For Undergraduates
Information Sessions
All interested students are encouraged to attend an Archer Program information session. For the 2022-2023 application cycle, information sessions will be held both virtually through video conference and in person on campus. You can sign up to attend an information session in The Archer Center website. Please sign up for your session by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the session. Archer Center staff will send you a link to participate in the session on the day of the event. Please only RSVP for information sessions specific to UTRGV. Can't make a session? Reach out to archeradmissions@utsystem.edu.
Program Details
The Archer Fellowship Program provides a unique academic experience, which includes the classes below. All undergraduate Archer Fellows enroll in the same 15 hours.
Politics of National Memory (Beyond Congress and the White House) - 3 credit hours
Dr. Joel SwerdlowThis course will help you better understand power in our nation’s capital, especially what lies beyond Congress and the White House. Class participants will study Washington, D.C., in a way that is only possible right here, using the National Mall and nearby locations such as Arlington Cemetery and the National Archives as a textbook. Each week, students will visit different places in order to examine complex issues such as the use of DDT to combat malaria, the relationship between democracy and war, and the future of the Internet. This class is conducted like a graduate seminar, emphasizing discussion and other forms of participation. To the degree possible, coursework will relate to students' internships and to headline-making events. Core readings are by James Madison and Walt Whitman.
Watch this video on The Politics of National Memory produced by an Archer Fellow alumnus for a firsthand perspective of the Archer Fellowship Program course Politics of National Identity.
The Policymaking Process - 3 credit hours
At a press conference in July 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously declared that, “It is the duty of the President to propose and it is the privilege of the Congress to dispose.” In reality, there are many actors in the federal policymaking process: the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, the media and the public. This course will give a brief introduction to the philosophical foundations of the federal system of government in the United States and the federal policy process. Students will also explore the influence of politics on the policy and procedures of the three branches of government, and will learn about the role each institution plays in a representative democracy. Students will gain practical experience in developing an appropriate solution to a real world policy problem.
Watch this Policy Simulation video produced by Dr. Michelle Chin for a firsthand perspective of the Archer Fellowship Program course The Policy-Making Process.
Advocacy and Politics - 3 credit hours
This course is an introduction to the issues individuals face when placed in the role of being advocates for an issue, idea, or even for themselves. The goal of the course is for class participants to grasp concepts they will see and experience during their internship in Washington, D.C. Half of this class is intentionally scheduled for the beginning of the semester. Students will not only learn about advocacy, but hopefully many questions and concerns about the internship process will be answered during the course as well. Readings are The Prince by Machiavelli, Advocacy: Championing Ideas and Influencing Others by Dr. John Daly, and Hardball: How Politics is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game by Chris Matthews.
Archer Center Washington Internship - 6 credit hours
Dr. Michelle Chin and Dr. Joel Swerdlow
Students secure full-time internships in Washington, D.C., organizations ranging from the Supreme Court to the United Nations Information Center. Participation in the internship for at least 40 hours per week is required throughout the duration of the semester in Washington. Students will be evaluated regularly via supervisor surveys and will be required to submit a final report on their experience. Additionally, students will be encouraged to bring their internship experiences into their other classes for discussion and contribution.
Applying
The application deadline for the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters is Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 11:59 PM CST.
Archer Fellowship Program interviews will take place from late February to mid-April and decision notifications will be sent by May 1, 2023.
Please visit the Archer Center's application guidelines page to learn more about the application requirements.
Interviewing
After the application deadline, finalists will be invited to interview with a committee consisting of faculty and administrators from UTRGV and Archer Center staff. The Archer Center encourages you to prepare and practice for your interview. View the Interviewing page for tips on presenting your best self during a panel interview.