Program Information
Join us for Engaged Citizenship: Yale Summer Session's Program in Politics— a five-week, cohort-based experience that brings together college students and advanced high school students eager to understand the political forces shaping our world! Immerse yourself in Yale's vibrant intellectual community as you live and learn alongside peers who share your passion for political debate and civic leadership. Through two dynamic seminar courses led by Yale faculty—along with guest speakers, field trips, and film screenings— students will explore the pressing issues, historical debates, and global perspectives that define the political landscape today. Whether your future lies in public service, policymaking, advocacy, or engaging as an informed voter, this program empowers students to think deeply and critically about complex issues, to communicate their ideas with clarity and purpose, and to contribute meaningfully as engaged citizens.
[point] All program participants enroll in two courses: Writing about Politics and Nationalism and Democracy. Since these courses are paired as part of the Politics Program, it is not possible to register for only one of these courses.
ENGL S1021: Writing About Politics
Course Description
How did politics begin? Aristotle suggested that the answer ought to be self-evident—at least to a noble audience. Citing the poet Hesiod, he also placed a priority on “speaking well.” But what if one has not been blessed from birth with noble station? And how do we decide what amounts to speaking well? Welcome to Writing About Politics! In this class, you will experiment with several forms that writers on politics have made their own over time. Profile writing, opinion-driven analysis of empirical trends, and satire will all be part of the mix. We will look at some ideas from antiquity and the Enlightenment before settling into a particular focus on the post-WWII United States. Writers whose work we will consider range from Voltaire to Sontag, from W.E.B. Du Bois to William F. Buckley, Jr., and beyond.
Faculty Bio
Seth Colter Walls is a contributing music critic at the New York Times. His literary criticism has appeared in the London Review of Books, Slate and the Baffler. He has worked as a politics reporter, from both Washington, DC and Beirut, Lebanon. Previously, he taught in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He has a BFA in Film and Television Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and an MA with a Politics concentration from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. In 2025, the English Department awarded him the Fred Strebeigh and Linda Peterson Prize for Excellence in Teaching by Instructional Faculty.
PLSC S3437: Nationalism and Democracy
Course Description
This seminar dives into the fascinating—and sometimes fraught—relationship between nationalism and democracy. Can nations thrive without democracy? Can democracies survive without nations? Drawing on insights from history, political science, economics, and contemporary case studies, we’ll explore how nationalism has inspired ideals of liberal democracy, and how it has been manipulated by authoritarian regimes to fuel exclusion. Students will engage with texts of classical and contemporary thinkers, artwork, documentaries, historical episodes, and real-world cases across several continents, gaining new tools to understand how nations and democracies make—and unmake—one another.
Faculty Bio
Maria J. Hierro is a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, where she teaches courses on nationalism, secession, and political protest. An educator by vocation, she believes in the transformative power of teaching and prides herself on creating warm, intellectually engaging classes that make complex theories accessible. She has participated in the Pedagogical Partners and Associates in Teaching programs organized by the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. This year, she is also the faculty leader of the reading group "Can the American Nation be Depolarized?" in collaboration with the Center for Civic Thought. Prof. Hierro has published in the American Journal of Political Science, Nations and Nationalism, and the Journal of Conflict Resolution, among others. She is the founder and co-chair of the new APSA Section on Nationalism and Politics. Her current book project, Nurturing Independentism: Movements and Parties in Secessionist Contexts, examines how cooperation, cooptation, and conflict between pro-independence movements and parties in Catalonia shaped public support for secession.
Reasons to Participate
Dive deep into politics and writing about politics - Take two coordinated Yale courses that bridge academic insight with engaged citizenship.
Live and learn in community - Study, discuss, and collaborate with motivated peers who share similar interests.
Engage with scholars - Learn directly from Yale faculty who have expertise to share with you and are eager to challenge you.
Build practical skills - Strengthen your analytical writing, persuasive speaking, and critical thinking through dynamic discussion, writing, and projects.
Experience Yale - Immerse yourself in the intellectual energy of Yale University, living on campus, accessing Yale's libraries and campus resources, and participating in fun summer activities!
Program Costs
| Item | Amount |
| Tuition for two courses, one credit each | $10,960 |
| Program fee | $100 |
*The program fee covers additional costs specific to this program such as field trip transportation, cohort dinner event, merchandise, etc.
For other fees and residential costs, please visit our Tuition and Fees page. All tuition and fees, including room and meal charges, must be paid in full three weeks before the program start date.
For information about summer funding, please visit our Financial Assistance page.
Application Information
To apply, review the application requirements and fill out the Yale Summer Session application. The Journalism program is offered under Yale Summer Session B course listings.
