About W&M in Washington

W&M in Washington is an academic program housed in the William & Mary Washington Office. It is the biggest initiative of the Washington Office, staffed by a Program Director and a Program Manager, and operating during the Fall and Spring semesters of the academic year.

Program Details

The Program
W&M in Washington offers an academically rigorous curriculum built around a semester-by-semester topic, with internships matched to that topic. Students in the Program gain tremendous insight into their field of study and have an incredible opportunity to learn from experts, executives, elected officials, and policy-makers. From the Arts to International Relations, and everything in between, the varying semester topics allow students with all areas of interest to participate during a semester that appeals to them.

Academics & Credits
Students earn a total of 12-14 credits for their academic work in the W&M in Washington Program. Each semester, an experienced William & Mary professor teaches two courses specifically designed for the semester theme. Students receive 6-8 credits for these classes, which are held in the W&M Washington Office, and an additional 6 credits for the academic work they complete in association with their internship. Unlike any other Washington program, all W&M in Washington courses will count toward GPA and can satisfy William & Mary’s major/minor requirements.

Internships
The supportive W&M in Washington staff helps students research, apply for, and secure internships which relate to the semester topic -- so you are not on your own. The Program administrators coordinate directly with each intern supervisor to provide a quality internship experience. Students spend 30-35 hours per week at their internship sites during the semester. Your internship doesn’t just end when the semester is over. In fact, MANY Program students are asked to work at their internship sites over the Summer or are hired full-time after graduation!

Life in DC
Students enjoy the benefits of a large metropolitan city and the attention of a small community. Through events organized by Program administrators, W&M in Washington students have an array of possibilities before them. With opportunities like kayaking on the Potomac, insider’s tours of DC hot spots, and networking with alums, students will experience dynamic DC at its best. W&M in Washington provides the same quality of support to students in DC as Campus provides to students in Williamsburg.

Program Mission

• To offer a challenging, interactive academic program appropriate for qualified students.
• To encourage practical 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.

Program History

The W&M in Washington Program has its earliest origins in the one credit "Washington Program" started in the late 1980s and run by the Thomas Jefferson Public Policy Program in the mid 1990s. Each semester, the competitive program would bring undergraduate and graduate students to Washington for three or four days to learn about a different issue in public policy.

The establishment of a Washington Office in 2001 led to more serious consideration of a full time semester program, with the office serving as a base for launching the new venture. In 2001, the Washington Office produced a survey of four existing programs in Washington to inform W&M administrators on the critical elements of successful programs. Detailed plans for W&M in Washington were approved in Fall 2005, allowing for the establishment of a permanent, full time program for the Fall 2006 semester.