Washington Semester students enjoy the view from the Speaker's Balcony during a break from their seminar session on Capitol Hill.

Washington, D.C. is the heart, soul, and lifeblood of politics in America. If you want to see how the game is played from the inside, apply for this program which has attracted politically interested students for more than 50 years. As an American Politics student, you will observe in-depth the machinations of our national government.

In seminars, students will meet with politicos, key staff, lobbyists, and policy makers to discuss campaigns, current legislative priorities, and hot-button issues. Ultimately, you will gain first-hand experience by talking with the nation's top decision makers. Your interactive seminar brings you to Capitol Hill, the White House complex, the Supreme Court, campaign organizations, and powerful interest groups. Seminars include talks by influential leaders followed by a question and answer session. Recent topics include presidential elections, domestic surveillance, religion and politics, health care reform, energy policy, ethics reform and homeland security.