The Making of the Modern World (MMW) Program at Eleanor Roosevelt College, UC San Diego offers a new experiential opportunity, the MMW California Seminar in Summer 2026. The program combines a two-week on-site summer experience in the Sierra Nevada and San Jacinto mountain ranges with a special MMW seminar during the academic year (fulfilling MMW15, or 122 for transfer students). Through immersive experiences, the MMW California Seminar fosters a deeper understanding of the relationship between human and environmental landscapes and their interconnection. 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 MMW15/122?  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 or MWW122 (for transfer students).   Participating students receive MMW California Seminar Co-Curricular Record notation on their UCSD transcripts.

CAPACITY & COST: The MMW CA Seminar program is in the California Mountains and is limited to 10 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.   A $200 deposit will be needed by June 2.

APPLICATION:  MMW CA Seminar Mountain application

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