While ERC has students of all majors, the college emphasizes international understanding in its co-curricular programming and general education requirements, requiring students to complete the Making of the Modern World history and writing program, a regional specialization, and demonstrate basic proficiency in a foreign language.

[2] The Academic Senate approved the proposal in May 1986 and James Lyon was appointed founding provost of Fifth College in March 1987.

[4][5][6] In 2003, ERC moved to its current location in a newly built college complex on the northwestern region of the university campus.

[8] While ERC students major in all disciplines, the college's thematic focus is on international understanding and engagement.

[14] MMW is taught every quarter during the academic year and in summer and is offered both on campus and abroad on Global Seminars.

These courses are designed for new students at UC San Diego and provide critical skills and valuable resources to facilitate engagement and foster academic success and personal enrichment.

These ERC courses are taught by the Making of the Modern World Program faculty and sections are led by undergraduate discussion leaders who have received specialized training.

"[18][19] Beyond this, ERC offers freshman and senior seminars that address diverse topics, including disability awareness, the global refugee situation, and meditation and well-being.

[3][27] Second year students with a GPA of 3.5+ and who have completed three of the five courses in the MMW sequence are invited to participate in the ERC Sophomore Honors Project.

The residential facilities are named after global regions and seek to integrate the philosophy of the college into their design.

[49] CORE also sponsors the BreakAway Global Service (BAGS) trip during spring break, in which ERC students do humanitarian work in another country.

[58] Model United Nations (MUN) prepares students for diplomatic careers by simulating international conflicts.

Students can participate on the "logistical team," planning MUN's annual TritonMUN and SanDiMUN conferences.

The organization also fundraises in order to support its costs, with its biggest event being the Culture Cap soccer tournament.

Roteract makes Water Pasteurization Indicators (WAPIs) to be sent to developing countries, and serves in the local community.

[64][65][66] On Halloween, Middle Earth, a common area inside of Eleanor Roosevelt College, is turned into a haunted house for students to visit.

[64] During Spirit Week in winter quarter, ERC is decorated in blue and gold, the school colors.

Artists, including Augustana, We the Kings, Saint Motel,[69] Reel Big Fish,[70] Rooney,[71] The Format, Karmin,[72] and Bad Suns[73] have performed at Rock 'n' Roosevelt in the past.

[67] Also during winter quarter, ERC hosts a Casino Night inside of the Great Hall, offering food and raffle prizes along with the games.

This is called BreakAway Global Service, or BAGS, and is sponsored by one of ERC's student organizations, Community Outreach Effort (CORE).

[75] Every month, Café Ventanas, the dining hall located in ERC, offers food, entertainment, and activities centered around a region of the world in their Global Marketplace event.

[76][77] Once a year, a blood drive is hosted at the Great Hall by Planning Events at Roosevelt College (PERC), a student-run organization.

[76] The Saturday before finals week at midnight, students from Eleanor Roosevelt College stand outside of their dorms/apartments and scream.

[79] I-House hosts different types of events throughout the year in order to facilitate this effort: Global Forums, IHeART, Language Conversation Tables, Sunday Supper, and Slice of America are some of them.

[86] I-Plus is the umbrella term for events hosted/sponsored by I-House not included among their usual program (Global Forums, IHeART, Language Conversation Tables, Sunday Supper, Slice of America).