The Washington Semester Program Experience Includes:
Seminar (8 Credits)
Under the leadership of a Washington Semester professor, for three
days each week you'll participate in intellectual, real-world
discussions with professionals immersed in your field of study. These
pros are all major players at the local, national, and international
levels who are passionate about their stance. They'll present valid
viewpoints - and welcome your point of view and challenging questions.
Internship (4 Credits)
Six weeks prior to the semester's start we'll supply you with online
access to a database of potential organizations for internships, all
relevant to your selected program. We'll provide insight on each
organization and contact information. Then we'll connect you with the
resources you need to write an effective resume and cover letter to land
the internship of your dreams. While your internship course professor
will be happy to assist you with your search once you arrive, you should
start looking for an internship as soon as you have access to the
database.
Research or Elective Course (3 or 4 Credits)
At your option, you can choose to conduct an in-depth research
project using Washington, DC as a laboratory of information and
experience. Or, if you need to fulfill an academic requirement from your
home school, you can choose an evening elective class form American
University's hundreds of course offerings.
Our exciting Programs Include:
Study the impact of the two-party system, the relationship between
the executive and legislative branches, the role of the courts in
decision making, and the management of campaigns and elections.
Experience a rigorous semester of seminars and guest lecturers that
provide you with an in-depth investigation of Contemporary Islamic
Affairs in American politics. You will develop expertise on Islamic
perspectives, strengthen your professional skills and gain valuable
political experience from an internship at a key Islamic organization.
You will emerge with practical knowledge about effective cross-cultural
communication and a better understanding of Islamic approaches to
complex policy making. The program includes a three week field excursion
to Cairo, Egypt and Amman, Jordan.
Explore emerging issues such as the war on terrorism, conflict
prevention in the post-Cold War era, response to the collapse of states
as well as to religious and ethnic conflicts, and NATO, the United
Nations in the 21st century, and regional conflict in the Middle East
and the Iraq War.
Discuss business and trade with corporate executives, and U.S. and
foreign government officials in their offices at corporations and
embassies. To gain a true international perspective, spend 13 weeks in
Washington, followed by three weeks in China, where you'll visit major
political and economic centers, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Ningbo.
This program offers DC-only or DC + China options (Fall Semester) or DC +
Europe options (Spring Semester).
Spend time in Washington studying global environmental policy issues
and the roles of major international organizations, then spend 3 weeks
in Ecuador (Fall Semester) or Ghana (Spring Semester) studying those
issues at the national and local levels. Discuss global environmental
challenges with, for instance, World Bank executives one day and then,
only a few weeks later, see up close how those challenges are being
addressed when you travel to Ecuador or Ghana.
Explore the nature of international law in interstate relations by
studying the activities, and performance of major global organizations
in areas such as: security and terrorism, international trade and
economic development, the environment, human rights, and humanitarian
assistance. In addition to your time in Washington, you will spend three
weeks visiting the United Nations in New York City, the International
Court of Justice at The Hague, and NATO and the European Union in
Brussels.
Meet a diverse pool of national and local media figures, including
newspaper and wire-service reporters, magazine editors, television and
radio personalities, public relations executives, and political press
secretaries. Open to students of all majors, this program attracts many
who have studied communications, English, and print/broadcast media.
Through discussions with policy makers, legal experts, law
enforcement officials, psychologists, criminals, and clergy, you'll gain
exposure to all sides of the issues facing today's justice community.
Topics may include: criminal and civil justice, morality and justice,
and the use of the legal system to define and enforce justice.
Internships at the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security are
a special feature.
Go on field studies in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia (Fall Semester) or
Greece and Turkey (Spring Semester) in addition to spending time in
D.C.This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity lets you examine how the
theories you've learned work in real-world situations. Explore social
and political conflicts around the world, with an emphasis on conflict
resolution models and peacemaking initiatives between people,
communities, and nations.
Washington, D.C. is a distinctive learning laboratory for exploring
how leadership, grassroots action, advocacy, litigation, and government
programs can improve communities. The program focus is urban political
and social change. This is the program for students who want to be
change agents
*Denotes Study Abroad component
Washington Semester's Internship Philosophy
Added to the core curriculum in the late 1960's, the internship
experience has become an integral element of the Washington Semester
Program. While they vary in form and content, all internships can:
• provide needed on-the-job experience
• allow you to test career interests
• integrate classroom learning into real world situations
• enhance personal development and the development of interpersonal work skills
• provide practical knowledge of and exposure to the real world
Above all, the internship presents you with an
exciting challenge?and requires a great deal of adjustment. A typical
internship will expose you to the commuting scene, require you to adjust
to varied office routines and co-workers, allow you to learn by being
involved in the political process or private work force, and provide you
with the opportunity to make contacts that may prove useful when you
are pursuing future career goals. Remember, however, that your
internship is what you make it?it can be as rewarding as you allow it to
be. Although it may prove trying at times, an internship is an
exceptional method of learning by doing and can be one of the most
valuable components of the semester.
About the Internship
The internship in the Washington Semester Program is an academic
endeavor as well, representing one-fourth of the semester curriculum.
The course that accompanies the actual work experience helps you place
your internship in the larger context and relate your experiences to
those of your peers. Several class sessions plus a series of written
assignments and projects constitute the course requirements.
Completion of these requirements, along with a formal evaluation
submitted by your office supervisor, are the elements factored into your
final grade for the internship component. A formal syllabus outlining
specific requirements is included in the packet of materials you will
receive once you're in Washington.
In the Washington Semester Program, each student is required to
intern two full days a week. Specific days vary, depending upon your
program and unit assignment. Interns do not normally receive monetary
compensation for their work?you are trading your services for access to
organization and for the on-the-job training the organization will
provide.
Internship Bazaar
The WSP holds an Internship Bazaar at the start of each semester. The
Bazaar is held in the Bender Arena on the main campus at American
University, which provides space for each organization to meet with the
students in an informal setting. During the bazaar, internship sponsors
distribute information and answer questions about their organization.
Some even pre-screen and/or interview prospective interns. We strongly
encourage all students to attend this bazaar.
Start Your Internship Search Here
Our 50-year reputation of superior programming has earned us a bit of
clout in the D.C. internship arena. In fact, our one-of-a-kind, fully
searchable online internship database boasts over 2,000 different
internships at thousands of sites-all in the D.C. metro area.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a
rolling basis but we recommend applying as early as possible as there
are a limited number of spots for each program. It is never too early to
secure an internship, and once you have been accepted and commit to
experiencing Washington D.C. you gain access to our extensive internship
database! Also, some internships require considerable lead time for
security screening and processing.
Don’t wait – reserve your space today!
1. Determine if your home school is an affiliated member school.
a. If your institution is listed, speak with your member representative to receive your recommendation and an application.
b. If your school is not a member school,
click here to access the application.
2. Make a list of any clubs, organizations and/or hobbies in which you participate as well as any leadership experience.
3 .Request a transcript to be sent from
your institution to our office. Our office works hard to make sure that
you receive an admission decision quickly so you should hear back from
us within two to three weeks.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact:
Robert Walter
Assistant Director of Admissions & Recruiting
washsem@american.edu
(800) 424-2600
If you are checking for the receipt of your application and/or transcript, contact the Dean’s office at (800) 424-2600.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International Certificate Program: Are you ready for the academic,
professional, and cultural experience of a lifetime? Do you want to
connect with elite decision makers and business leaders in Washington,
DC? Are you interested in an internship in the United States? Through
the Washington Semester Program, you can spend a semester or an academic
year in the dynamic, cosmopolitan city of Washington, DC, where you
will access some of the most influential people and organizations in the
world.
For further questions and cost information, please email the International Student Assistant at gotodc@american.edu.
International Student Director
001-202-895-4906
gotodc@american.edu
Immigration Information
The Washington Semester Program helps international students every step of the way in obtaining a J-1 or F-1 visa.