Academics

Classes & Credits

Student 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.

Fall 2024 Courses & Credits

All D.C. Semester Program students will take three courses, earning a total of 12 credits.

Accelerated Courses

The D.C. Semester Program's features two hybrid courses that make the most of D.C.’s national and international relevance and are interdisciplinary and experiential in nature. Students will receive instruction from a select group of W&M faculty and W&M Washington Center staff. Professors combine lectures, group discussions, alumni panels, guest speakers, and site visits to immerse themselves and their students in course topics and themes.
- Psyc 470: Topics in Culture and Trauma (PSYC) - COLL 300; 3 Credits
  - Taught by Janice Zeman
- Topics in National Security (GOVT) - 3 Credits
  - Taught by Kay Floyd

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.
- Washington Program Internship
  - INTR 497, 6 Credits
  - 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.
  - Taught by Roxane Adler Hickey

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.