About W&M in Washington
The W&M in Washington, D.C. Program
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 Assistant, 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, politicians,
and policy-makers. From Arts to International Relations, and areas in
between, the varying semester topics allow students with all areas of
interest to participate during a semester that appeals to them.
Academics & Credits
Each
semester, an experienced William & Mary professor teaches two courses that
are specifically designed for the W&M in Washington Program. Participating students
receive 6 credits for the academic work they complete in association with their
internship and an additional 6-8 credits, depending on the particular course
offerings each semester, for two academic classes held in the W&M
Washington Office.
Internships
The
supportive W&M in Washington staff works with students to research, apply
for, and secure internships which relate to the semester topic. Students
then spend 30-35 hours per week at their internships while the Program Director
coordinates directly with each intern supervisor to provide a quality
internship experience.
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The W&M in Washington staff help you secure your dream internship in your field of interest - so you are not on your own!
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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 hired full time after graduation!
Life in DC
Students
enjoy the benefits of a large metropolitan city and the attention of a small
community. W&M in Washington also provides the same quality of support to
students in DC as campus provides to students in Williamsburg. Participating
students live in luxury apartments in Arlington, VA, just 3 Metro stops from
Downtown DC. Through events organized by the Program, as well as the
various social and cultural outlets that a dynamic city like DC has to offer,
W&M in Washington students have an array of opportunities before them.
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.
