The Washington Semester program allows Lasell undergraduate students to study journalism, foreign policy, business and other disciplines in our nation's capital. Students attend the Washington Semester at American University and participate in internships and seminars that align professional development with academic coursework.
While enrolled in the Washington Semester program at American University, Lasell students engage in an Academic seminar, worth 8 credits, in which they learn from professors who are experts in their fields and who know Washington, DC. They will introduce students to local, national, and global experts as they explore key issues in the topic. Using D.C. as a classroom, students will learn about the inner workings of non-profits, businesses, government agencies and international organizations through innovative assignments like applied learning activities, business plan development, service-learning, and use of media and simulations. Students may select the seminar from the following concentrations:
- American Politics
- Foreign Policy
- Global Economics & Business
- International Law & Organizations
- Journalism and New Media
- Justice & Law
- Public Health Policy
- Sports Managment & Media
- Sustainable Development
In addition to the Academic Seminar, students will complete a 4-credit professional internship, in which they will gain knowledge of an organization or industry, as well as practical knowledge of a career field. Prior to arriving in DC, students will receive access to the internship database, which provides students with an instant network of organizations.
Costs and Housing
Students involved in the Semester in Washington are registered at Lasell and are billed all the costs of the program through Lasell. This arrangement does not apply to programs with a travel component. Those additional costs would be billed directly to the student by American University. Costs include tuition, room, board, fees and medical insurance, if not waived by the student. Though students are housed at American University in Washington, D.C., all costs are billed by and payable to Lasell by the billing due date. Students receiving financial assistance from Lasell will continue to receive their aid while in Washington. There is no provision for continuation of work-study during the semester in Washington.
Eligibility
Students must have at least a 2.5 GPA and submit the Lasell Domestic Study Abroad Application by the deadline. Applicants may not apply before their fourth semester of college work; that is, students must be at least a first semester junior by the time they enroll in the program in Washington.