Immerse yourself in your field by enrolling in a subject-focused Institute. With an emphasis on hands-on learning, you will expand your knowledge by living it this summer!
Explore Institutes offered by each School below.
- College of Arts and Sciences
- School of Communication
- School of International Service
- School of Public Affairs
- Washington College of Law
- Kogod School of Business
College of Arts and Sciences
Civil War Institute
This week-long summer program introduces participants to the key causes and consequences of the war by exploring its remnants and remembrances in the Washington, D.C. area. The intensive program combines morning presentations and discussions with afternoon field trips. Sites include Harpers Ferry, Antietam, Arlington National Cemetery, Sherman and Grant Memorials, Howard University, Fort Stevens, Frederick Douglass Home, Ford's Theater, and a full-day trip to Richmond. Usually offered every summer. For more information, go to Civil War Institute.
Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Beyond
Summer study trip to Japan in conjunction with the Nuclear Studies Institute. Focuses on Japanese wartime aggression, the human devastation wrought by the atomic bombings, current Japanese and international efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons, and the building of closer ties between the people of the United States and Japan. Participants hear first-hand accounts of atomic bomb survivors and Asian victims of Japanese atrocities, visit sites of historical and cultural significance, and attend commemorative events. Usually offered every summer. For more information, go to Nuclear Studies Institute.
Romanov Russia (1613-2013)
As part of American University’s Initiative for Russian Culture, Professor Anton Fedyashin will take ten students to Russia to explore the origins, history, and legacy of the Romanov dynasty. This will be will be a 3-credit course open to all graduate and undergraduate students within the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Selection will be based on academic merit and the quality of application responses. The course textbook will be Lindsey Hughes' Romanovs: Ruling Russia 1613-1917, which students will discuss during a daily seminar. The trip will take students to Kostroma, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. The course will culminate in a 15-page paper. For more information, contact Professor Fedyashin at fedyashi@american.edu.
TESOL Institute
American University’s TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Institute offers two sessions of course work that enable students to complete AU’s TESOL certificate program in one summer. Topics include principles of linguistics, English-language teaching, the structure of English, and second-language acquisition. Students enrolled in TESOL Institute courses are invited to participate in additional activities including lectures, short courses, workshops, receptions, and other social events. For more information, contact 202-885-2582 or tesol@american.edu or go to TESOL Institute.
School of Communication
Film and Digital Media Institute
The School of Communication’s Film and Digital Media Institute offers an exciting summer of intensive courses and workshops geared towards both experienced film and digital media professionals and beginners. The courses and workshops are taught by American University faculty and local professionals and are scheduled during evenings and weekends. Classes are kept small to maximize students’ hands-on experience. For additional information or questions, contact 202-885-2665 or film@american.edu. Courses and dates will be updated when details are confirmed by SOC.
School of International Service
For information on all SIS summer programs, contact sissum@american.edu or go to SIS Summer Programs.
SIS Summer Abroad Programs: Seminars and Internships
Each summer, the School of International Service (SIS) offers a number of short-term, experiential programs abroad for graduate and advanced undergraduate students from any university or college in the USA. The intensive schedule of these programs allows students with academic year commitments to complement their studies with an experience abroad. The programs are faculty-led and content-specific for students who wish to concentrate on a specific region or topic area. Each program offers ample opportunity to interact with local and regional leaders, conduct field research, and engage in challenging internship positions. This year, join SIS Summer Abroad Programs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Cuba, South Africa, Israel, and Brussels, Belgium.
Peacebuilding and Development Institute
The Summer Professional Training Program provides training to development workers, government officials, conflict resolution practitioners, graduate students, and others working in conflict zones to complement their daily field work. It is one of the first practical training programs specifically designed to bridge the fields of peacebuilding and development. Experienced trainers guide participants through hands-on sessions to explore the relationships between religion, culture, human rights, the media, gender, and applied theories in peacebuilding and development work. Participants explore innovative methods while expanding their knowledge and skills in a participatory and interactive learning environment.
School of Public Affairs
For more information contact 202-885-6296 or ccps@american.edu for all programs.
The School of Public Affairs offers summer institute programs that allow students to gain practical experience and intensive instruction in the areas of campaign management, public affairs, and European public affairs. To learn more about these programs, click on the following links.
- Campaign Management Institute
- Public Affairs & Advocacy Institute
- European Public Affairs & Advocacy Institute
Washington College of Law
Summer Programs in Washington
Washington College of Law offers summer programs that provide students and practitioners with opportunities for intensive learning, training, and networking. In 2013, the topics offered include:
- Environmental Law
- Health Law and Policy Institute
- Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
- Intellectual Property
- International Arbitration
- International Organizations, Law and Diplomacy
- Judicial Reform in Latin America and the United States
- Law and Government
- Legal English
For more information about these programs, please visit Washington College of Law Summer Programs.
Kogod School of Business
Kogod Global Management Institute
The Kogod Global Management Institute is an ideal way to accelerate your understanding of emerging markets. Just as emerging markets are transcending to a new level of achievement, KGMI offers students and practitioners an opportunity to transition to positions of authority in the growing, global field of international business. For additional information or questions, contact 202-885-1967 or kgmi@american.edu or go to The Kogod Global Management Institute.
