Our admissions requirements are as follows: 

• A minimum GPA of 2.5 (4.0 scale) 

• At least a second semester sophomore by the time you enter the program

In certain situations, we will consider students who do not meet the minimum requirements pending approval from the student's home institution. 

We support you throughout the process: 

Resume Review:  Use our professional template and get feedback from an internship advisor. 

Goal Setting & Search: Work with your internship advisor to define your goals and start your search in our database of 4,000+ internship opportunities. 

Expanding Your Search: 

• Weekly Curated Emails: We send numerous internship opportunities over email from sources such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and USAJobs. 

• Employer Resume Book: As a WSP student, you get exclusive access to our employer resume book to leverage WSP’s employer relationships, allowing organizations can find you directly, even before you apply. 

• Virtual Internship Fair: Meet with 50+ employers directly on Zoom—interview on the spot and secure internship opportunities in real time. 

• Self-Paced Canvas Course: Step-by-step guidance on securing and succeeding in an internship, including short instructional videos. 

Applying Strategically: Expect to submit at least 40 applications. Our templates make the process fast and manageable. 

Interview Preparation:  Attend our workshops and schedule a 1:1 interview prep session with your internship advisor.

Ongoing Support: After you land an internship, continue receiving guidance through your internship class, workshops, training, and 1:1 advising. 

Though you are not required to secure an internship before arriving in Washington, DC— it is strongly recommended. You can begin using WSP resources to find your internship as soon as you submit your deposit. Most students secure their internships before arriving, while some continue their search during the first week of classes. All students are typically placed within the first one to two weeks of the semester.

Internships are not guaranteed, but students who actively engage in the process almost always secure a placement. With support from our internship advisors and full use of WSP’s resources, it is rare for a student not to land an internship.

Students land in a wide range of professional fields including:

• Politics and Government 

• The Arts 

• Healthcare  

• Social Justice 

• Education 

• Business and Economics 

• Environment and Sustainability 

• National Security 

• Research and Policy 

• International Affairs 

• Journalism and Media 

• Law 

View a list of areas of interest and sample internship sites.

Most internships are unpaid. If you require a paid internship, please inform your internship coach during your initial meeting. During the fall and spring semesters, about 40% of students report receiving compensation—whether hourly, weekly, monthly, or through a stipend—while roughly 60% hold unpaid positions. In the summer, paid internships are less common due to the highly competitive nature of the internship market.

 

Visit our housing page for information on TurnKey Housing, the most popular housing selection amongst WSP students. Students can also choose to arrange their own independent off campus housing or utilize AU's on-campus housing facilities. 

The Washington Semester Program Seminar is an immersive, one-day-per-week experience that combines classroom learning with site visits and guest speakers, offering students a behind-the-scenes look at how organizations and institutions operate. Students are expected to keep the entire day open for seminar meetings and off-campus visits. Taught by American University faculty with extensive and relevant professional networks, the seminar offers exceptional access to leaders, decision makers, and experts across DC. The standard WSP schedule for the fall and spring semesters include two 4-credit seminars plus a 4-credit internship course, for a total of 12 credit hours. 

For more information on seminar topics and credit options, please visit our coursework page. 

The standard course load for fall/spring semesters is 12 credits, which includes two seminar courses (8 credits) and a 4-credit internship course. With approval from their home university, students may increase their load to 15–17 credits by adding an evening elective and/or independent study course. Additional schedule customization is also possible with home school authorization and support from the WSP advisor. In the summer, students earn 3 credit hours through the internship course alone.

For a detailed breakdown of credit options and course information, please visit our coursework page.

Yes, international students attending a Washington Semester Program partner institution are welcome to apply to and enroll in the fall and/or spring non-credit program.

If you are not sure whether you attend a partner institution, email washsem@american.edu or call +1 202-895-4900.

Our admissions team will help international students throughout the application and J1 visa process.

International students attending college in the U.S. on an F1 visa are welcome to apply to the Washington Semester Program credit option, as you will be considered a domestic student for most processes at American University.