Santa Clara University

Washington Semester

For many years, Santa Clara students have participated in the Washington Semester program through American University. Washington Semester students live, study, and work at internships in our nation’s capital for one semester (typically fall semester), along with other students from throughout the country. Numerous programs of study are available, including American Politics, Public Law, Foreign Policy, Arts, International Development, and International Environment. Students work at a public sector internship and participate in classes and other programs at American University. The courses taken at American University transfer to students’ Santa Clara transcripts, fulfilling some departmental and university requirements and counting toward total credits. Students participating in Washington Semester earn between 22.5 to 24 quarter credits (the equivalent of 15 or 16 semester units) for one semester of study.

APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR 2008 IS AVAILABLE HERE

APPLICATION FOR 2008 IS AVAILABLE HERE

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?
Applications must be submitted to Professor Chen (Department of Political Science), rather than to American University. Key dates in the application process include:

• January 29, 2008: Information session on the program, with Dr. David Brown, Dean of Washington Semester. 4-5:30 p.m. in A&S 235.
• February 29, 2008: Applications due to Prof. Chen
• March 17, 2008: Accepted students notified

Although applications will not be accepted until February 2008, you should consult with 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?
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. If your GPA is below 2.5, your application may be considered on an individual basis. Most SCU students are able to attend their first-choice program. 

How many units of credit will I receive?
It depends on whether you take the elective course or do the research project. Here’s how it breaks down (American U. is on the semester system):

What requirements are satisfied by the courses taken in Washington?
The seminar courses fulfill various requirements, as listed below. The internship class counts as an upper division Political Science elective, and the research project fulfills the Political Science Senior Seminar requirement if taken in your junior or senior year, as long as you receive at least a "C" in the class. It is helpful to keep these in mind as you select your courses at SCU. 

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.

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. 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 elective, you will probably not be able to do the research project as well.

Will my financial aid transfer to AmericanUniversity? Is other aid available?
Your financial aid from Santa Clara 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. In the event that you still need financial assistance, there are also scholarships available from American University. These scholarships are based on financial need. To apply for them, you must write a letter to SCU’s Washington Semester supervisor (Prof. Elsa Chen) describing your financial need, providing as much supporting evidence as possible. 

How much does it cost?
Please see the price list (outside A&S 239) for an estimate of the tuition, housing options, meal plans, fees, and other costs. The costs listed are slightly lower than they will be next year, as costs are adjusted each year based on inflation. (Also note that the Washington Semester tuition is higher than Fall tuition for SCU, but it is a semester, rather than a quarter, so you earn more credits.)

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, and which study abroad program you attend. You should discuss this with your academic advisor as well as the Study Abroad Office to be sure. If you want the Washington DC 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 are Peace & Conflict Resolution (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia), International Environment & Development (Brazil), Contemporary Islam (Egypt and Jordan), Israel Studies (Israel), and International Business & Trade (China).

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 quarter, and interview with a few offices before deciding on an internship. The Washington Semester staff at American U. has excellent resources and connections to help you secure an internship.

I have more questions! Whom should I ask?
Feel free to contact Julie Wong (jwong2@scu.edu, 408-554-4508, Arts & Sciences 230) or Prof. Chen (echen@scu.edu, 408-551-7055, Arts & Sciences 239), or call the Washington Semester Program directly at 1-800-424-2600.  You can also check out their web site at www.washingtonsemester.com.