Learn how you can make an impact on our nation’s future
Gain a deeper understanding of political behavior, movements, and decision-making at the highest levels
The Department of Political Science at UCLA is one of the nation’s top 10% undergraduate programs. The major offers a comprehensive and multidisciplinary education in International Relations, American Politics, Methods, Political Theory, Race Ethnicity & Race Politics, and Comparative Politics.
The Political Science Department is offering a 3 week program with introductory coursework in American Politics as well as career panel component, bringing special guests to speak on the field and various career paths one can take with a Political Science degree. Students will leave the program with a strong understanding of American Politics, five units of either letter grade or pass/no pass college credit to use towards their Bachelor/High School degrees, mentors in the grad and undergraduate levels, and an idea of how far-reaching political thought/influence is in our society.
For questions about the program, please contact gradinfo@polisci.ucla.edu.
Political Science
As the title suggests, this course is an introduction to politics in the United States of America. Politics is the process through which people engage in collective action. Understanding politics requires understanding why people engage in collective action to begin with, how they do so, and what the consequences are. In particular it will be important to understand how they create and sustain evolving institutions that organize this collective action, and how these institutions work. Although American politics may not always seem logical, the political system was created and persists to serve certain needs, and so it has a certain logic.
The purpose of this course is to provide students with basic facts about American politics, some explanation of the logic of American politics and an introduction to how social scientists learn about the world. Along the way we will engage with numerous examples from political history and current American politics.
Application deadline: June 12, 2026 (5 pm PST) | Enrollment deadline: June 19, 2026 (12 pm PST)
Applications are reviewed and admission to the program is granted on a rolling basis starting February 15th. Applying at your earliest convenience is highly recommended.
The program has application requirements for admission. Eligible applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 3 weeks.
Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process:
- An unofficial transcript from grade 9 to present reflecting a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
- If your school transcript utilizes a different grading system, please submit your transcript as is. If available, please attach a translation/equivalency guide.
- INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: If you are an international student, a transcript refers to your complete secondary academic record. To learn more about converting your grades into a US-based GPA, please click here.
- If your school has a translation/equivalency guide, please also include it with your transcript. If you do not have a translation/equivalency guide, please still submit your most up-to-date transcript as is for staff to review.
- Value statement: At the time of registration, ALL applicants will be prompted to submit a few short sentences reflecting on their pursuit of participation in the UCLA Summer Precollege Focus Series. Please note that students are strongly discouraged from relying on ChatGpt/AI tools for their application responses and are encouraged to submit original and authentic answers.
- Short essay response
Political Science is a commuter program. UCLA Summer Sessions does NOT provide on-campus housing for commuter programs. However, students who are 17 or older as of June 23, 2026, may independently apply for housing through UCLA Housing. Students interested in exploring this option should review information at UCLA Summer Housing.
Participants of the Political Science program must commute to the UCLA campus each day of the program. Specific location information (e.g. classroom) will be provided to enrolled students closer to the start of the program.
Parking
Summer Sessions parking permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students have the option to purchase a summer term permit or a daily permit.
Please review the Transportation and Parking Services web page and read the “Summer Quarter Parking (All Students)” section for more information on all permit types, including cost.
Coursework
Political Science 40; 5 units
Grading Basis
Students will receive a letter grade upon completion. However, if you would like to change your grade type to Pass/No Pass (P/NP), please contact your instructor. To receive a “Pass” notation, students must earn a letter grade of C or better. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.
In order to successfully complete the program, students must not have more than 3 excused or unexcused absences.
UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support
Qualified students attending grades 9th – 11th in Spring 2026 in the state of California may be eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need- and merit-based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. Students must be 15 years old by the first day of Summer Sessions 2026 on June 23rd in order to participate in the Summer Precollege Focus Series and/or apply for Summer Scholars Support. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Summer Precollege Focus Series program.
Summer 2026 deadline to apply: April 1 (5pm PST)
UCLA Political Science Scholarship
POLITICAL SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
The UCLA Department of Political Science offers full or partial, need-based scholarships. The award is not intended to cover travel costs and may not cover textbooks or other course materials. The final award amount will reflect the fees of POLITICAL SCIENCE in which the applicant is enrolled.
IMPORTANT DATES
- February 15: POLITICAL SCIENCE Scholarship Application is available
- April 1: POLITICAL SCIENCE Scholarship Application is due by 5 p.m.
- April 26: Award announcements are emailed at 5 p.m.
- May 1: Students who have been awarded support must confirm acceptance by replying to the award announcement email.
ELIGIBILITY
To apply for the POLITICAL SCIENCE Scholarship, you must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:
- You are currently attending a high school in the state of California;
- Enrolled in grades 9th – 11th during Spring 2026
- 15 years of age or older prior to June 23, 2026
- You have not received a POLITICAL SCIENCE Scholarship in the past;
- You will be a continuing high school student in Fall 2026 (seniors graduating in 2026 are not eligible);
- You have a family annual adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Submit the POLITICAL SCIENCE Scholarship Application online. The application requires:
- Student Information
- School Information
- High School Transcript (does not need to be official)
- Parent/Guardian Information
- Essay Question 1: Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. (2-page limit)
- Essay Question 2 (optional): Please describe any additional information that you have not had the opportunity to share, including financial hardships or obstacles that have impacted you. What steps have you taken to overcome it, and how has it affected your academic achievement? (2-page limit)
Students will need to upload the following to the POLITICAL SCIENCE Scholarship Application online:
- *Federal Income Tax Form (1040) of your parent/s or legal guardian/s
- *W-2 Tax Form (if eligible)
- Letter of recommendation from a teacher or school counselor commenting on your ability to successfully complete a rigorous program. Please allow your recommender at least 2 weeks to write a complete letter of support before uploading the letter to the application.
*Before uploading your tax information, please redact social security numbers on the documents.
For questions, please contact us at gradinfo@polisci.ucla.edu.
Program Dates: June 22, 2026 – July 10, 2026
Program Type: Commuter
Program Eligibility: 9th-12th grade in Spring 2026*
Application deadline: June 12, 2026 (5 pm PST)
Enrollment deadline: June 19, 2026 (12 pm PST)
*All participants must be at least 15 years of age by the first day of Summer Sessions 2026 on June 23rd, no exceptions allowed.
The schedule and syllabus are subject to change. Enrolled students will be given updated materials closer to the program start date.
Fees and Payment Info
The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer. This is a summary of fees that commonly apply to the selected student type.
Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.
Meet your instructors
Emily Ortiz
InstructorThe Political Science curriculum is based on materials covered in the department’s undergraduate curriculum. Instructors for the Political Science program are graduate students and alumni of the department’s prestigious PhD program.
Please visit UCLA Department of Political Science for more information about the Political Science undergraduate and graduate programs.
Emily’s research combines surveys, experiments, and qualitative analysis to understand how identity and political beliefs shape the way Latino voters think and behave. She has presented her work at major political science conferences and has been published in academic journals focused on race and politics in America.
At UCLA, Emily has taught courses on Latino Politics, American Politics, Political Psychology, and the Politics of Race and Ethnicity. She is also a manager UCLA’s Race, Ethnicity, Politics, and Society (REPS) Lab.
Outside of her own research, Emily is passionate about making political science accessible to students of all backgrounds, which is exactly why she’s excited to be your instructor this summer!
Political Science FAQ
Students do not need to have any prior knowledge of Political Science to succeed in this program. Beginning students will be taught everything they need to know through the core course in American Politics.
Students will be required to bring:
- Laptop/tablet
- Textbook
Still have questions? Check out the general Summer FAQ.