You are here: American University Provost Office of Global and Immersive Studies Washington Semester Program Summer Program Components and Sample Schedule

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Over 8 weeks, you can expand your network and acquire valuable experience that distinguishes you in future internships and jobs.

Three Components

1 credit - In the one credit Professional Development in DC colloquium, you will learn how to leverage past work and internship experiences with skill-building opportunities through in-depth career training, along with sessions focused on:

  • Social Media: what to do and what not to do to boost your professional profile
  • Identify your strengths and making employers aware of them
  • Career opportunities in and out of the Federal Government
  • Network in Washington, DC, your industry, and beyond
  • Oral and written communication skills for the workplace

3 credits - You can choose one of the following topics:

  • U.S. Government
  • Global Business
  • International Affairs
  • Non-Profit Careers

The colloquia will feature half-day class sessions each week that will feature guest speakers and site visits related to colloquia topic.

No matter what your career interests or college major, with the diverse range of organizations, businesses, and Fortune 500 companies in the DC area, you will have an internship that fits your career plans and academic goals.

With our unsurpassed experience working with college students, we pride ourselves on professional internships in which you will gain career knowledge of an organization or industry, as well as practical knowledge of a field. You will expand your network and acquire valuable experience that distinguishes you from other students - at your home college and in future internships and jobs.

The Internship Advisor will coach you on:

  • your resume and cover letter
  • strategies for using our program's contacts to approach potential internship sites
  • interview and follow-up skills

You should expect to interview over the phone, via Skype or in person to secure your summer internship prior to arrival in DC. To learn more about the process of acquiring an internship, please visit the Admitted Student site and the internship resources.

If you enroll in three or more credits, you will create a comprehensive portfolio of your internship and seminar experiences at the end of the term.


Washington Semester Program ScheduleA Day in the Life

7:00 a.m.
Wake up and get ready for internship.
8:00 a.m.
Meet up with a few classmates for breakfast.
8:20 a.m.
Metro to my internship along with a few other interns headed the same route.
9:00 a.m.
Meet with my supervisor for the day's assignment and worked on a research project for the organization.
12:30 p.m.
Meet up with friends for lunch in DC.
1:30 p.m.
Back at my desk, finish the research project and sit in on strategic meeting with my supervisor.
5:30 p.m.
Metro home.
6:00 p.m.
Gather with friends for dinner and chat about the day.
8:00 p.m.
Study for class and prep for another day at my internship.

Sample Summer Schedule

During the Summer, students will be at their internships on all weekdays except for Wednesdays when they will have their internship in the morning and their seminar* in the afternoon.

*Length and scope of seminar will vary between the 1 and 3 credit seminar.