Coordinator for additional information regarding application procedures and deadlines at (858) 534- 4110.
Students may study abroad through the University of California's Education Abroad Program (EAP) and UC San Diego's Opportunity Abroad Program (OAP), earning academic credit toward their degree and gaining valuable international experience. EAP participates in over 100 institutions in 32 countries, many for a full academic year, others for a shorter term. Most EAP programs require a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and junior standing at the time of participation, but there are some exceptions. Language requirements vary by program.
Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP) provides worldwide options sponsored by institutions other than UC. Eligibility requirements are set by the sponsor and therefore vary widely. In addition to academic programs, OAP advisors can assist students in selecting a wide range of volunteer, internship and educational travel programs. EAP and OAP students may use their financial aid while abroad. In addition, they may access more than $280,000 in special study abroad scholarships and grants.
For more information on both programs, you should contact the Programs Abroad Office at the International Center, (858) 534- 1123
or at http://pao.ucsd.edu
Thurgood Marshall College students are encouraged to take advantage of the Public Service option. Involvement in public service enables students to draw connections between formal education and the political and moral choices beyond the classroom. Students may participate in public service for academic credit by taking EDS 130, EDS 134, EDS 136 or EDS 138 plus EDS 139 with each.
These courses consist of lecture and field work. The field work is carried out in local schools where UC San Diego students serve and mentor fifth and sixth graders or junior high/ high school students as well as on campus at the UC San Diego model school, The Preuss School. These children come from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
The Public Service Minor at UC San Diego encourages students to understand the history and practices of public service and to participate in the development of civic skills. Those skills and practices are essential cornerstones of participation in a democratic society regardless of one’s chosen profession.
The coursework for the minor emphasizes the history and emergence of the nonprofit sector as a national institution distinct from the private and public sectors. The practicum aspects of the minor coupled with the traditional academic work encourages students to see the connection between the deeds of charitable service and the historic worth of citizen participation in the common public franchise regardless of professional interest or gain.
The minor in public service is open to all UC San Diego students in good standing. Students first compete TMC 15, Public Service in America, and must choose one area of specialization from Education, Government, Social Issues or Health. For more information on the Public Service Minor, please click here.
These academic options include undergraduate teaching assistantships and opportunities to study topics not offered in the regular departmental curriculum. You can learn more about a Special Studies course by checking the number: 195 Teaching assistantship (only 8.0 units of 195 may count for graduation credit, 3.0 GPA required) 196 Special honors course, see the department 197 Internships sponsored by some departments and Warren College 198 Small group study courses with a particular professor 199 Individual study courses with a particular professor
Eligibility for Special Studies 197 - 199 requires 90.0 completed units, a 2.5 GPA, and prior completion of any prerequisites stipulated by the instructor or the department. These types of projects should be planned early. See departments for further instructions.
