THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS: THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN U.S. POLITICS, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BUSINESS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND JOURNALISM. THE PROGRAMS HELD IN THE US OFFER ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR COURSEWORK AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, AND INCLUDE INTERNSHIPS AND SITE BRIEFINGS AT PLACES SUCH AS THE WHITE HOUSE, THE U.S. CAPITOL, AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT. STUDENTS ATTEND REGULAR GUEST LECTURES, AND INTERACT WITH D.C. PROFESSIONALS THROUGH NETWORKING ACTIVITIES. COURSES ARE ACCREDITED BY GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY. ONE PROGRAM IS OFFERED BY THE RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION AND INSTITUTE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES. IT HELPS STUDENTS DEFINE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND LEARN LESSONS FROM THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY, ALL WHILE GIVING THEM AN INSIDER'S VIEW OF WASHINGTON. THE INTENSIVE SCHEDULE IS DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF THEIR TIME IN WASHINGTON BY COMBINING LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM WITH PRACTICAL INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS SPECIAL EVENTS AND BRIEFINGS. IN ADDITION, THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES (TFAS) HAS ORGANIZED INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC INSTITUTES FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, WITH AN OBJECTIVE TO PROVIDE A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE, FOSTER DIALOGUES THAT CROSS BORDERS, AND CREATE A GLOBAL NETWORK OF RESPONSIBLE FUTURE LEADERS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY HELD IN CHILE AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS: ORGANIZED BY THE HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION OF TFAS, THE FOUNDATION FOR TEACHING ECONOMICS (FTE), THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE ECONOMICS FOR LEADERS (EFL), ONE DAY, AND ONLINE PROGRAMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, EFL IS A SELECTIVE WEEK-LONG SUMMER PROGRAM THAT TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HOW TO INTEGRATE ECONOMICS INTO THE PROCESS OF DECISION-MAKING IN A HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL ENVIRONMENT. PROGRAMS ARE HELD ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PROGRAMS ARE LED BY ECONOMICS PROFESSORS AND LEADERSHIP INSTRUCTORS SELECTED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE AND TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS. MORNING DISCUSSIONS, ACTIVITIES, AND INTERACTIVE SESSIONS INTRODUCE PARTICIPANTS TO THE "ECONOMIC WAY OF THINKING." AFTERNOON SESSIONS BUILD AN UNDERSTANDING OF LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPANTS PRACTICE LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN A FUN-FILLED SERIES OF TASKS AND DILEMMAS. STUDENTS ALSO ENGAGE IN A CREATIVE DECISION-MAKING CHALLENGE IN WHICH THEY APPLY AND DEMONSTRATE THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE GAINED DURING THE WEEK. IN THE WEEK-LONG TEACHER PROGRAMS, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS "GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND ARE TAUGHT BY UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND MENTOR TEACHERS. WHAT'S UNIQUE ARE THE GAMES AND SIMULATIONS: INSTRUCTORS RUN THE ACTIVITIES WITH REAL STUDENTS SO THE TEACHERS CAN OBSERVE THE STUDENTS' INTERACTIONS. THE TEACHERS SEE, UP CLOSE, WHY FTE-DESIGNED LESSONS ARE SO EFFECTIVE AND LEAVE WITH A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF ECONOMICS, NEW CLASSROOM STRATEGIES, AND A RENEWED ENTHUSIASM FOR TEACHING. OTHER TEACHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE ECONOMIC ISSUES FOR TEACHERS, ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY, AND RIGHT START IN TEACHING ECONOMICS.