D.C. Semester Program
Over the course of a single semester, students earn 12 credits, fulfill COLL requirements, and work a full-time internship in Washington D.C.!
The D.C. Semester Program presents a unique academic and professional opportunity, blending a semester-long internship experience managed by the Washington Center team and accelerated courses taught by W&M professors in the Center and around the city. The program is open to students in all majors and disciplines, and financial assistance is available. D.C. Semester Program scholars receive 6 credits for their coursework and an additional 6 credits for the academic work they complete in association with their internship.
Classes are taught by W&M professors and held at the Washington Center. Students may live in W&M housing located in the heart of Washington, D.C., or at alternative options (with family, friends, other rentals) in the D.C. metropolitan area.
- Learn about our review process and how to submit your application here!
- Financial assistance is available for this opportunity.
- Please contact Program Manager [[smdevellis, Sarah DeVellis]] or Program Assistant [[mtbeers, Max Beers]] with any questions.
Program Details
- Students can pursue internships at any organization they wish to, based on their specific professional and academic interests.
- Each student is required to complete two accelerated courses, each carrying 3 credits. These courses are structured to run for 7 weeks each, with one course taking place in the first half of the semester and the other in the second half. These courses rotate each semester and are taught by W&M faculty from various academic backgrounds and disciplines. Each class will expose students to a wide array of pressing issues, breakthroughs, and challenges and lead them in critical thought to create connections between course topics and change in the real world.
Scholars will also enroll in a hybrid Washington Program Internship Course to translate their internship experiences into focused learning opportunities so students may earn college credit for their hard work and professional growth. Unlike our accelerated courses, this course runs continuously throughout the entire semester and is tailored to the interests and needs of each cohort of students. Regardless of the subject, DCSP students and faculty embrace the Nation's Capital as the scholarly context for their applied learning experiences and immerse themselves in W&M's extensive network of alumnae, industry experts, and global leaders who call D.C. their home.Spring 2025 courses:
- Accelerated Course #1: PUBP: Spiritual Brownfields: Approaches to Large, Deteriorating Houses of Worship with Small, Aging Congregations - 3 Credits
- Accelerated Course #2: BUAD: How Organizations Survive and Thrive through Transition—Or Do They? - 3 Credits
- Washington Program Internship Course (INTR) - 6 Credits
- Learn more about all of the courses here and some of the benefits below:
Program Benefits
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Prepare for the job you want with a full-time internship that reflects your personal and professional goals
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Build your professional network and build confidence as you engage with alumni in D.C. area through our mentorship program and hear from a diverse lineup of guest speakers
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Test drive postgraduate life as you balance work and life navigating city living and working your nine-to-five as an intern
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Learn to market yourself and your skills through mock interviews, intimate networking opportunities and more in our tailored professional development courses
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Stay on track and fulfill 12 credits (potentially fulfilling COLL requirements) throughout your semester in D.C.
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Receive individual support from the entire Washington Center team throughout your professional and academic experience in D.C.
Learn more about the program.
