2026 Summer Academy

• The PATH Summer Academy will take place during Summer Session II: August 3 - September 5. Click Here to learn more about Summer Session II dates.
• Students will be asked to attend a mandatory orientation on July 31 at 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM to receive all their class materials and other program information for the start of the summer.
• The PATH Summer Academy is a rigorous program academically; students are asked to commit to the program for at least 12 hours per week, consisting of class time, campus resource workshops, class activities, and office hours.
  • Classes will be scheduled from 11 AM - 1:50 PM, Monday through Friday.
  • Workshops will be scheduled from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, Monday through Friday, before class.
  • Class activities will be scheduled on class days.
  • Students will be invited to events to socialize with their cohort, such as kayaking, yoga, and a bonfire
• The summer academy offers breakfast and lunch for all workshops and social events to alleviate the burden of expenses
• Students receive all mandatory textbooks for their classes free of charge for the duration of the program.
• While the program demands academic excellence from the students, we also pride in offering a very fun academic experience full of hands-on activities to incorporate learning and a spirit of collaboration, empathy, and solidarity with each other and the planet. 

Please note that these classes will only be open for enrollment for students accepted into the PATH Summer Academy

Name of Class: Phil 165 Freedom, Equity, and the Law

Time: M/W 11:00 AM - 1:50 PM

Location: In-Person - Room number coming soon

Teaching Professor: Reuven Brandt

Description: In this course, we will explore the way in which the concepts of freedom and equality have been understood and applied under the United States Constitution. We will ask whether the Constitution is a moral document designed to implement justice or a document designed to enshrine a particular set of traditions into law. We will then look at how the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment has been applied to cases in which the government has discriminated on the grounds of race, ethnic background, gender, undocumented status, wealth, and sexual orientation.

Name of Class: Phil 148 Philosophy & the Environment 

Time: T/Th 11:00 AM - 1:50 PM

Teaching Professor: Craig Callender

Location: In-Person - Room number coming soon

Class Description: This course explores the philosophical issues that arise in contemporary environmental issues, primarily those connected to the twin crises of our time, climate change and biodiversity loss. We’ll primarily draw on applied ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of science, covering topics in the following areas: 

• Animal Welfare
• Climate Ethics
• Wilderness, Naturalness, and the Land Ethic
• Conservation in the Anthropocene

• Mind and body yoga session - This session is focused on exercises you can do in your dorm or room to stretch your back and legs after a long day of sitting at your desk  
• Know Your Rights with Undocumented Student Services - Learn how to defend yourself during demonstrations, police questioning, or in standing up for someone else in your community.
• Transfer Hub - UC San Diego has many resources for transfer students. Learn all about it!
• UC San Diego Colleges Info Session - Get a refresher on the requirements your college asks of transfer students.
• Writing Hub and Tutoring Services - Learn how to make appointments with a tutor to proofread your essays, and the different types of help and jobs the tutoring center offers.
• Research in the Arts and Humanities - UC San Diego offers research opportunities for students of all majors, many of them paid. Learn how you can get paid to do your own research!
• Geisel Library Tour - Our library is not just a library. We house special collections, computer labs, a vast digital library where you can check out a laptop charger or a scientific calculator, and much more.
• Counseling and Psychological Services - Learn about the different events CAPS offers to students to promote mental wellness, and learn how to schedule appointments to check in with a therapist.
• The Humanities as a Career Superpower - The School of Arts and Humanities Alumni Director wants to give you tips on how to maximize the power of your major in the workforce
• Why Studying the Arts and Humanities Matters - In a world of excessive misinformation and excessive use of artificial intelligence, the arts and humanities are proving to be mediators on how to incorporate new technologies ethically. 

• Field trips and hikes to the beach! Every year, we take the PATH Summer Academy cohort on a kayaking trip to learn more about the ocean life in San Diego and engage in conversation on how to preserve marine life with Philosophy Professor Craig Callender.
• Visit to the San Diego Zoo as part of hands-on learning
• Study sessions for students to meet with their peers over coffee or lunch.
• Destressing activities focused on mental health like Yoga, crafting, art hour, and much more!

• The PATH Summer Academy is an intensive one-month program that requires students to participate in two acceletated university level classes. Students are expected to meet the university standards and do well academically. Students will be expected to invest time and effort into the program.
• Students accepted into the program are expected to make the needed accommodations with work and other responsibilities to be able to participate fully in the program. This means showing up to classes and the mandatory program-scheduled activities.
  • Attending classes and workshops, in addition to meeting weekly with a peer mentor, and completing other required tasks as assigned, are all mandatory elements of the PATH Summer Academy.
• Absences must be communicated in advance with professors for all classes and with program managers for workshops.
• Students are expected to spend an average of 8-12 hours per week on class readings and homework.
• Students are expected to follow up with all campus and summer session deadlines. This means checking email and understanding when classes need to be added for the program, and the Fall quarter.
  • Mentors will be a supporting part in helping new students understand the calendar of classes, the two dates to add classes, and how to navigate their degree audit.

• Each student is assigned a peer mentor (a previous PATH transfer student) who they are required to meet with for an hour each week. Peer mentors and students are matched based on major, life experience and personal interests, to help develop rapport and a comfort level between the folks.
• Peer mentors will cover specific content during meet-ups each week (like how to register for classes, find clubs, utilize the student resource centers, etc.) and will share tips and resources not otherwise covered in PATH workshops. They are also in place to provide individualized support, answering questions and checking-in to ensure their mentees are coping well with the program demands and enjoying a positive experience.
• Peer mentors also plan and host a variety of optional social activities, including study sessions, movie and game nights, campus gym meet-ups and more! These activities help students take a break from the academic demands of the program to develop community with their peers, fostering meaningful relationships.

HOUSING:

• On-campus housing will not be provided by the program; however, students who would like to experience campus housing during the summer can learn more about Summer Housing by clicking here.
• The PATH has reserved a few dorms for those that opt-in on campus housing (at students' expense).

DINING:

• Students who opt to live on campus will be offered meal plans from the campus, covered by themselves.
• PATH will provide food for all in-person activities, as we understand that school days can be long, and campus food is expensive.

• Students at UC San Diego are expected to follow campus policy for parking. Learn more about parking and public transportation for undergrad students: https://transportation.ucsd.edu/commute/undergrad-students.html
• UC San Diego has several bus stops around campus, and a trolley stop right at the heart of campus. To learn more about the trolley, bus stops,  and the PRONTO visit: https://transportation.ucsd.edu/commute/transit/index.html#beyond-san-diego-county