D.C. Semester Program

Earn 12 credits, fulfill COLL requirements, and work a full-time internship in Washington D.C.!

The D.C. Semester Program presents a unique academic and professional opportunity, blending a semester-long internship experience managed by the Washington Center team and accelerated courses taught by W&M professors in the Center and around the city.

Open to W&M students and students from any accredited four-year institution, the Semester Program is designed with students’ professional needs in mind. At its core, this is an internship program, that creates the structure for W&M undergraduate students to explore their career paths with individualized support from the Washington Center team. This is a flexible program, allowing students to focus on their specific career interests during a semester of their choosing. With students’ well-being and personal growth as central concerns of the program's development, administrators work individually with students to find their path to career success, fulfillment and work-life balance.

During either Fall or Spring semster, D.C. Semester Program scholars receive 12 total credits for the semester - 6 credits for their accelerated courses and an additional 6 credits for the their internship and corresponding internship reflection course. The program is open to students in all majors and disciplines, and financial assistance is available to participate in this opportunity. Classes are taught by W&M professors and held at the Washington Center. From the arts to international relations, and everything in between, the interdisciplinary focus of the courses offered each semester are developed to engage students regardless of their academic background or goals.

Students may live in W&M housing located in the heart of Washington, D.C., or at alternative options (with family, friends, other rentals) in the D.C. metropolitan area.

Program Benefits

Prepare for the job you want with a full-time internship that reflects your personal and professional goals
Build your professional network and build confidence as you engage with alumni in D.C. area through our mentorship program and hear from a diverse lineup of guest speakers

Test drive postgraduate life as you balance work and life navigating city living and working your nine-to-five as an intern
Learn to market yourself and your skills through mock interviews, intimate networking opportunities and more in our tailored professional development courses
Stay on track and fulfill 12 credits (potentially fulfilling COLL requirements) throughout your semester in D.C.
Receive individual support from the entire Washington Center team throughout your professional and academic experience in D.C.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the D.C. Semester Program, students will:

Develop strong written and spoken communication skills in academic and professional settings, evidenced by assessments completed throughout the guided Washington Program Internship course and feedback collected from internship supervisors.
Recognize explicit connections between their D.C. internship experience and future career aspirations, evidenced through graded assignments completed in association with the guided Washington Program Internship course.
Express the importance of continuous career/self-development and outline how their experience has impacted their career trajectory and professional skills.

Questions?

Reach out to the D.C. Semester Program administrator team