Program Overview
Please note: this program will hold mandatory class sections on the UD campus from July 12-16.
This unique summer program in political science, communication and journalism takes students to center stage of one of the most exciting highlights of any U.S. presidential election campaign: the national convention. In July, 2004, students will travel to Boston for the Democratic National Convention (UD went to the Republican convention in 2000). In Boston, in an intense full-time-plus experience, each student will be assigned to work with either the Party or with the news media covering the convention. Before leaving Delaware, in classes on the UD campus, students will prepare for their adventure by studying the role and history of national political conventions and the role of the news media covering politics.
Students in 2000 worked with top political players such as ABC’s Peter Jennings and GOP Secretary-of-State-to-be Colin Powell. Some found themselves on stage when George W. Bush received the Republican nomination, or seated with state delegations right on the convention floor. Others helped cover political demonstrations and other events with CNN, CBS and other media. “Road to the Presidency 2004” is your chance of a lifetime to discover what it’s like on the inside track of American presidential politics.
In the Boston area, students and faculty will be based at a university to be determined, where classes and politically-related excursions will be conducted. During the first days of this adventure in politics, students will link up with their internships, helping to prepare for the quadrennial gathering of thousands of operatives, party loyalists, candidates and journalists. During the convention itself, students can expect to gain special access to the high-security convention hall and will interact directly with political insiders in both Party and media.
Check out program photos from the 2000 convention on this web page (scroll down to "Philadelphia - 2000 convention").
Students will reside in double rooms at a Boston area university or college to be determined, with some meals provided.
This program is team-taught by Dr. Joseph Pika, UD’s political science specialist in the American presidency, and Ralph Begleiter, who covered many political conventions as a former CNN correspondent.
Preference will be given to applicants enrolled in the UD honors program, and to students with majors in political science, communication, English/journalism or history.
UD students pay all program fee deposits by direct bank transfer via this website: http://www.udel.edu/studyabroadpayments. Non-UD students should send a check, payable to the University of Delaware, to CFIS, Elliott Hall, 26 East Main Street, Newark, DE 19716. Credit card payments are not accepted.
