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The Washington Center
May 28 – August 9, 2008
Washington, D.C
Program Overview
This summer internship program offered by The Washington Center (TWC),
Dickinson's partner program in Washington D.C. provides students with the
opportunity to experience and explore various career paths while sampling the
intellectual and cultural diversity of our nation’s capital. The Dickinson Summer
Program in Washington integrates seamlessly into a well rounded Dickinson
education that is designed to promote future success and leadership in the public,
private, and nonprofit sectors of society. This 3-credit program is open to all majors.
The Setting
Although the program is based in Washington, D.C., and most of the internship sites
will be located within the city limits, it is possible for students to take advantage of
internship opportunities almost anywhere within the Washington metropolitan area by
using public transportation.
Academics
The TWC internship program includes three major components:
Internship (1 credit):
Students are offered several internship opportunities based on preferences expressed
on their application, and then are free to decide which internship offer to accept.
Students work at their internship sites 4 to 4.5 days a week. The internship experience
is graded jointly by the internship site supervisor and the TWC program supervisor.
The grade earned is reported on the Dickinson transcript, but the grade is not
calculated as part of the student's GPA.
Academic Course (1 credit):
Students also enroll in a TWC academic course, which meets once a week in the
evening for approximately 2.5 hours at various sites around the city. As with the
internship, students earn a letter grade for the academic course taken, and that grade
is reported on the Dickinson transcript, but the grade is not calculated as part of the
student's GPA.
Independent Study (1 credit):
Each student identifies a faculty member who is willing and able to work with him or
her on an independent study that is closely aligned with the student's internship
interests. Faculty members and students negotiate (by phone and e-mail) the scope,
direction, and details of the independent study project as the internship experience
unfolds. The faculty supervisor will normally make one on-site visit to Washington D.C.
during the course of the summer to confer with the student about progress on the
independent study project, and to get a general sense for the quality of the student's
TWC
experience. Students receive a letter grade for the independent study project, and
that grade is calculated into the GPA.
Program Activities
During times when the students are not interning, taking classes, or working on an
independent study project, they may find themselves participating in any number of
ancillary TWC activities, including:
- Congressional Breakfast Series
- Presidential Lecture Series
- Embassy Visit Program
- Small group discussions and professional workshops
- Volunteer activity in the local community
Accommodations
The Washington Center provides professional-style, independent living arrangements
in apartment buildings in the Northern Virginia area, with access to downtown
Washington, D.C.by metro. Housing facilities are located in well-lit, high traffic areas
that provide excellent security and comfortable surroundings. They have close, easy
access to Washington's Metro subway system, shops, restaurants, and convenience
stores. Although there are variations among the different housing units, most offer the
following amenities:
- Furnished apartments
- Fully equipped walk-in kitchens with microwave ovens
- Individually controlled heating and air conditioning units
- In-room laundry facilities
- 24-hour Front Desk
- Fitness facility
- Swimming pool (indoor or outdoor)
- Student Services staff/resident assistants (available 24-hours)
On-Site Administration
The staff of The Washington Center supervises the day-to-day program. The internship
site supervisor and the seminar instructor also play key supervisory roles.
Program Cost
The estimated comprehensive program fee is approximately $13,850. The program
fee will cover tuition, housing, and administration fees. Not included in the program fee
are the application fee, food, travel to/from Washington, D.C., commuting expenses,
primary medical and accident insurance purchased in the U.S., and other
incidental expenses.
For more information, contact
Professor James Hoefler
Department of Political Science, Dickinson College
Tel: 717-245-1311
E-mail: hoefler@dickinson.edu
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