Academics

Classes & Credits

Academics Overview

See the table below for course information. More details/information can be found below the table.

FALL 2025
Term	Dates	Course Title	Credits	Subject
Fall 2025	Aug. 29 – Oct. 10	Sustainable Communities in the 21st Century: How to Read and Know Our Cities and Towns Professor Matthew Dalbey (Adjunct)	3 Credits; pending COLL 350	PUBP
Fall 2025	Oct. 24 – Dec. 12	The Role of Intelligence in National Security Professor Meredith Cavan (Adjunct)	3 Credits	GOVT
Fall 2025	Aug. 29 – Dec. 12	Washington Program Internship Course Professor Gabriel Cancio-Bello	6 Credits	INTR
SPRING 2026
Term	Dates	Course Title	Credits	Subject
Spring 2026	Jan. 23 – Mar. 6	American Legal Processes Professor Christine Nemacheck	3 Credits	GOVT
Spring 2026	Mar. 20 – May 1	People’s History of D.C. Professor Adrienne Petty	3 Credits; pending COLL 350	HIST
Spring 2026	Jan. 23 – May 1	Washington Program Internship Course Professor Gabriel Cancio-Bello	6 Credits	INTR

Accelerated Courses

All D.C. Semester Program (DCSP) students take three courses totaling 12 credits, including two accelerated, interdisciplinary courses designed to leverage the national and international relevance of Washington, D.C.

These hybrid, 7-week courses are taught by W&M faculty and Washington Center staff, with one course offered in the first half of the semester and the other in the second. Instruction blends lectures, group discussions, site visits, guest speakers, and alumni panels to create an immersive, experiential learning environment.

Course topics rotate each semester and draw from diverse academic disciplines. Regardless of subject, students explore real-world challenges and are encouraged to connect course themes to broader societal impact—all while engaging with W&M’s extensive network of alumni, leaders, and experts based in the capital.

Washington Program Internship Course

Students may work at any internship in which they are interested, and complete academic work in association with their internship experience. Student support and guidance from Washington Center staff as they apply to opportunities and during their experience.

Complementing the internship course, this course will draw on student development theory to help students reflect and make connections. Students would set goals and learning objectives for their internships, participate in written self-reflection and regular group discussions, and present their findings based on their experiences.

Class & Internship Schedules

Students work at their internships during the day, full-time Monday through Thursday, and take classes on Friday afternoons and select Friday mornings. Courses will be hybrid, incorporating asynchronous participation opportunities and class sessions.

Class Locations

Classes are held at the William & Mary Washington Center. The Center is located at 901 4th St. NW in downtown Mount Vernon Triangle Washington D.C. Get directions, transportation and parking information.

Registration

Students selected for the program during the general application cycle will have their seats reserved until they register during the Add/Drop registration period. Students who are interested in the program after the application deadline may be allowed to apply to the program on a rolling basis and will register before the start of the semester.

Grading & Honor Code

Grades are awarded like any course on campus. Students earn a total of 12 credits for their academic work in the D.C. Semester Program. The courses may apply to concentration requirements, are posted on students' transcripts, are calculated into GPAs, and count towards graduation requirements. In addition, all policies and regulations contained in the Rights and Responsibilities, the Student Code of Conduct, and the Administration of Student Life Policies sections of the William & Mary Student Handbook apply to all Study in D.C. opportunities.

ADA Accommodations

W&M accommodates students with disabilities in accordance with federal laws and university policy. Any student who feels they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a learning, psychiatric, physical, or chronic health diagnosis should contact Student Accessibility Services staff at 757-221-2512 or at sas@wm.edu to determine if accommodations are warranted and to obtain an official letter of accommodation. For more information, please visit www.wm.edu/sas.

Academic Guides

Nervous for your first lecture in D.C.? Not sure how to approach your professor at office hours? Here are some great guides to assist you in D.C.'s tight-knit classroom environment.