Two semester-long programs in Washington, D.C. allow for credit transfer back to Wheaton with relative ease. While in DC, students complete an internship supervised by faculty of the chosen program which fulfills the department internship requirement. Most students participate in these programs during their junior year.
The Washington Semester Program
This program, sponsored by American University, is a cooperative intercollegiate honors program of seminars, internships, and research on governmental operations. Because it is based in Washington, D.C., students have access to a multitude of experiences which provide for a dynamic educational experience in American government and foreign policy. Well-qualified students are chosen by each of the more than 100 participating colleges to spend a semester in Washington. Students may concentrate their studies in one of several areas: American politics, international law and organizations, justice and law, Islam and world affairs, international environment and development, foreign policy, journalism, or peace and conflict resolution. Students typically earn 8 hours of credit toward the major—four hours of internship and four hours of upper-division elective credit. The program is offered in both the fall and spring semesters. Additional information on this program can be obtained in the Political Science Department.
Best Semester American Studies Program
This program is offered by the Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities every fall and spring semester. About 30 students from Christian colleges across the country participate in the program and live together in housing located on Capitol Hill. Like the American University program, the Coalition program seeks to combine internship experiences with lecture/discussion topics. As a general rule, students work in their internships three days a week and meet two days a week for presentations and discussion. Students choose between two tracks of courses that complement their internships, the public policy track that includes a Policy Analysis and Advocacy seminar and public policy research project, or the global development track that includes an Entrepreneurship and Human Development seminar and a global development partnership exercise. Participants receive a full semester of credit. Students normally receive 8 hours of credit toward the major--4 hours of internship and 4 hours of elective credit. The additional 8 hours earned typically count as non-political science elective credits. Find more information on the Best Semester program >>