Our admissions requirement is that we ask that you complete 2 semester of college coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (4.0 scale) prior to applying to the Washington Semester Program.

In some cases, we do consider students who do not meet the minimum requirement with approval from the student's home institution.

We support you every step of the way!

1. Review your resume (use our professional template) with our expert internship coaches.
2. With your coach, define your goals and start your internship search in our database of 4000+ internship opportunities and leads.
3. Expand your search to include:
   1. Curated Weekly Emails: Include internships from LinkedIn, Indeed + USAJobs (federal internships)
   2. Employer Resume Book: Ask that your resume be included in our employer resume book--this is where employers find you without you even applying!
   3. Virtual Internship Fair: This is where you'll come face-to-face with 50+ prestigious employers ready to hire!
   4. Self-Paced Canvas Course: Our self-paced course has everything you need to land and succeed at your internship! It even includes Powtoon videos to help explain the process.
4. Apply, Apply, Apply: On average it takes 25 applications to land an internship. Sound daunting? With your templated resume and cover letter, it's a breeze!
5. Interview Like a Pro: Attend our group workshop, book 1:1 with your coach or do it independently on the Big Interview App.
6. Ongoing Support: Our support doesn't end when you land your internship. You'll continue to get support through your internship class, our engaging workshops + training, and 1:1 internship coaching.

The early bird catches the worm!

You can start your internship search as soon as you deposit.

Most students land their internships prior to their arrival in Washington, DC. However, some students continue to search after the first day of classes.

All students settle into internships 1 to 2 weeks into the semester.

Our active and engaged students have a 100% success rate.
However, internships are not guaranteed! 

Landing an internship is a two-part relationship: your effort + our support.

That's formula for 100% student success.

Internships are available in almost every area of interest:

• politics + government
• international relations + foreign affairs
• law + justice
• business + economics
• digital media + communications
• and more! 

View a list of areas of interest and sample internship sites.

WSP and Gap students have special access to the Internship Databse with 4,000+ employers.

Review our Internship Guide for more information on the internship process. View the last page of this guide for a list of sample internships.

If you need a paid internship, be sure to tell your internship coach at your 1st meeting!

Fall/Spring:

• 40% of our students reported payment whether hourly, weekly, monthly, or in the form of a stipend
• 60% of students reported unpaid internships

Summer:

• fewer paid internships due to the highly competitive nature of internships in the summer

 

Visit our housing page for information on where you'll live. We partner with TurnKey which provides our students with luxury urban apartments located in the heart of Washington, D.C.

The Washington Semester Program's seminar is not your typical course! 

Through our 15+ site visits and guest speakers (fall/spring program), you will have the chance to engage with top influencers, respected decision makers, and experts from a variety of global, national, and local organizations.
Taught by distinguished American University faculty, is a unique and unparalleled opportunity to gain exclusive access to the inner workings of DC.

Our instructors not only possess expertise in their respective fields, but also have extensive connections throughout the city, bringing in a diverse range of guest speakers to provide you with a VIP experience.

• 2 immersive seminars (4 credits each for 8 credit total)
• 1 internship course (4 credits)

For more information on seminar topics and credit options, please visit our coursework page.

For a detailed breakdown of credit options and how our seminars work, please visit our coursework page!

Fall/Spring Students
We normally offer 12-15 credits in our fall and spring programs. You need to double check with your home university to ensure your transfer of credits. But most of our students transfer their semester's worth of credits back to their home university with the goal of graduating on time.

The most popular option among our students is 12 credits. Since we're a study abroad internship program, this gives you ample opportunity to attend events and explore the city both through our group activities as well as OYO. However you can take 15 or even 17 credits with your home university's approval.

12 credit option

• 2 seminar courses (8 credits total)
• 1 internship course (4 credits total-note, this is how you get credit for your internship)

15 credit option

• 2 seminar courses (8 credits total)
• 1 internship course (4 credits total-note, this is how you get credit for your internship)
• 1 elective course after 5:30 PM (3-4 credits total)

Summer Students
In our summer internship program, you will earn 1 or 3 academic credits depending on your choice of course.

 

Yes, international students attending a Washington Semester Program partner institution are welcome to apply to and enroll in the fall and/or spring credit program or fall and/or spring non-credit program.

If you are not sure whether you attend a partner institution, email washsem@american.edu or call +1 202-895-4900.

Our Admissions team will help international students throughout the application and visa process and will assist with questions regarding about program selection.

International students attending college in the U.S. are also welcome to apply to the Washington Semester Program credit option, as we will consider you a domestic student for most processes at American University.

There is limited flexibility surrounding the start and end dates, provided you are willing to make up time and assignments that you missed with your class.

Our housing options may also allow extended stays when available for an additional cost.

Please submit an email request to start late or leave early to the admissions team well in advance of the start term.