Washington Program
Qualified juniors and seniors may enroll for one semester of study at Emerson's newest external program, the Emerson
Washington Program. This residential program offers students the opportunity to spend a semester in Washington, D.C., focused on the issues and process of government and politics, the role of communication in developing and implementing public policy, and how social advocacy and diplomacy are practiced in the nation's capital.
Emerson College has affiliated with The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, an independent, nonprofit educational organization located five blocks north of the White House and one block north of Scott Circle. The Washington Center serves hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. The largest such program, with more than 60 full-time staff, The Washington Center has over 36,000 alumni, leaders in numerous professions and nations around the world. Student housing [mandatory] is located in professional-style apartment buildings, most of which are in suburban Maryland and the Arlington and Alexandria areas of Northern Virginia, and easily accessible by mass transit.
8 internship credits at a site chosen for your specific goals and interests anchor a semester schedule which includes a full course load of 16 credits:
| CC380 | Political Communication Practicum | 2 credits |
| Explication of political communication theories, policies, and practices as they relate to the Washington, D.C. context. This course integrates readings with speakers to fully demonstrate the synergies of theory and practice in the Washington political, government and social advocacy arenas. Prerequisites: OP200, OP266, OP263. Juniors and Seniors only. | ||
| CC471 | WC Topics: Washington Semester | 3 credits |
| A series of Monday afternoon leadership seminars offered by the Washington Center. | ||
| CC471B | WC Topics: The Washington Experience | 3 credits |
| A 3-credit course chosen from among the Washington Center course offerings. | ||
| CC499W | Internship in Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy: Washington | 8 credits |
| Students may count up to eight credits of internship toward the major requirements. Only juniors and seniors with a current 2.7 GPA are eligible. A 4-credit internship requires 16 hours a week over a 12 week period and an 8-credit internship requires 32 hours a week over a 12 week period. No more than eight credits of internship and no more than 12 credits of internship, directed project and directed study may be applied to the total graduation requirements. |
Marrying theory and practice while using Washington, D.C. as a laboratory for learning, this schedule also keeps you on track for graduation.
A series of Dean's dinners and events will showcase our outstanding alumni and special guests from Emerson College's Washington connections. This series will include speakers from areas such as government and politics, diplomacy, social advocacy, corporate public affairs, media and technology, and law.
Internships are available in the social advocacy, government, political, and media and technology arenas. The program is geared toward students in the Communication Studies department; however, juniors and seniors from other majors, including Journalism, Marketing, and Communication Disorders may also apply. The courses offered are designed for the Communication Studies major in leadership, politics, and social advocacy but may be applied to other majors with permission of the appropriate department chair. Students from majors other than Communication Studies may want to meet with the Department Chair, Richard West, before meeting with their own department chairs. All rules concerning internships apply to this program, including the minimum required grade point average of 2.7 and junior standing.
The Washington Program is limited to 20 students, and is not open to non-Emerson students. The competitive application deadline [early consideration for financial assistance awards] is September 29, 2008. The regular application deadline is November 15, 2008. The application must be completed online through the Washington Center website and may be found at:
A $60 application fee is due at the time of application.
Students who wish to participate in any Emerson sponsored program or activity, including Emerson's external programs in Washington, D.C., at Kasteel Well and in Los Angeles, must be physically and mentally able, with or without reasonable accommodations, to fully and safely participate in the program or activity. Students who suffer from a physical or mental disability, and wish to request accommodations that might enable them to fully and safely participate should contact Dr. Anthony Bashir at Emerson's Disability Services Office.
Attention International Applicants: In order to pursue a course of study at a U.S. institution of higher education, you need to maintain an appropriate immigration status. Please consult with David Griffin, Director of International Study and External Programs.
The College reserves the right to withdraw this offering if it fails to generate sufficient enrollment. Participants should be guided by this policy when making travel arrangements. Emerson College is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.
Accurate as of 9/26/2008. Subject to Change.
