Washington Semester
For many years, Santa Clara students have participated in the Washington Semester program through American University. The Washington Semester Program offers students the opportunity to live, study, and work in our nation's capital for one semester along with other students from throughout the country, as well as from abroad. Numerous programs of study are available, including American Politics, Public Law, Foreign Policy, International Environment & Development, Economic Policy, Journalism, International Business & Trade, Peace & Conflict Resolution, and Contemporary Islam. In the Washington Semester Program students combine coursework taken at American University with hands-on experience via internships. In the past SCU students have interned at the White House, the Justice Department, the FBI, interest groups, Fox News, various non-profit organizations, and offices of Members of the House of Representatives.
Students participating in the Washington Semester Program earn 18 - 24 quarter credits for one semester of study. Grades and units received at American University will count toward the student's SCU GPA and course requirements for the department and the university.
WSP FAQ & Information Packet 2013
WSP Application (including Dean's Grant Application)
WSP Dates to Remember 2013
Frequently Asked Questions about the Washington Semester Program
Should I go as a senior, junior, or sophomore?
Students usually attend in their junior or senior years. Occasionally, sophomores are accepted, but this is not recommended. Most SCU students attend in the fall because they miss only one quarter, rather than two, and return to SCU with more, rather than fewer, course credits than they would have taken otherwise.
How do I apply? When is the application deadline?
Students must first submit a petition through the SCU International Programs office to be considered for the Washington Semester Program. Once your petition has been approved, you may apply to the Washington Semester Program online. Key dates in the application process include:
- October 16, 2012: Information session on the program with Melissa Johnson, WSP's Assistant Director of Admissions and Recruitment. Held in conjunction with the Study Abroad fair.
- December 15, 2012: Deadline to submit petition to the International Programs Office
- February 22, 2013: Deadline to submit application to American University online
- March 15, 2013: Notification of acceptance.
Although applications are not due until January 2012, you should consult your academic advisor as early as possible if you would like to attend this program so that you can plan your classes at SCU accordingly.
How competitive is it to get into the program?
Students are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity. Eligibility for the program is based on the student's class standing (Junior or Senior at program commencement) and GPA (2.5 or higher at Winter quarter prior to program commencement). If you are currently a Sophomore or Junior with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and participation in this program will not impede your graduation, you have a good chance of being accepted. Most SCU students are able to attend their first-choice program.
Students with a GPA between 2.1 and 2.5 may be considered on an exceptional basis.
How many units of credit will I receive?
It depends on whether you take the elective course or do the research project. In general, completion of Washington Semester counts as 12 to 16 semester units, which translates to 18 to 24 quarter units of credit (1 semester unit = 1.5 quarter units).
Here's how it breaks down (American U. is on the semester system):
Research Project Course Option
|
Classes
If you opt for the
"Research Project"
|
SCU Course Fulfilled
|
Semester Units Earned
|
Quarter Units Earned
|
|
AU Research Project
|
POLI Senior Seminar
|
4
|
6
|
|
AU Internship
|
POLI UD Elective
|
4
|
6
|
|
AU Seminar
|
POLI UD (IR, U.S., or Comparative)
|
8
|
12
|
|
|
Total Units
|
16
|
24
|
* To receive credit for your Poli Senior Seminar requirement you must be a junior or senior and complete the AU Research Project with a grade of C or better.
Elective Course Option
|
Classes
If you opt for the
elective course
|
SCU Course Fulfilled
|
Semester Units Earned
|
Quarter Units Earned
|
|
AU Elective
|
UD Elective Units
|
3
|
4.5
|
|
AU Internship
|
POLI UD Elective
|
4
|
6
|
|
AU Seminar
|
POLI UD (IR, U.S., or Comparative)
|
8
|
12
|
|
|
Total Units
|
15
|
22.5
|
Most SCU students choose to enroll in the research project, but you may instead decide not to enroll in anything beyond your basic program, or to enroll in an
elective course. If you want to enroll in an elective course, you will need to choose one that is offered after 5 p.m. to accommodate your seminar and internship classes. You are advised not to count on doing a required course at AU, as many of those courses close before you are allowed access to them.
Please Note: If you attend one of the five programs that have a travel component you will have a very limited selection of courses for the Elective Course Option.
What requirements are satisfied by the courses taken in Washington?
- The SEMINAR COURSES fulfill various Poli Sci and elective requirements, as listed in the table below.
- The INTERNSHIP CLASS counts as an upper division Political Science elective.
- The RESEARCH PROJECT fulfills the Political Science Senior Seminar requirement if taken in your junior or senior year, as long as you have credit for the corresponding introductory class in that field, and you earn at least a "C" on your research paper. If taken before junior year or before you have satisfied the lower-division requirement in that field, the research project counts as an upper-division Poli Sci elective.
It is helpful to keep these courses in mind as you select which courses to take at SCU both before and after you attend the Washington Semester Program.
| Program |
Upper-Division Poli Sci Requirements
|
American Politics
|
US Politics, Elective
|
Foreign Policy
|
International Relations, Elective
|
Global Economics & Business
|
International Relations, Elective
|
International Environment & Development
|
International Relations, Comparative, Elective
|
International Law & Organizations
|
International Relations, Elective
|
Islam & World Affairs
|
Comparative Politics, Elective
|
| Journalism |
US Politics, Elective
|
Justice & Law
|
US Politics, Elective
|
Peace & Conflict Resolution
|
International Relations, Comparative, Elective
|
Transforming Communities
|
US Politics, Elective
|
|
|
If you are working on the Public Sector Emphasis, any of the seminars will also count as one of the required upper division courses outside the department.
Likewise, depending on course selection, some pre-law emphasis requirements may be completed at AU. Law-related WSP coursework can be approved for pre-law list A coursework. Please see Professor Izquierdo for more information.
I am studying a language at SCU. Can I continue that in Washington?
Yes, you can enroll in a language course at American University as an elective, and will need to be approved by the chair of the Modern Languages program. The only constraint is the schedule of classes at A.U. You need to find a course that meets after 5 pm, so that it does not interfere with your other classes. If you take the AU elective, you will probably not be able to do the research project as well. Likewise, if you attend a program with a travel component, you will not be able to enroll in a language course.
How much does it cost?
Please see the price list for an estimate of the tuition, housing options, meal plans, fees, and other costs.
Thanks to a $5,000 discount on WSP tuition offered by American University, students pay the same tuition rate as all other SCU students.
Will my financial aid transfer to American University? Is other aid available?
Your financial aid grants and loans from SCU should transfer in full to American University if you attend Washington Semester. You should consult your financial aid officer to confirm the amount of your financial aid package and determine which of your awards (if applicable) will transfer to D.C and if any will not. Tuition is paid directly to SCU, so your financial aid from SCU will apply first to your tuition bill.
In the event that you need additional financial assistance, there are also scholarships available from American University. Some are need-based, while others are tied to specific academic programs at WSP. Information on the Dean's Scholarship (which is need-based) is included below. You can inquire about program-specific scholarships directly from AU.
How do the internships work? Do I have to find my own?
You may find your own, but most students meet employers through the Washington Semester Program's Internship Bazaar at the beginning of the semester, and interview with a few offices before deciding on an internship. The Washington Semester staff at American University has excellent resources and connections to help you secure an internship.
The political science department has a book listing over 2000 internships available through AU's Washington Semester Program. You can stop by A&S 230 anytime to look through the book to get an idea of possible internships you may wish to pursue while in D.C.
Can I do this program and also study abroad?
The answer to this question depends on several factors, including how many quarters you will spend "in residence" at SCU (a minimum of 45 units after junior standing taken at SCU is required), and which study abroad program you attend. You should discuss this with your academic advisor as well as the Study Abroad Office. The can help you map out your remaining courses and verify that you will graduate on time. Students typically do not have problems doing both, but every student's situation is different.
If you want the Washington D.C. experience as well as an overseas experience in one semester, you may want to consider one of the five Washington Semester programs that also include an overseas trip.
The five programs with an overseas travel component are:
Program with Travel Component
|
Fall Travel Itinerary
|
Winter/ Spring Travel Itinerary
|
Peace & Conflict Resolution
|
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia
|
Greece, Turkey, Cyprus
|
Int'l Environment & Development
|
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
|
Ghana, South Africa: Cape Town, Jahannesburg, Lajuma Province
|
Islam & World Affiars
|
Middle East (variable)
|
Middle East (variable)
|
Global Economics & Business
|
New York City, China-Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai
|
New York City, Europe-Brussels, Paris, and London
|
Intn'l Law & Organizations
|
New York City, London, Geneva, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, The Hague
|
New York CIty, London, Geneva, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, The Hague
|
Additional Questions
If you have additional questions that were not answered in this packet, please feel free to contact Julie Wong or Pandora Fontes (polisci@scu.edu, Arts & Sciences 230), or call the Washington Semester Program directly at 1-800-424-2600. You can also check out their web site at www.washingtonsemester.com.
