In the Community of Scholars program, you will select one of these three-credit college classes taught by members of American University’s faculty:

• Worlds Apart, Worlds Together:  Conflict, Culture, and Cooperation
• Diplomacy and Dictators:  U.S. Foreign Policy in an Uncertain World
• Global Public Health and Environmental Sustainability in the 21st Century
  

You will also choose one of the following program formats:

Program I: July 9-July 27, 2012 Three-week, non-residential, on-campus program. Students attend class daily from 9 am to 12 noon, followed by lunch and optional afternoon activities, including site visits to Washington institutions (such as the State Department, Pentagon, and Embassies), guest speakers, and skills-building workshops.  Workshops include programs on studying abroad, resume writing, and finding internships in International Relations.  No campus housing is available. Out-of-town students are encouraged to live with friends and relatives in the D.C. area and commute to AU.

Program II: July 9-August 3, 2012 (July 29-August 3 in residence on AU campus). Four-week hybrid program, combining online learning with a residential component. During the first three weeks, students access lectures and engage in classroom discussion with their professor and peers via a web portal using podcasts, video lectures, blogs, and other web 2.0 features.  The online material is accessed at home at hours that suit students’ schedules.  In the fourth week, students reside on AU’s campus for a final capstone experience which includes visits to Washington institutions (such as the State Department and Pentagon), lectures, discussions, and a final group research project.  Students live in AU dorms and eat in AU’s cafeteria, having a full on-campus experience.

Program III: July 9-August 3, 2012. Four-week online learning program. During the entire four weeks, students study online, taking full advantage of the flexibility of this learning format. Students access lectures and engage in classroom discussion with their professor and peers via a web portal using podcasts, video lectures, blogs, and other web 2.0 features.  The online material is accessed at home at hours that suit students’ schedules. Students have full access to AU’s electronic library resources.

Contact Us!

Telephone: 202-885-2442

Fax: 202-885-2494

E-mail: communityofscholars@american.edu

"Our compliments to the Community of Scholars program for the 'hybrid' experience of home study and campus living. This ingenious arrangement allowed our son to enjoy his summer at home, while giving him enough time on the AU campus and in Washington, D.C. to whet his appetite for more. Thank you for an exceptional program that exceeded all our expectations."

- Parent of 2011 Community of Scholars Student

"I really enjoyed my experience this past summer. The program was simply superb. I have a great passion for history and foreign affairs and thus will be applying to American early decision."

- 2011 Community of Scholars Student