2024-2025 Catalog and Student Handbook

Washington Semester Program at American University

(http://www.american.edu/spexs/washingtonsemester)

Marietta is one of more than 200 colleges and universities participating in the Washington Semester Program of American University. This program enables sophomores (second semester), juniors, and seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA to spend a semester in Washington pursuing one of six courses of study:

  1. American Politics
  2. Foreign Policy
  3. Global Economics and Business
  4. Journalism and New Media
  5. Justice and Law
  6. Public Health Policy

The core of the semester’s work are two 4-credit seminars that incorporate meetings with individuals in the public sector, the private sector, special interest groups, and other persons concerned with and knowledgeable in the area under study. In addition, students do a 4 credit internship in Washington DC. The last piece of the program is either doing an independent research project under the supervision of an American University professor, or taking an elective course offered by American University (each for 3 credits). Successful completion of the program earns a student 15 hours of credit for the fall or spring. The summer program focuses more narrowly on the internship for 3 credits.

For more information on this program, contact:

Mark Schaefer

Professor of Political Science

Thomas Hall

(740) 376-4801

mes001@marietta.edu