Basic Overview
Students participating in the fall program take 13-18 credits, depending on whether they choose both electives and/or organize an independent study. Most SiD courses can be used to meet College of LSA distribution requirements for the social sciences and the humanities. In some cases, SiD courses can be used to meet concentration requirements (but this is ultimately determined by a concentration advisor.) Additionally, the credits you earn in Semester in Detroit count towards the LSA Minor in Urban Studies -- which requires you to enroll in at least five classes for a total of at least 16 credit hours.
Fall SiD students will only have to take one additional core course on the Ann Arbor campus (either RCSSCI 330 or UP 424) to complete the Urban Studies minor.
The Courses
Foundational courses remain the same each semester. Elective courses are subject to change; however, they have been relatively consistent over time. PLEASE NOTE: the links below are from the Fall 2023 semester. Links will be updated once UM publishes the fall 2025 course guide.
Foundational Courses (all required):
RCSSCI 250-003: From the Underground to Motown: A Course on Detroit's History (3 credits) – Baba Jamon Jordan (Wednesdays at the UM Detroit Center, 10a-1p)
RCCORE 301-166 - Field Internship with Detroit Community Organization (4 credits) – Craig Regester
RCCORE 302-001 - Internship Reflection Seminar (2 credits) – Rose Gorman (Thursdays at the UM Detroit Center, 10a-12p)
Elective Courses (must choose one, can take both):
RCHUMS 334-009: Detroit Artist as Activist (3 credits) – Darcy Brandel (Tuesdays at the UM Detroit Center, 10a-1p)
RCSSCI 360-003: Theory & Practice of Visionary Organizing (3 credits) - Stephen Ward (Wednesdays at the Boggs Center, 2:30-5:30pm)
Mini-Courses or Independent Studies (optional):
TBD for fall 2025 semester