Washington Semester Program, Washington, DC - American University
HOME | ABOUT | ADMISSIONS | REQUEST INFO | APPLY | PROGRAMS | INTERNSHIPS | LOCATION & HOUSING | ALUMNI

American Politics—Study the impact of the two-party system, the relationship between the executive and legislative branches, the role of the courts in decision making, and the managment of campaigns and elections.

Contemporary Islam—Experience a rigorous semester of seminars and guest lectures that provide you with an in-depth investigation of Contemporary Islamic Affairs in American politics. You will develop expertise on Islamic perspectives, strengthen your professional skills and gain valuable political experience from an internship at a key Islamic organization. You will emerge with practical knowledge about effective cross-cultural communication and a better understanding of Islamic approaches to complex policy making. The program includes a three week field excursion to Cairo, Egypt and Amman, Jordan.

Economic Policy—Explore domestic and international economic policy. Topics include macroeconomics (fiscal & monetary), microeconomics (labor & employment), and the relationship between domestic banks and the Federal Reserve Board (the Fed). Program includes seminar sessions at the World Bank and select embassies.

Foreign Policy—Explore emerging issues such as the war on terrorism, conflict prevention in the post-Cold War era, response to the collapse of states as well as to religious and ethnic conflicts, and NATO, the United Nations in the 21st century, and regional conflict in the Middle East and the Iraq War.

*International Business & Trade—Discuss business and trade with corporate executives, and U.S. and foreign government officials in their offices at corporations and embassies. To gain a true international perspective, spend 13 weeks in Washington, followed by three weeks in China, where you’ll visit major political and economic centers, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Ningbo. (This program offers DC-only or DC + China options.)

*International Environment & Development—Spend time in Washington studying global environmental policy issues and the roles of major international organizations, then spend 3 weeks in Brazil studying those issues at the national and local levels. Discuss global environmental challeges with, for instance, World Bank executives one day and then, only a few weeks later, see up close how those challenges are being addressed when you travel from Rio to the rainforests of Brazil.

*International Law and Organizations—Explore the nature of international law in interstate relations by studying the activities, and performance of major global organizations in areas such as: security and terrorism, international trade and economic development, the environment, human rights, and humanitarian assistance. In addition to your time in Washington, you will spend three weeks visiting the United Nations in New York City, the International Court of Justice at The Hague, and NATO and the European Union in Brussels.

*Israel Studies—Spend 13 weeks in D.C. exploring the close relationship between the United States and Israel. Then spend 3 weeks in Israel to witness first hand the policies and politics that make Israel a great country.

Journalism—Meet a diverse pool of national and local media figures, including newspaper and wire-service reporters, magazine editors, television and radio personalities, public relations executives, and political press secretaries. Open to students of all majors, this program attracts many who have studied communications, English, and print/broadcast media. Field trips to New York City to study the major communications industry is included.

Justice—Through discussions with policy makers, legal experts, law enforcement officials, psychologists, criminals, and clergy, you’ll gain exposure to all sides of the issues facing today’s justice community. Topics may include: criminal and civil justice, morality and justice, and the use of the legal system to define and enforce justice. Internships at the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security are a special feature.

*Peace & Conflict Resolution—Go on field studies in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia, in addition to spending time in D.C. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity lets you examine how the theories you’ve learned work in real-world situations. Explore social and political conflicts around the world, with an emphasis on conflict resolution models and peacemaking initiatives between people, communities, and nations.

Public Law—Get an up close look at the pivotal topics of our time and the processes by which the U.S. legal system addresses them. Learn how the branches of the federal system cooperate—and sometimes clash—in the process to create laws, and examine closely the Constitution and its role in lawmaking. Special emphasis is placed on civil liberties due process issues, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Transforming Communities—Washington, D.C. is a distinctive learning laboratory for exploring how leadership, grassroots action, advocacy, litigation, and government programs can improve communities. The program focus is urban political and social change. This is the program for students who want to be change agents.