MMW CA Seminar is an experiential program embedded within the Making of the Modern World program, combining MMW15 with an onsite experience in the mountains of California.   A specially-designed remote MMW course is combined with the onsite experience, departing UCSD on Sunday, July 12 and traveling by van to the San Jacinto and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges.   The program returns to UCSD on Friday, July 23.   This program is offered in a partnership between the Making of the Modern World Program at Eleanor Roosevelt College and UCSD’s Outback Adventures.

The MMW California Seminar asks a set of guiding questions: In this densely populated region why are these natural spaces preserved? Who manages them, and according to what policies and practices? What ecological and other challenges do they face? And how do these natural places connect with the broader environmental, cultural, and socio-political themes addressed in MMW15?  Students explore the complex interplay of nature and society, touching on such topics as climate change and its ecological impact, the politics of water and land use, the pressures of urban expansion, and the inter-relationship between environmental engagement, human well-being, and cultural identity.  Students pursue answers through the classroom and through a first-hand engagement in diverse settings, including State and National Parks, National Forests and Wilderness Areas, and the National Trail System, represented by the Pacific Crest Trail.

FULFILLS REQUIREMENTS: This program fulfills the UCSD Climate Change requirement and for ERC students, fulfills MMW15 and MWW122 (for transfer students).  

FORMAT:  The MMW CA Seminar will be taught remotely in Weeks 1, 2, 5, with the on-site experiential component in Weeks 3-4 (July 12–23, 2026). Students receive the credit for MMW15R in fall term.

CAPACITY & COST: The MMW CA Seminar two experiential program is in the California Mountains and is limited to 12 students. A Program Fee covers transportation to/from UCSD, all necessary equipment, camping and lodging costs, site permits, food, and guides.  The Program Fee is $600.  

MMW CA Seminar – Mountain

APPLICATION:  MMW CA Seminar Mountain application . Deadline is February 15, 2025. The program runs July 12 – July 23.

QUESTIONS:  Contact Prof. Matthew Herbst, MMW Director, at mtherbst@ucsd.edu