The teams from colleges all across the country are given a practical advertising problem sponsored by a major corporation. There are over 160 regional competitors, and only 17 are selected as finalists in the National Competition. Consistently UCLA's AMT has won first place in the Regional Competition and was the National winner of the 1999 Toyota campaign competition. The UCLA Speech and Debate Program administers four forensics and argumentation courses for students that wish to compete in intercollegiate speech and debate competition. Forensics curricular instruction involves intensive research on public policy issues, analysis, and preparation of argumentative discourse and finally deliberative debate.
Students develop high level oral, written, argumentation, debate, and critical thinking skills.
The team has achieved unparalleled successful in local, regional and national competition. There are over three hundred colleges and universities that all compete for the coveted national championship in debate. UCLA's team consistently places first in local and regional competition and has won seven national debate championships for UCLA, an achievement unmatched by any other University in the country.