Established in 1947, the Washington Semester Program pairs academic and experiential learning with an internship at one of D.C.’s many influential institutions. Receive academic credit and:

• Gain a competitive edge in the job market
• Learn on-site at key organizations in D.C.
• Engage with prominent experts and leaders in government, international affairs, non-profit and media organizations
• Interact with professionals in your field
• Participate in hands-on seminars
• Experience the culture of Washington, D.C.
• Build your professional and personal networks

WORK IN D.C.

Become career-ready by interning in Washington, D.C. You will gain practical and professional experience that will elevate you in a competitive job market. Our staff provides expert advice on acquiring an internship before your arrival. Focus on your long-term professional development and reflect on your experiences in the accompanying academic course.

The Washington Semester Program is an academic experiential learning program for students who, at the time they participate in the Program, will be at least in their second semester of their second year of college. It includes 8 credits of academic seminar in one of 12 topic areas, 4 credits of internship, and the option of taking an additional 3-4 credits of independent research or an elective course.

The seminar will give you the chance to meet professionals who are chest-deep in the fields you are studying so that you gain valuable expert insights first-hand.

At your internship, you'll get real-world work experience while making connections with leaders in Washington, D.C.

The research project or elective course lets you take your experience one step further and use the valuable resources that AU and Washington, D.C. have to offer.

Core Components

Seminar (8 Credits)
For three days of each week, you'll participate in intellectual discussion with professionals who are knee-deep in the field you are studying. You'll go "behind the scenes"; into the offices of most of the speakers to get a first-hand insider's view of the week's topics of discussion. Some of the speakers are big names and some are not, but one thing's certain, they are all major players at the local, national, and international levels who are passionate about their stance, present valid viewpoints and are invited to challenge your point of view. You'll definitely leave class with a real world perspective.

The Internship (4 Credits*)
We provide you with an instant network of organizations to look through. Six to eight weeks before the semester begins, you'll gain access to all of the internships in our database that are relevant to the program into which you have been accepted. We'll give you all the information you need about each organization, including descriptions of internship positions and address and phone numbers for our contacts. You can start your search right away, or wait until you arrive in D.C. Either way, you'll have nearly two weeks at the beginning of the semester to attend interviews and make your selection. We suggest you have at least three interviews. Before you arrive, we will also provide you with resources to help you write an effective résumé and cover letter.
*Note that the Public Health track has a 6-credit internship component.



Programs of Study

• American Politics
• Global Economics and Business
• Foreign Policy
• International Environment and Development
• International Law and Organizations
• Journalism & New Media
• Justice and Law
• Justice and Law: Public Law
• The Middle East and World Affairs
• Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Transforming Communities
• Public Health