Succeed
    World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series
    Online Program

    World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series

    by UCLA Summer Sessions

    An online politics summer course combining UCLA expert briefings, international affairs research, and a collaborative foreign policy report presented to a public audience.

    Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy

    Get the full picture before you decide

    See Succeed's assessment of the programme, who it may suit, the estimated total cost, what applying involves and what is still to confirm.

    or let us know if .

    • What Succeed checks

      We review public online program details such as eligibility, age range, cost, duration, learning format, scheduling, mentor model, outputs and application timing.

    • What Last verified means

      Last verified is the latest date Succeed checked the public details shown on this page. Program dates, prices and availability can still change.

    • How official sources are used

      Succeed uses official provider information where available, then rewrites it into a student-facing summary for comparison and planning.

    • Why some dates are reference dates

      If the current cycle is not available, Succeed may show the latest verified cycle dates so you can understand typical timing.

    • Succeed is independent from this provider unless a partnership is clearly stated.

    World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    High school; minimum 3.2 GPA

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 15-18

    Location / Region

    Online

    Cost

    $2,631

    Duration

    3 weeks

    Format

    Online

    Latest deadline

    3 July 2026 · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Get next-cycle reminder
    PoliticsInternational Relations
    Sessions / cadence: Morning lectures; afternoon discussions
    Mentor model: UCLA experts and department mentors
    Assessment style: Letter grade or Pass/No Pass
    Main deliverable / output: Group report and public presentation
    Academic credit: 5 UCLA units; Political Science 20
    Time-zone / scheduling model: Pacific Daylight Time; scheduled attendance
    Latest verified cycle: 2026

    World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series summary

    UCLA's World Politics program connects international relations theory with contemporary foreign policy problems through lectures and expert briefings.

    Students research and write collaboratively, then present their recommendations to a public audience. Workshops support academic research, professional discussion, writing, and presentation skills.

    It suits students who want to move beyond following political news and practice explaining policy problems with evidence.

    What is World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series?

    World Politics is an academic program offered by UCLA's Department of Political Science through Summer Sessions. It introduces the international system through theoretical perspectives, applied statistical analysis, and case studies. Study includes war, international institutions, trade, international law, human rights, and the global environment.

    The virtual experience combines morning lectures with afternoon discussions about contemporary foreign policy. Students receive expert briefings and learn to research, write, and present as a group. Their work culminates in a public presentation of recommendations for a critical policy problem.

    Why Succeed highlights World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series

    • The curriculum connects UCLA undergraduate material with concrete foreign policy questions.

    • Expert discussions teach students how to ask focused questions and attribute information responsibly.

    • Research, writing, and presentation workshops support a substantive collaborative capstone.

    • Political Science 20 provides assessed UCLA credit rather than attendance alone.

    Who is World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series for?

    Best for

    Students curious about international affairs who want structured analysis, collaborative writing, and practice presenting policy recommendations.

    Not ideal if

    You need self-paced study or prefer working entirely alone, because sessions require scheduled attendance and the capstone is collaborative.

    Is World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series worth it?

    The strongest reason to choose this program is the combination of academic content and practical policy work. Expert briefings give students material to question and analyze, while the group report demands a defensible argument. That makes it a useful test of interest in studying politics beyond school.

    The value depends on whether you want graded coursework and can commit to live attendance. Credit transfer remains the receiving institution's decision, and summer participation does not confer an admissions advantage at UCLA or other UC schools. Choose it for the learning and completed work rather than an assumed admissions benefit.

    Sean, founder of Succeed

    Sean

    Founder, Succeed

    Talk it through with Sean

    Want to talk it through?

    “I can help you compare the programmes you're considering, think through the practicalities and work out what makes sense for you.”

    20 minutes · No obligation to enrol

    A practical overview of cost, time commitment, provider details, student outcomes and online support to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    $2,631; includes Political Science 20 coursework and five UCLA units., Foreign policy briefings from UCLA experts., Expert-led discussion sessions., Academic research and library-resource instruction., Individual and collaborative writing workshops., Public-presentation and slide workshops., A public capstone presentation..

    Dates and time commitment

    3 weeks; Morning lectures; afternoon discussions.

    Provider details

    Review the UCLA Summer Sessions provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    What the student gains

    Potential output: The main output is a collaborative report addressing a critical foreign policy problem.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.

    Online support and safeguarding

    Eligible California students may apply for Summer Scholars Support or a departmental Political Science scholarship. Both offer full or partial support with separate requirements; a registration fee deferral delays payment but does not waive the fee.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate is included with the provider.

    Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

    Compare with similar programs

    How much preparation does World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series need?

    Effort level

    High academic commitment.

    Best started

    Begin four to six weeks before the next published application deadline, allowing up to three weeks for review.

    Main challenge

    Turning a complex foreign policy problem into a clear, evidence-based group recommendation.

    Typical preparation

    • Request your transcript and draft an original value statement before beginning the application.

    • Read about one foreign policy issue and practice distinguishing factual evidence from opinion.

    • Plan around Pacific Daylight Time and test your word processing and presentation software.

    • For scholarship applications, gather financial documents early and allow a departmental recommender at least two weeks.

    Useful if

    You want to test your readiness for college-level politics study.

    What do students do on World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series?

    You move from learning how the international system works to applying that knowledge to a foreign policy problem. Research and communication workshops help your group develop a report and explain its recommendations publicly.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Study world politics through lectures, statistical analysis, and case studies.

    2. 2

      Discuss contemporary foreign policy with UCLA experts.

    3. 3

      Learn professional questioning, source attribution, and academic research methods.

    4. 4

      Collaborate on a written report addressing a critical foreign policy problem.

    5. 5

      Prepare slides and present your findings at the public capstone event.

    World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Application deadline

    3 July 2026

    World Politics 2026; 5 p.m., labeled PST by UCLA.

    Reference date

    Programme dates

    13-31 July 2026

    Reference date

    Enrollment confirmation

    10 July 2026

    Admitted students complete enrollment by noon, labeled PST by UCLA.

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Enrolled in grades 9-12 in Spring 2026.

    • At least 15 years old by 23 June 2026.

    • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 from grade 9 onward.

    • No prior Political Science or World Politics knowledge required.

    • International applicants may submit their complete secondary academic record.

    How much does World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series cost?

    Program fee

    $2,170 — High school student fee, including coursework unit fees.

    Funding or discounts

    • Registration fee: $350 — Required for enrollment.
    • IEI fee: $61 — Instructional Enhancement Initiative fee.
    • Document fee: $50 — For first-time Summer Sessions students.
    • Estimated total: $2,631 — Includes the first-time document fee.
    • Summer Scholars Support: Full or partial support — Need- and merit-based funding for eligible California students in grades 9-11.
    • Political Science scholarship: Full or partial support — Separate need-based application for eligible California students.
    • Registration fee deferral: $350 — Qualifying Summer Scholars applicants may defer payment; this does not waive the fee.

    What's included

    Political Science 20 coursework and five UCLA units., Foreign policy briefings from UCLA experts., Expert-led discussion sessions., Academic research and library-resource instruction., Individual and collaborative writing workshops., Public-presentation and slide workshops., A public capstone presentation.

    How to apply to World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series

    1. 1

      Prepare your unofficial transcript and a few original sentences explaining your interest.

    2. 2

      Use UCLA's application form and select Summer Precollege Focus Series, then World Politics.

    3. 3

      Complete the required questions and upload your application materials.

    4. 4

      Allow up to three weeks for an emailed admission decision.

    5. 5

      If admitted, follow your acceptance instructions to pay and complete the waiver and Participant Agreement.

    6. 6

      Verify and pay remaining charges through MyUCLA BruinBill.

    7. 7

      For Summer Scholars funding, indicate your interest and complete its separate form after admission.

    Next step with Succeed

    Interested in this programme?

    or let us know if .

    Succeed replies first, usually within a working day

    Learning format

    World Politics is conducted online, with morning lectures and afternoon expert-led discussions. Students must attend virtual sessions at the times on the program schedule, using Pacific Daylight Time unless the schedule or syllabus specifies otherwise.

    Sample schedules and syllabi may change; enrolled students receive updated materials closer to the start.

    Mentorship and feedback

    • Foreign policy briefings come from UCLA experts.

    • Instructors are graduate students and alumni of UCLA's Political Science PhD program.

    • Named instructor Poonam Narewatt researches international politics and migration.

    • Workshops support academic research, collaborative writing, and public presentations.

    • Students leave with a mentor who can attest to college-level readiness.

    Time-zone considerations

    • Meeting times use Pacific Daylight Time unless otherwise specified.
    • Students must log in at the scheduled session times.
    • The academic pattern combines morning lectures and afternoon discussions.
    • Convert the published timetable to your local time before committing.

    Tech requirements

    • A laptop computer.

    • Microsoft Word or compatible word processing software.

    • Microsoft PowerPoint.

    • Paper notebooks and pens or pencils.

    • The syllabus textbook; a paperback is strongly recommended.

    Assessment style

    The program uses graded college coursework with collaborative reports and public presentations.

    • Students receive a letter grade by default.
    • Students may request Pass/No Pass through the instructor.
    • A Pass requires performance equivalent to C or better.
    • Group projects involve written foreign policy reports and presentations.
    • Successful completion allows no more than three absences.

    Portfolio / outputs

    Main deliverable / output

    The main output is a collaborative report addressing a critical foreign policy problem.

    • A public capstone presentation explaining the group's recommendations.

    • Slides supporting the oral presentation.

    • Five UCLA units and a recorded course grade.

    World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series FAQs

    No prior Political Science or World Politics knowledge is required. The core course teaches beginning students the foundations.

    Topics include war, international institutions, violence by nonstate actors, international trade, international law, human rights, and the global environment. Expert discussions connect this material to contemporary foreign policy.

    Students work in groups to write reports about critical foreign policy problems and propose responses. They present their findings to a public audience at a culminating capstone event.

    Students must attend at the times on the program schedule. Meetings use Pacific Daylight Time unless the schedule or syllabus states otherwise.

    Political Science 20 provides five UCLA units. Students receive a letter grade by default, but can ask the instructor to change to Pass/No Pass; a Pass requires C-level performance or better.

    The receiving institution decides whether to accept UCLA credit. Students should seek advice or advance approval from their home institution before enrolling.

    Students can authorize third-party access through MyUCLA, including access to pay summer charges. Parents do not automatically have access to grades or other student records.

    Eligible California students may apply for Summer Scholars Support or a departmental Political Science scholarship. Both offer full or partial support with separate requirements; a registration fee deferral delays payment but does not waive the fee.

    Alternatives to World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series

    Compare these options for different balances of online study, international relations, and broader political science.

    Alternatives to World Politics Summer Precollege Focus Series

    Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.

    Compare with other programs
    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources & verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Application Management
    • Scholarships - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • Enrollment and Academics - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • Calendar and Deadlines - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • Summer Precollege Focus Series - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • Fees, Payment and Financial Aid - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • Registration - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • Payment Information - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • Fees, Payment and Financial Aid - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • Enrollment and Academics - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • FAQ - UCLA Summer Sessions
    • World Politics - UCLA Summer Sessions

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)

    • Official program page checked

    • Program-specific eligibility reviewed

    • Session dates verified

    • Fee categories distinguished

    • Scholarship conditions reviewed

    • Credit transfer limits reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.