Archer Fellowship Program Courses
The Archer Fellowship is a unique academic experience, which includes the classes below. All undergraduate Archer Fellows enroll in the same 15 hours. Read how our Archer Center principles are integrated in all four courses.
Politics of National Memory - 3 credit hours
Professor Shema Mbyirukira
This course uses the National Mall, which we define as the area between Arlington National Cemetery and Capitol Hill, as a classroom, textbook, and laboratory to explore and interrogate the stories that the United States tells about itself. The course focuses on the politics of national memory by fostering an ongoing, critical conversation—in class, in discussion groups, and beyond the academic setting—about the narratives that underlie the American experience. Along with visiting many of these sites, students will use historical analysis, science reports, a range of art forms—poetry, fiction, theater, sculpture, video, and other visual media—as well as primary texts to inform and stimulate their thinking. As the semester proceeds, students are asked to reflect upon and explore their personal experience of the National Mall, and many of the structures that define Washington and national memory today.
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Politics of National Memory - 3 credit hours
Professor Shema Mbyirukira
This course uses the National Mall, which we define as the area between Arlington National Cemetery and Capitol Hill, as a classroom, textbook, and laboratory to explore and interrogate the stories that the United States tells about itself. The course focuses on the politics of national memory by fostering an ongoing, critical conversation—in class, in discussion groups, and beyond the academic setting—about the narratives that underlie the American experience. Along with visiting many of these sites, students will use historical analysis, science reports, a range of art forms—poetry, fiction, theater, sculpture, video, and other visual media—as well as primary texts to inform and stimulate their thinking. As the semester proceeds, students are asked to reflect upon and explore their personal experience of the National Mall, and many of the structures that define Washington and national memory today.
Access the Syllabus
The Policymaking Process - 3 credit hours
Dr. Michelle Chin-Miller
This course will give you a brief introduction to the federal policymaking process from the perspective of the legislative branch of government in the United States. Students will work closely with the class lecturers, each of whom is an experienced policy expert, to identify stakeholders in the federal policy process and understand the various entry points for these stakeholders to influence policy outcomes. The class will operate as a policy simulation in which students role play members of Congress and learn how to craft legislative policy through participating in simulated congressional hearings and bill mark-up in a congressional committee.
Access the syllabus
Dr. Michelle Chin-Miller
This course will give you a brief introduction to the federal policymaking process from the perspective of the legislative branch of government in the United States. Students will work closely with the class lecturers, each of whom is an experienced policy expert, to identify stakeholders in the federal policy process and understand the various entry points for these stakeholders to influence policy outcomes. The class will operate as a policy simulation in which students role play members of Congress and learn how to craft legislative policy through participating in simulated congressional hearings and bill mark-up in a congressional committee.
Access the syllabus
Advocacy and Politics - 3 credit hours
Dr. John Daly
This course is an introduction to the issues individuals face when placed in the role of persuading others to adopt an issue or idea in a political environment like Washington, D.C. Students will learn ways of communicating ideas memorably and impactfully, techniques for building and maintaining a “brand” name that motivates people to listen to you, ways of building allies through narrative and networking, methods for framing issues so they are potentially adoptable (i.e., pre-selling), and ways to apply various theories of persuasion to political issues. The goal is for class participants to grasp concepts they will see and experience during their internship in Washington D.C. This is not a class on social movements, although we will allude to some throughout the semester. It is instead about specific tools and techniques people can use to change others’ opinions about issues. Half of this class is intentionally scheduled for the beginning of the semester. The remaining sessions take place over several weekends throughout the semester.
Access the syllabus
Dr. John Daly
This course is an introduction to the issues individuals face when placed in the role of persuading others to adopt an issue or idea in a political environment like Washington, D.C. Students will learn ways of communicating ideas memorably and impactfully, techniques for building and maintaining a “brand” name that motivates people to listen to you, ways of building allies through narrative and networking, methods for framing issues so they are potentially adoptable (i.e., pre-selling), and ways to apply various theories of persuasion to political issues. The goal is for class participants to grasp concepts they will see and experience during their internship in Washington D.C. This is not a class on social movements, although we will allude to some throughout the semester. It is instead about specific tools and techniques people can use to change others’ opinions about issues. Half of this class is intentionally scheduled for the beginning of the semester. The remaining sessions take place over several weekends throughout the semester.
Access the syllabus
Archer Center Washington Internship - 6 credit hours
Dr. Mary Nugent and Professor Sue Ramanathan
This course encompasses your full-time internship experience in a governmental or non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. During this course, you will develop your personal philosophy of work and enhance your professional skillset through practical training and reflection on the philosophy and organizational psychology of work. Archer Center faculty will meet with you regularly to debrief and integrate this practical training with other lessons in professional development.
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Dr. Mary Nugent and Professor Sue Ramanathan
This course encompasses your full-time internship experience in a governmental or non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. During this course, you will develop your personal philosophy of work and enhance your professional skillset through practical training and reflection on the philosophy and organizational psychology of work. Archer Center faculty will meet with you regularly to debrief and integrate this practical training with other lessons in professional development.
Access the syllabus
