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.
8 internship credits at a site chosen for your specific goals and interests anchor a semester schedule which includes a full Emerson 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 | Topics in Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy | 4 credits |
| Special Topics in political communication. [Topic to be determined.] | ||
| CC498 | Directed Study in Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy | 2 credits |
| Individual academic projects are planned in collaboration with full-time Emerson College faculty members to meet students' interests that are not satisfied by existing courses. Students must submit a proposal for study that includes learning objectives, evaluation methods, and a bibliography before a directed study is approved. All proposals must be approved in the semester preceding the semester in which the student wants to complete a directed study. This proposal cannot be a substitute for course in the undergraduate catalog. Prerequisites: 3.0 GPA and permission of the Emerson College faculty member and Chair of the Department of Organizational and Political Communication | ||
| 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. Students must participate in the Internship Experience Workshop offered through Career Services, the semester before the internship, and should consult the Academic Calendar for registration deadlines. |
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. This is a signature semester of the Organizational and Political Communication Department; however, juniors and seniors from other majors, including Journalism, Marketing, and Communication Disorders may also apply. The courses offered are designed for the OPC 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 Organizational and Political Communication may want to meet with the Program Director, Linda Peek-Schacht, before meeting with their department chairs.
Emerson College will utilize the classroom facilities and residence halls of The Washington Center, an independent, nonprofit educational organization located five blocks north of the White House and one block north of Scott Circle. 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.
The Washington Program is limited to 10 students, and is not open to non-Emerson students. The application deadline for Fall 2008 has been extended to Thursday, May 1, 2008.
Once accepted to the program students must submit a $300 nonrefundable, nontransferable deposit to secure enrollment.
All rules concerning internships apply to this program, including the minimum required grade point average of 2.7 and junior standing, and completion of the Career Services Internship Workshop before the start of the semester.
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 4/23/2008. Subject to Change.
