About the D.C. Semester Program
The D.C. Semester Program offered every fall and spring semester, combines academic rigor and real world experience in the heart of the Nation's capital. The program is open to students in all majors and disciplines, and financial assistance is available. It is staffed by a dedicated Program Coordinator, as well as a team of W&M faculty who apply and are individually selected on a semester basis to ensure our courses are relevant and meeting the interests of prospective students.
The semester program is designed with students’ professional needs in mind. At its core, this is an internship program, that creates the structure for W&M undergraduate students to explore their career paths with individualized support from the Washington Center team. This is a flexible program, allowing students to focus on their specific career interests during a semester of their choosing. With students’ well-being and personal growth as central concerns of the program's development, administrators work individually with students to find their path to career success, fulfillment and work-life balance.
Students in the program gain tremendous insight into their field of study through alumnae mentorship and have the opportunity to learn directly from experts, executives, elected officials, and policy-makers in their coursework. From the arts to international relations, and everything in between, the interdisciplinary focus of the courses offered each semester are developed to engage students regardless of their academic background or goals.
Academics
- Students receive 6 credits for completing two accelerated courses and an additional 6 credits for the academic work they complete in association with their internship through the Washington Program Internship course.
- Accelerated courses are worth 3 credits each and are taught by W&M professors.
- Synchronous class meetings are held on Friday's at the W&M Washington Center.
Internships
- Students are expected to spend 30-35 hours per week at their internships, working Monday through Thursday of each week.
- The minimum weekly commitment is 20 hours per week for 12 weeks. Total minimum is 240 hours for the semester.
- Internship organizations are based on individual student professional and academic interests.
- Washington Program Internship course topics and class meetings are designed to reinforce students' real world experiences from their internships and tailored to answer their interests, questions and concerns as they emerge in real-time.
Housing
- Students have the option to live in W&M housing
- Located in Mount Vernon Triangle in the heart of D.C.
- Apartments are fully furnished
- Safe and secure housing complex, complete with fitness center and large common rooms
- Students may also live at home, with friends or family, or secure other housing alternatives, as long as they are within the D.C. metropolitan area and are able to commute to class and internship sites.
Program Mission
- To offer an enriching, interactive academic program for students
- To encourage and practice interdisciplinary learning in "real life" settings
- To provide a well-managed, mutually beneficial internship experience
- To let students sample the intellectual and cultural diversity of our Nation's capital
