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Academics
Classes & Credits
Academics Overview
See the table below for course information. More details/information can be found below the table.
Fall 2026 Semester
| Term | Dates |
Course Title |
Credits | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | Aug. – Oct. |
Impact of U.S. Foreign Policy Changes on |
3 Credits | GOVT |
| Fall 2026 | Oct. – Dec. | Culture & Trauma Professor Janice Zeman |
3 Credits; COLL 300 | PSYC |
| Fall 2026 | Aug. – Dec. | Washington Program Internship Course Professor Gabriel Cancio-Bello |
6 Credits | INTR |
Spring 2027 Semester
| Term | Dates | Course Title | Credits | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | Jan. – Mar. | U.S. Intelligence & National Security Professor Meredith Cavan |
3 Credits | GOVT |
| Spring 2027 | Mar. – May | Memory & Belonging in the Capital City Professor Jay Watkins |
3 Credits; COLL 350 |
HIST |
| Spring 2027 | Jan. – May | Washington Program Internship Course Professor Gabriel Cancio-Bello |
6 Credits | INTR |
Accelerated Courses
All D.C. Semester Program (DCSP) students take three courses totaling 12 credits, including two accelerated, interdisciplinary courses designed to leverage the national and international relevance of Washington, D.C.
These hybrid, 7-week courses are taught by W&M faculty and Washington Center staff, with one course offered in the first half of the semester and the other in the second. Instruction blends lectures, group discussions, site visits, guest speakers, and alumni panels to create an immersive, experiential learning environment.
Course topics rotate each semester and draw from diverse academic disciplines. Regardless of subject, students explore real-world challenges and are encouraged to connect course themes to broader societal impact—all while engaging with W&M’s extensive network of alumni, leaders, and experts based in the capital.
Washington Program Internship Course
Students may work at any internship in which they are interested, and complete academic work in association with their internship experience. Student support and guidance from Washington Center staff as they apply to opportunities and during their experience.
Complementing the internship course, this course will draw on student development theory to help students reflect and make connections. Students would set goals and learning objectives for their internships, participate in written self-reflection and regular group discussions, and present their findings based on their experiences.
Class & Internship Schedules
Students work at their internships during the day, full-time Monday through Thursday, and take classes on Friday afternoons and select Friday mornings. Courses will be hybrid, incorporating asynchronous participation opportunities and class sessions.
Class Locations
Classes meetings are held at the W&M Washington Center, located at 901 4th St. NW in downtown Mount Vernon Triangle Washington D.C., offering a variety of transportation and parking options.
Registration
Students selected for the program during the general application cycle will have their seats reserved until they register during the Add/Drop registration period. Students who are interested in the program after the application deadline may be allowed to apply to the program on a rolling basis and will register before the start of the semester.
Grading & Honor Code
Grades are awarded like any course on campus. Students earn a total of 12 credits for their academic work in the D.C. Semester Program. The courses may apply to concentration requirements, are posted on students' transcripts, are calculated into GPAs, and count towards graduation requirements. In addition, all policies and regulations contained in the Rights and Responsibilities, the Student Code of Conduct, and the Administration of Student Life Policies sections of the 91心頭利 Student Handbook apply to all Study in D.C. opportunities.
ADA Accommodations
W&M accommodates students with disabilities in accordance with federal laws and university policy. Any student who feels they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a learning, psychiatric, physical, or chronic health diagnosis should contact Student Accessibility Services staff at 757-221-2512 or at sas@wm.edu to determine if accommodations are warranted and to obtain an official letter of accommodation. .
Academic Guides
Nervous for your first lecture in D.C.? Not sure how to approach your professor at office hours? Here are some great guides to assist you in D.C.'s tight-knit classroom environment.