The Washington Semester Program in DC

  • Location: USA - Washington, D.C.
  • GPA Requirements: 3.0 GPA
  • Other Requirements: Introductory course within the area that they intend to study
  • Program Structure: Structured - not direct enrollment
  • Application Deadline: Fall: February 20 | Spring: September 20
  • Program Term(s): Fall, Spring
  • Official Website: The Washington Semester Program in DC
Program Dates
Term Start Date End Date
Fall 2024 August 23th, 2024 December 8th, 2024
Spring 2025 January 9th, 2025 April 28th, 2025
Fall 2025 August 21st, 2025 December 5th, 2025

Where

Washington, DC is a dynamic and cosmopolitan city. It never stops buzzing with activity, a cultural center that impresses people with its beauty, and the focal point of politics and government in the United States.

The Program

The Washington Semester Program was established in 1947 and hosts each semester more than 450 students, who come from every state and from more than 50 countries. The program offers tracks in several distinct areas: American politics; public law; justice; foreign policy; peace and conflict resolution; international business and trade; economic policy; journalism; international environment and development; the arts; education policy and special education; transforming communities; and women and public policy.

Each track consists of an 8-credit seminar (two courses), a 4-credit internship, and a 4-credit research project. This allows the students to gain experience in their field and also build contacts for networking once they have graduated. In addition, students participating in specific programs may take national and international trips. For example, International Environment and Development semesters have offered 3-week visits to South Africa, Zimbabwe, or Costa Rica; the Peace and Conflict Resolution program includes a trip to Ireland/ Northern Ireland or the Balkans; and the Arts track takes students to New York City for 3 days. These expeditions are invaluable experiences where students learn to apply ideas they have discussed throughout the semester and have the opportunity to travel to unique places.

Academic Structure

Courses taken with other program participants and local students. The internship will be based in DC.

Course Credit

In general, most students enroll in 12-15 credits. Please see the options below:

  • Option I
    12 credit total
    internship course (4 credits)
    2 WSP seminars (8 credit total)
  • Option II
    15+ credit total
    internship course (4 credits)
    2 WSP seminars (8 credit total)
    1 additional course:
    elective (3 credits) or
    research course (3-4 credits) or
    independent study (3-4 credits)

Courses

For a full list of course offerings, visit American University’s website here.

Eligibility

The program is open to students who are at least first-semester juniors. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to participate. Students are also required to have taken an introductory course within the area that they intend to study.

The selection process for the Washington Semester Program is very competitive and only two students per semester will be approved to participate.

Application Process

Allegheny students must apply for approval to study off-campus from the Global Education office AND apply directly to their chosen program. For this program, the program requires a nomination from Allegheny’s Global Education Office before students can apply directly to the program. So, students must complete the Allegheny approval application and then wait for further instructions to apply to their program. The Allegheny approval application deadline is February 20 for fall programs and September 20 for spring programs. Study away approval applications will be reviewed immediately following the appropriate semester deadline. After a student has been approved by Allegheny, the Global Education office will send the student’s nomination and/or application documents to the program abroad. Students will receive instructions directly from the host program’s visiting student office with their next steps. For more information about the study away application process, please visit the application steps page.

Student Life

While studying in Washington, D.C., students live in university-leased apartments (Berkshire Apartments) or off-campus housing (WISH Housing) near the main campus. The campus is located in upper northwest Washington, next door to homes of senators and other dignitaries. The campus is only one block away from the Metro, the subway system that serves Washington.  While in the Washington Semester Program, students have the opportunity to eat at the American University dining halls or cook their own meals in their apartments. Participants are responsible for paying the American University-Washington Semester Program directly for all room and board charges.

In the evenings and on weekends you will have time to enjoy the sights of Washington, many of which are free of charge. They include the monuments on the National Mall, the Smithsonian Museums, the National Zoo, and the National Gallery of Art; cultural activities at the Kennedy Center and around the city; and lectures given by nationally and internationally known figures. For those people who enjoy the outdoors, there are bike trails and parks, as well as the Mall.

Blog of Allegheny Student Paige Brigham who participated in the Washington DC program in Fall 2017: https://www.american.edu/spexs/washingtonsemester/student-ambassador-blog/paige-brigham.cfm

Fees & Costs

Below find information on estimated costs for a semester abroad. You will receive a bill from Allegheny College, as you normally would, for the amount shown under “Costs Paid to Allegheny College.” All other study away program costs will be paid directly to a non-Allegheny entity and are listed in part two below. These amounts are estimates and will vary depending on individual choices. A total estimated cost of attendance for this program is shown at the bottom.

All financial aid awards can be applied to study abroad costs with the exception of federal work-study awards and certain tuition exchange scholarships. For more information, visit our page about Financing Study Away.

Part One: Costs Paid to Allegheny College

Tuition (12 to 20 credits)
Students do not pay tuition directly to American University. Instead, students continue to pay tuition to Allegheny College. This covers tuition at the Washington Semester Program through AU.
$27,930
Study Away Fee $800
SUBTOTAL Paid to Allegheny College $28,730

Part Two: Costs Paid to non-Allegheny Entity

Housing
– Paid directly to AU Housing Provider Turnkey  – this cost quoted here is for a space in a double occupancy room within a two bedroom apartment (four students total per apartment)
$6,150
Estimated Costs for Meals
– Students live in non-catered housing without a meal plan. Students grocery shop and cook on their own. Quoted here is approximately $25/day for independent meals.
$2,500
Estimated Airfare $400
Estimated Technology Fee (Paid to AU) $120
Estimated Sports Center Fee (Paid to AU) $65
Estimated Local Transportation (U-Pass | Paid to AU) $136
Estimated Books & Supplies $200
Estimated Personal Expenses
Personal expenses include: the basic expenses for laundry, toiletries and other incidental expenses. It does not include an estimate for personal travel, entertainment or social outings.
$250
SUBTOTAL Paid to NON-Allegheny entity $9,821

TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE

Subtotal Part One: Fees paid to Allegheny College (in section 1. above) PLUS $28,730
Subtotal Part Two: Fees paid to non-Allegheny entity (in section 2. above) $9,821
TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE $38,551 ***
***Compare this to the cost of a semester at Allegheny in Meadville: $37,299.

NOTES:

Study Away Fee includes: administrative support, transcript translation and processing, pre-departure orientation, and emergency travel insurance.