Seminars
Academic Seminars Shed New Light on Current Affairs
Explore a world of insight on the issues our country is talking about in these extraordinary and intensive learning experiences. Each academic seminar lasts between a few days to two weeks and offers an in-depth look into a range of timely topics ranging from public policy and media, to international affairs and electoral politics. Engage, question, and learn from leading voices, get insider’s access to embassies, Capitol Hill, and media or nongovernmental organizations. Immerse yourself in an incredible opportunity to hone your point of view on the nation, and the world.
A Real Education
TWC’s Academic Seminars are experiential learning at its finest. Reaching well beyond books and classrooms, opportunities include experiential fieldwork, relevant site visits or tours, panel interviews and small group discussions. Academic credit may be available at your home institution.
Top Secret Academic Seminar, May 12-24, 2013
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Explore the inner workings of the U.S. national security landscape with nationally recognized journalists, politicians, political analysts, and scholars as your guides, and more.
Upcoming Seminar
- Top Secret [2]
Photos
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View the Top Secret Academic Seminar 2010 photo set [11]
Top Secret Academic Seminar
Challenges to National Security in a Global Society
It’s Your Generation
With growing threats from terrorist groups, transnational networks, and rogue states, the United States and allied countries must contend with a complicated set of direct national security challenges—from weapons-of-mass-destruction, nuclear proliferation, and terrorism, to natural resource constraints. These threats have emerged in, and are affected by, an environment of growing globalization, technological innovation, and shifting geopolitical and economic power.
Such challenges have strained existing political, and operational norms in the United States and raised concerns about the emerging challenges and how to deal them. Through the guidance of a faculty director expert in national security issues, this program will examine how these changes impact the international arena as well as explore how the U.S. can best respond to the myriad uncertainties present in the world today.
Abroad, the new challenges stemming from terrorism and asymmetric threats, dramatic demographic shifts, and the rise of new centers of power have stressed existing alliances, forged new marriages of convenience, and required reassessments of global power dynamics. In this context, the United States finds itself addressing national security threats across the globe as the sole superpower, with diminishing reach and leverage.
Nowhere are these challenges more urgent for U.S. and international security as the new generation – your generation – confronts and changes the status quo and searches for more responsive regimes, not only in the Middle East and Africa, but also in potential other hotspots such as Asia.
It’s Your Time
- Explore the inner workings of the U.S. national security landscape with nationally recognized journalists, politicians, political analysts, and scholars as your guides.
- Expand your knowledge of American and international politics through on-site visits to such places as Capitol Hill, executive agencies, embassies, think tanks, and media organizations in Washington, D.C.
- Engage in and network with nationally and internationally recognized public officials and business professionals to develop your sense of civic engagement and enhance your leadership skills and expertise.
Get the Answers
- How should national security and American power be viewed in light of a more globalized world, with the rise of new powers and points of influence?
- How should the U.S. address the rising power and influence of countries like China and the increasing nuclear threat from Iran? How should the U.S. address the transitions occurring in the Middle East?
- What role do international institutions and organizations play in this evolving global system? Are traditional alliances sufficient to meet the new challenges or are new institutions necessary?
- How should the U.S. and its allies address transnational threats presented by non-state actors?
- How should the international community address the problem of safe havens and under-governed parts of the world?
- How has modern weaponry and further advancements such as drones affected the future of war fighting and policymaking?
- How should U.S. interests be defended or projected abroad? What tools does the U.S. government have at its command and what others should it be developing?
- What role should the U.S. government play in utilizing modern information technologies to influence private and public actors?
- What role does the Internet play in national security? Should there be a rethinking of our reliance on the Internet in an age of cyber vulnerabilities?
- What role does the advent of social networking and Web 2.0 technologies have on national security?
- What are the greatest challenges for the international community? What role will resource constraints and competition have on national security?
Important Dates
- May 19-24, 2013
- Check-in: May 19, 2013
- Program ends: May 24, 2013
- Check-out: May 25, 2013
Housing
The Washington Center has you covered. Students will stay in our furnished Residential and Academic Facility at NoMa in Washington, D.C. during the seminar.
Cost
$1,895
For those interested in bringing a group, please contact Patricia.Guidetti@twc.edu [13].
Application Deadline
April 22, 2013
How to ApplyBegin an online application [14].
Photos
[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
View the Top Secret Academic Seminar 2010 photo set [11]
Students
The program provides both students and faculty with an exceptional in-depth perspective on Washington, D.C. and the politics and polices effecting National Security Issues of the day. Combining lectures, site visits, tours, and special events, it is one of the best ways to see the behind-the-scenes national security issues and learn how the nation’s leaders are responding to the ever-changing threats.
With growing threats from terrorist groups, transnational networks, and rogue states, the United States and allied countries must contend with a complicated set of direct national security challenges. These threats have emerged in, and are affected by, an environment of growing globalization, technological innovation, and shifting geopolitical and economic power. Such challenges have strained existing legal, political, and operational norms in the United States and raised concerns about the shifting balance between security, privacy, and civil liberties. These issues have presented policymakers, courts, and the public with stark questions about what measures can and should be taken to protect the nation.
Abroad, the new challenges stemming from terrorism and asymmetric threats, dramatic demographic shifts, and the rise of new centers of power have stressed existing alliances, forged new marriages of convenience, and required reassessments of global power dynamics. In this context, the United States finds itself addressing national security threats across the globe as the sole superpower, with diminishing reach and leverage. The program format includes a presentation by major speakers in the morning and faculty-led small-group discussions and site visits to organizations and embassies in the afternoon, along with a bus tour of Washington, D.C. and special events, including a reception at the National Press Club.
Site Visits
Site visits often include embassies, executive branch offices, Congressional offices, international organizations, and nonprofit think tanks and trade associations. Some recent site visits have included:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters
- Iraqi Consulate
- National Counter Terrorism Center
- International Spy Museum
- Pentagon
- State Department
- Capitol Hill
- Holocaust Museum
For more information please review the resources below. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at seminars@twc.edu [15].
Important Dates
- May 19-24, 2013
- Check-in: May 19, 2013
- Program ends: May 24, 2013
- Check-out: May 25, 2013
Housing
The Washington Center has you covered. Students will stay in our furnished Residential and Academic Facility at NoMa in Washington, D.C. during the seminar.
Cost
$1,895
For those interested in bringing a group, please contact Patricia.Guidetti@twc.edu [13].
Application Deadline
April 22, 2013
How to ApplyBegin an online application [14].
Photos
[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
View the Top Secret Academic Seminar 2010 photo set [11]
Faculty
The Washington Center realizes that our most valuable resources are faculty members like you. We want to make sure that our faculty members have all of the information that they need to bring students to participate in this incredible experience. We are anticipating a high demand for this academic seminar and we will be limiting the number of students we are accepting into the program. Because of this we are asking that as soon as possible, you turn your soft reservation into a hard reservation. You can do this by having your students apply to the program at http://portal.e.twc.edu [18] or by sending a deposit for $150 for each student. You can make arrangements to complete that process by e-mailing Patricia.Guidetti@twc.edu [13].
Below you will find a variety of resources available to you. If there is something missing from this list, please feel free to reach out to Patricia Guidetti so that these materials can be created. Additionally, if there is any information that you will need personalized, we would be more than happy to accommodate this request.
- Informational Handout [19]
- Informational PowerPoint [20]
- Frequently Asked Questions [17]
- 2011 Program Schedule [16]
- Sample Email to Students [21]
- List of Suggested Majors to Target on Campus [22]
If you would like to make a reservation for your students please contact Patricia Guidetti (Patricia.Guidetti@twc.edu [13]) 202-238-7929 and fill out the Faculty Leader Response Form [23].
Campaign 2012
Every presidential election year, The Washington Center offers a unique opportunity to take your love of politics to the next level. Study and volunteer to work at the Republican or Democratic National Conventions, be in Washington for the Inauguration of the President of the United States, or all the above!
Campaign 2012: Academic Seminar Series
The Campaign 2012 seminars are academically structured to enhance students’ perspectives on civic engagement through a combination of programming, speakers, site visits, small group discussions, and volunteer work surrounding the 2012 race for the White House.
Presidential Inauguration Program
January 12–22, 2013The Presidential Inauguration is a special ten-day academic seminar focusing on the newly elected presidential administration. Students from all across the country converge in the nation’s capital to be a part of the historic moment when the President will be sworn into office.
Learn more [25]
Presidential Inauguration
Witness History in the Making
Hundreds of students from 117 colleges and universities just recently had the opportunity to experience the National Political Conventions in Tampa and Charlotte. Now, students and faculty will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of the U.S. Presidential Inauguration and witness history in the making and the political process in action – an experience that will open doors to students as they pursue their future careers.
Through site visits, tours, and special events, faculty and students from colleges across the country will have the unique opportunity to:
- Witness history and democracy in action
- Understand the media’s impact on the presidential campaigns
- Build a professional network and explore potential career paths
- Interact with nationally and internationally recognized leaders in politics and media
The learning does not have to end with the inauguration – some faculty and students have integrated these experiences into additional learning opportunities when they return to campus.
This program runs from January 12-22, 2013 in Washington, D.C. Students will have the unique opportunity to witness history and attend special events, including a reception at the National Press Club. The program fee of $1,995 includes housing and credit, when proper arrangements are made with your institution.
Application Deadline
We have reached capacity for this seminar but are still accepting applications on a waitlist basis until December 10, 2012. For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
What participants had to say about our National Conventions Seminar
“Students will undoubtedly gain valuable experience they simply could not gain on campus."
Dr. Robert Alexander
Professor of Political Science
Ohio Northern University
"This is the biggest opportunity I've been given as a student…definitely great resume material."
Joshua Napier
Student
University of Tampa
Read more from students and faculty at our recent seminars [28]
Photos
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[33]View the Inauguration 2009 photo set [34]
Students
Attend the Presidential Inauguration Seminar
We’re offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness history in the making through our upcoming Presidential Inauguration Seminar. Since 1984, The Washington Center has hosted this popular seminar that gives students from across the country the unique opportunity to experience, firsthand, politics and media in twenty-first century.
Students will have the opportunity to:
- Gain political insight from great speakers and events
- Meet national and international leaders
- Build a professional network and explore potential career paths
- Understand the media’s impact on the presidential campaigns
- Witness history and democracy in action
The program provides both students and faculty with an exceptional behind-the-scenes perspective on Washington politics and media, through site visits, tours, and special events. Site visits often include embassies, executive branch offices, Congressional offices, media organizations, and nonprofit think tanks and trade associations. A bus tour of Washington, D.C. and special events, including a reception at the National Press Club is also included in this program.
This program runs from January 12-22, 2013 in Washington, D.C. The program fee of $1,995 includes housing and credit, when proper arrangements are made with your institution.
Application Deadline
We have reached capacity for this seminar but are still accepting applications on a waitlist basis until December 10, 2012. For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
What students had to say about the National Conventions Seminar
“It brings everything you are studying to life. It's incredible because you can't read about what's going on here, you have to come here and experience it and for me it's been a chance of a lifetime to be able to come here and see how everything works."
Jack Minor
Student
Elon University
Read more from students and faculty at our recent seminars [28]
Photos
[29] [30] [31] [32] [33]Faculty
Attend the Presidential Inauguration Seminar
Since 1984, The Washington Center has hosted a Presidential Inauguration Seminar. In 2009, more than 675 students from across the country participated in this very popular seminar and our recent academic seminars held at the National Political Conventions in Tampa and Charlotte gave hunreds of students from 117 colleges and universities a unique opportunity to experience history in the making. Now, we’re offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend the 2013 Presidential Inauguration Seminar.
In addition to witnessing history and democracy in action and representing your institution, the benefits of attending this exciting event include:
- PR opportunities for your school and faculty [36]
- Students can report on their activities in real-time
- Interact with nationally and internationally recognized leaders in politics and media
- Personal and professional development of your students
- Use these experiences for additional learning opportunities upon returning to campus
We are anticipating a high demand for this academic seminar. Unlike 2009, we will be limiting the number of students we are accepting into the program. Because of this we are asking that as soon as possible, you turn your soft reservation into a hard reservation. You can do this by having your students apply online [18] to the program or by sending a deposit for $150 for each student. You can make arrangements with me to complete that process.
Below you will find a variety of resources that we will have available to you. If there is something missing from this list, please feel free to reach out to me so that these materials can be created. Additionally, if there is any information that you will need personalized, we would be more than happy to accommodate this request.
- Sample E-mails to Students [37]
- Powerpoint [38]
- Frequently Asked Questions [35]
- Selected Previous Academic Seminar Speakers [39]
- List of Suggested Majors to Target on Campus [40]
- List of Suggested Campus Clubs & Organizations to Target [41]
- Quotes from Past Faculty [42]
Application Deadline
We have reached capacity for this seminar but are still accepting applications on a waitlist basis until December 10, 2012. For more information or if you would like to make a reservation for your students, please contact Patricia Guidetti (patricia.guidetti@twc.edu [43]) 202-238-7929 or fill out the Faculty Leader Response Form [44].
What faculty had to say about our National Conventions Seminar
“You’re there and walking down the street and meeting the mayor of New York City or the governor of Pennsylvania or George Stephanopoulos – the leading government and media officials in the country.”
Dr. Kevan Yenerall
Professor of Political Science
Clarion University
Read more from students and faculty at our recent seminars [28]
Photos
[29] [30] [31] [32] [33]Handbook
In this section, you will find a plethora of helpful information to assist in preparing you for your time in Washington, D.C. This section will be updated throughout the days leading up to the academic seminar, so please be sure to check back often.
If there is any information that you think will be valuable that is missing, or if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27]. We are more than happy to help. So please explore this section and we look forward to seeing you in D.C. soon.
If you do not see this video you can view it here [45].
Schedule
The schedule provided below is a tentative schedule. This should only be used as a guide to give you an idea of the events next week. As there are still many details that need to be finalized, you should not use this as the final version, nor should you bring this with you to the academic seminar. You will be provided with the most up-to-date version upon check-in.
Student Information
- Housing and Code of Conduct [47]
- IW2013 Important Locations [48]
- Participant List [49]
- Student Small Groups [50]
- Transportation Information [51]
Staff and Faculty Information
Academic Requirements
During your time in Washington, D.C. you will be witnessing history being made as the United States of America welcomes President Barack Obama for a second term. The Washington Center's Inside Washington 2013: The Presidential Inauguration academic seminar will provide you with a variety of opportunities, both academic and experiential, crafting a behind-the-scenes look at the politics of the day. Students will be able to experience and witness D.C. in a time of transformation as the inauguration unfolds. Below you will find a list of academic materials that will be of use over the course of the seminar. These documents provide detailed information on how you will be graded, and include the rubrics that your grades will be based upon and the evaluation forms that will be sent back to your home institutions.
Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention: Academic Seminar
This two-week course examines the role of national political conventions in the process of nominating and electing a party’s candidates for president and vice president of the United States. The course takes place on-site at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. This special academic seminar places students in volunteer fieldwork positions with the party, convention committee, host committee, media, and many other convention related organizations and events.
This two-week on-site offering is held at the Republican National Convention, August 18–31, 2012 in Tampa, Florida.
For more information or if you are interested in attending both the RNC and DNC, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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View the 2008 Political Conventions photo set [69]
Overview
Overview: Republican National Convention
Combining formal instruction, guest lectures, panels, tours, site visits, and fieldwork assignments, the program gives students the opportunity to experience the convention from behind the scenes, and to witness democracy in action at both the grassroots and national levels.
During the first week, students witness and participate in the building excitement of the convention preparations. As the weekend approaches, students are able to volunteer for convention-related assignments and attend convention receptions and rallies. Topics during the first week include the history of political campaigns and conventions, the nomination process, convention planning and procedures, party organizations, campaign finance, and media coverage. Students also enjoy an introduction to the host city and the convention facility.
During week two, the week of the convention, the daily program continues as each previous day’s events are analyzed and the upcoming events of the day are anticipated and discussed. The second week focuses on the keynote address, party platform, party factions, selection of the presidential and vice presidential nominees, campaign issues and strategies, and other important races.
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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Dates & Deadlines
Dates & Deadlines: Republican National Convention
Dates
August 18-31, 2012, Tampa, FL
Application Deadline
June 1, 2012
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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Fees
Fees: Republican National Convention
- $4,495 (housing included)
- $150 (non-refundable deposit)
Housing costs are reflected in the above pricing. If students prefer to use their own housing, please contact us for adjusted pricing information. Transportation and personal expenses are not included, although some food will be provided at special events.
Deposits are nonrefundable, but substitutions may be made until July 15, 2012. Full payment is required by May 1, 2012.
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention: Academic Seminar
This two-week course examines the role of national political conventions in the process of nominating and electing a party’s candidates for president and vice president of the United States. The course takes place on-site at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. This special academic seminar places students in volunteer fieldwork positions with the party, convention committee, host committee, media, and many other convention related organizations and events.
This two-week on-site offering is held at the Democratic National Convention, August 25–September 7, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
For more information or if you are interested in attending both the DNC and RNC, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
[60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] [68]
View the 2008 Political Conventions photo set [69]
Overview
Overview: Democratic National Convention
Combining formal instruction, guest lectures, panels, tours, site visits, and fieldwork assignments, the program gives students the opportunity to experience the convention from behind the scenes, and to witness democracy in action at both the grassroots and national levels.
During the first week, students witness and participate in the building excitement of the convention preparations. As the weekend approaches, students are able to volunteer for convention-related assignments and attend convention receptions and rallies. Topics during the first week include the history of political campaigns and conventions, the nomination process, convention planning and procedures, party organizations, campaign finance, and media coverage. Students also enjoy an introduction to the host city and the convention facility.
During week two, the week of the convention, the daily program continues as each previous day’s events are analyzed and the upcoming events of the day are anticipated and discussed. The second week focuses on the keynote address, party platform, party factions, selection of the presidential and vice presidential nominees, campaign issues and strategies, and other important races.
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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Dates & Deadlines
Dates & Deadlines: Democratic National Convention
Dates
August 25-September 7, 2012, Charlotte, NC
Application Deadline
June 1, 2012
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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Fees
Fees: Democratic National Convention
- $4,495 (housing included)
- $150 (non-refundable deposit)
Housing costs are reflected in the above pricing. If students prefer to use their own housing, please contact us for adjusted pricing information. Transportation and personal expenses are not included, although some food will be provided at special events.
Deposits are nonrefundable, but substitutions may be made until July 15, 2012. Full payment is required by May 1, 2012.
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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Leadership in Communication
Attend Both Political Conventions
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is pleased to announce a special three-week program that will take a small, select group of students to the sites of both national political conventions in Tampa and Charlotte in summer 2012. After a week of academic instruction and training in Tampa, students will be assigned to volunteer fieldwork with media and other convention-related organizations during the Republican National Convention. The day after the convention, students will fly to Charlotte to do the same kind of fieldwork during the Democratic National Convention. This will be an experience of a lifetime for a student interested in journalism or the field on communication.
Overview
- Week One: Academic Instruction and Training
- Week Two: Fieldwork at the Republican National Convention
- Week Three: Fieldwork at the Democratic National Convention
Schedule
- August 18, 2012: Arrive in Tampa, Florida
- August 19, 2012: Orientation and Reception
- August 20-24, 2012: Academic Programming, Bus Tour, Reception, Fieldwork begins this week
- August 27-30, 2012: Convention Activities and Fieldwork continues
- August 31, 2012: Travel to Charlotte; Convention-related Fieldwork begins
- September 4-6, 2012: Convention Activities and Fieldwork continues
- September 7, 2012: Depart Charlotte
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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View the 2008 Political Conventions photo set [69]
Journalist in Residence
Aaron Brown
Walter Cronkite Professor of Journalism
Arizona State University
Aaron Brown is renowned for his reporting of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center for CNN, for which he won the coveted Edward R. Murrow Award. In addition, Brown has also won three Emmys, a DuPont, two New York Film Society World medals and a George Foster Peabody Award.
Brown began his career hosting talk radio programs in Minneapolis. For eighteen years he was a reporter and anchor at KING TV and KIRO TV. He left in 1991 to join ABC News and was a founding anchor for ABC’s “World News Now.” Later he anchored “World News Tonight Saturday”, and was a correspondent for “World News Tonight with Peter Jennings”.
At CNN, Brown hosted the “NewsNight with Aaron Brown”. In 2006, Brown held the John J. Rhodes Chair in Public Policy and American Institutions at Barrett Honors College at ASU. Brown also serves as anchor of “Wide Angle,” PBS’ weekly global public affairs series.
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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Program Goals & Benefits
The program is designed to train students to study various types of leadership communication in a political setting that enhances civic engagement and achievement. Under the guidance of experienced faculty, and a journalist in residence [73], students are able to observe, report, analyze, and critically evaluate the events they experience first-hand in a unique political setting. The expertise, knowledge, and experience gained from this experiential education program is thus, easily transferable to a more traditional classroom setting.
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars provides an integrated academic and fieldwork experience to help college students and other program participants learn about the American presidential nomination and election process through an on-site immersion experience. The mission of The Washington Center is to provide opportunities and experiences to better prepare students for lives of professional and academic achievement, leadership and civic engagement.
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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Program Components
Speakers, Briefings & Panel Discussions
Throughout the seminar, lectures, briefings, and panel discussions involving national leaders, the media, faculty, and other types of convention participants are presented to the seminar participants. These expert speakers, representing the private, public, academic, and advocacy sectors, present various views on topics related to the pertinent issues of the 2012 presidential campaign. Students will be asked to participate in these sessions by asking thoughtful and direct questions of the participants.
Please Note:
The Leadership in Communication Program overlaps with the two-week seminars, Campaign 2012: The Democratic National Convention and Campaign 2012: The Republican National Convention. The faculty will determine the extent to which the LIC program will access speakers from these programs or provide alternative programming exclusively for the LIC students. So in some cases students will be in a large group session and in other cases will be as a self-contained group with a guest speaker or lecture from the faculty director or faculty leader.
Political Workshops & Issue Forums (Optional)
Workshops, training sessions, convention committee hearings, and other special educational activities sponsored by the convention organizers and related groups will be made available to participants whenever possible. Many of these will be optional activities, as their scheduling may conflict with some Washington Center programming events.
Small Group Discussion Sessions (About 12-15 Hours)
Participants are assigned to a faculty leader who is responsible for supervising the academic activities of approximately 18 students. The faculty leader uses the group discussion sessions to identify themes, issues, and perspectives common to the general sessions, readings, and fieldwork experiences of the students. The faculty leader encourages student participation during the group discussions, enabling students to express their opinions, observations, and insights, as well as better understand the views of others in the group.
These small group meetings may either be held in formal classroom settings or in various locations close to students’ fieldwork locations or places that provide greater access to potential guest speakers. Depending upon scheduling and availability of speakers, the formal group presentations and small group discussion meetings may be intertwined.
Convention Sessions, Host City Activities & Special Events (About 6 Hours)
Students are kept informed about convention sessions, press conferences, workshops, tours, receptions, and other convention-related activities. Students are able to choose from a variety of optional activities to suit their own interests and learning goals. The Washington Center does not guarantee passes or credentials to these events, but we try to facilitate access whenever possible.
Fieldwork (Up to Approximately 40-60 Hours)
Toward the end of the first week of the program, students begin their assigned fieldwork/volunteer placements. Efforts are made to match student interests and expertise with appropriate and available placements. In addition, there is an on-call “HOTLINE” set up to receive last minute requests for assistance from students who have some additional free time to contribute to convention activities. Most participants will likely volunteer or, depending upon assignment, commit for considerably more than 40 hours.
Throughout the fieldwork assignments, students are expected to develop and utilize their initiative, assertiveness, and leadership skills to enhance the opportunity to attain their academic and/or professional goals for the seminar.
Fieldwork performance is evaluated along professional levels of expectations. Fieldwork should not be confused with the term “internship,” which may imply a more substantive nature to the assignment. Instead, fieldwork is more akin to opportunities for participant observation than for substantive responsibility, although that may occur.
The primary goals of fieldwork include:
- To provide participants with an opportunity to have access to people and places in order to observe and experience first-hand the role that various individuals and organizations play at the conventions.
- To, at least a limited extent, provide a professional opportunity to contribute to the goals of an organization that works in support of the host city, convention organizers, the political party, and/or the presidential ticket or in the civic enterprise nature of the event.
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
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Academic Expectations
Awarding Academic Credit
The Washington Center does not award academic credit. Typically though, many colleges and universities have granted 2-4 semester hours of credit to their students for participation in the two-week convention programs. For this three week program, which involve considerably more contact hours and fieldwork, at least 3 credit hours are warranted. Occasionally institutions have granted more than 3 hours of credit when academic requirements beyond those set by the Washington Center are met.
Arrangements for the awarding of credit by the student's home institution are solely the responsibility of the student. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to make every effort to clarify the requirements they must meet prior to attendance at the seminar.
This Washington Center academic seminar has been designed to be a comprehensive course of study with rigorous evaluation standards. Program components during which there is professional supervision and evaluation total approximately 60-80 hours, while additional activities on the weekends and evenings could add more than 20-25 hours of student involvement (a college course for three semester credits usually meets three times a week for fifty minutes for fifteen weeks. This totals approximately 37.5 contact hours).
Students Receiving Academic Credit
The faculty leader is required to submit an individual student evaluation, along with a suggested letter grade, of each student's performance according to the specified criteria. These evaluations are forwarded to the student's campus liaison or another faculty member or campus sponsor designated by the student.
The faculty leader is also available to provide academic assistance to students who have additional academic requirements from their home institutions. This may involve suggestions for reading and research or evaluation of preliminary drafts of essays written during the program. Students engaged in more extensive academic assignments or research should contact The Washington Center prior to the program.
Students Not Receiving Academic Credit
Students or other participants who will not be receiving academic credit for the program are still expected to participate in all phases of seminar activities and complete the assignments. To do otherwise would be disruptive and counterproductive to the goals of the program. It is expected that these students will meet with the faculty leader at the beginning of the program and come to a professional, preferably written, understanding about satisfying the academic requirements of the program. Nevertheless, faculty leaders will still prepare a written evaluation of all seminar participants. If no campus liaison or faculty sponsor is available for the student, a copy of the evaluation will be sent directly to the student, with the original maintained at The Washington Center.
The convention programs offer students an opportunity to be evaluated by respected faculty and other professionals in a high-pressure environment. It is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate one's ability in situations that could serve to impress these individuals. Even though a participant may not be earning credit for the program, it would be unfortunate for a non-credit student to pass up an opportunity to gain an important letter of reference by not fully participating in the components and activities of the program. Many faculty report keeping in touch with their former group members long after the convention programs are over.
While The Washington Center records grades for all participants, the written evaluations are kept for only about six months. No written evaluations are required for students whose faculty leader is from their own institution.
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
[60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] [68]
Fees & Deadlines
Special Nomination Price
Students nominated by a campus faculty member or administrator receives a $500 Scholarship and a special price of $5,995. We strongly encourage institutions to provide funding or matching funding to assist students.
Standard Price
Students without a nomination from a faculty member pay $6,495.
Price includes:
Program and housing for three weeks in Tampa (two weeks) and Charlotte (one week) and airfare between Tampa and Charlotte. Does not include local transportation or personal expenses, such as meals, but does include two receptions and breakfast during the first week.
Application Deadline
May 1, 2012
For more information, please contact us at C2012@twc.edu [27].
Photos from the 2008 Conventions
[60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] [68]
Extraordinary Learning Experiences
Intense, Interactive & In-depth Academic Seminars These are truly extraordinary learning experiences. You’ll dig deeply into a topic under the guidance of expert speakers, lecturers and faculty. You will undertake experiential fieldwork, visit topic-related sites and explore relevant texts that give insight into your study. Small group discussions allow for spirited give-and-take discussions. TWC’s Academic Seminars are influential; they’re intense. They give you a level of understanding that’s impossible to achieve in any other way and that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Academic credit [75] - from two to four university credits - may even be available depending on your institution’s requirements; earning academic credits is not required, however.
Access to the nation’s greatest minds and thinkers is built into every academic seminar at The Washington Center. Depending on the focus of your seminar you might find yourself meeting Howard Dean, former chairman of the Democratic Party; Justice Antonin Scalia, U.S. Supreme Court Justice; H.E. Samir Samaida’ie, Ambassador of Iraq or any of hundreds of prominent men and women whom The Washington Center invites to speak to our program participants.
Selection of Past Speakers
- Sam Donaldson, ABC News
- Husain Haqqani, Ambassador to Pakistan
- Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post
- Ted Koppel, Discovery Channel
- Brian Lamb, C-SPAN
- Andrea Mitchell, NBC News
- Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary
- Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Convention
- Bob Schieffer, CBS News
- Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Selection of Past Site Visits
- Capitol Hill
- Embassies
- Executive branch offices
- Lobbying groups
- Policy think tanks
- National political party headquarters
- The National Press Club
- Newseum
Strongly Academic
Academic Seminars are designed to deeply explore a major topic of the year and the inner workings of national and international institutions. Lectures and panels of relevant and timely leaders create a context in which to learn about the issue at hand. Then, through small group discussions, experiential field work, model simulations, interviews, readings, written work and other experiential models, students refine their perspective and integrate new ways of thinking about the complex and interconnected world around them.
This is an immersive experience. Seminars include site visits to government agencies, embassies, think tanks, media companies, and other influential organizations; there are receptions and special events unique to Washington, D.C. Some of the common activities across all seminars include:
- Hearing from nationally recognized journalists, politicians, analysts and scholars.
- Expanded knowledge of American and international politics.
- Visiting places such as Capitol Hill, executive agencies, think tanks, trade associations and media organizations in Washington D.C.
- Engaging and networking with nationally and internationally recognized public officials and business professionals.
- Asking tough and insightful questions of respected thinkers, and getting answers.
- Meeting other exceptional students from campuses across the country and, possibly, abroad.
Interact with Today's Newsmakers
One of the highlights of The Washington Center’s Academic Seminars is the access you’ll have to some of the day’s most prestigious newsmakers. In addition you’ll have the rare opportunity to question them directly.
Past seminar speakers have included
- Juan Zarate, Fmr. Deputy, National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism [ Watch His Speech ] [76]
- Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff [ Watch His Speech ] [77]
- Mickey Edwards, Fmr. Congressman from Oklahoma [ Watch His Speech ] [78]
- Ed Gillespie, Fmr. RNC Chairman [ Watch His Speech ] [79]
- Juan Williams, NPR News Analyst [ Watch His Speech ] [80]
- Brian Lamb, C-SPAN Founder [ Watch This Video ] [81]
- Ann Compton, ABC News
- Charlie Cook, Cook Political Report
- Andrea Mitchell, ABC News
- Sam Donaldson, ABC News
- Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune
- Chuck Hagel (R-NE), US Senate
- Ted Koppel, ABC News
- Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary
- Antonin Scalia, US Supreme Court
- Brian Lamb, C-SPAN
- Bob Schieffer, CBS News
- Bob Woodward, The Washington Post
- Ambassador Nabil Fahmy, Arab Republic of Egypt
- Ambassador Husain Haqqani, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Mike McCurry, Fmr. White House Press Secretary
A Typical Day
Though every seminar is different, a typical day may include:
- Lectures or panel discussions around a public policy issue with notable speakers and experts, possibly covered by C-SPAN.
- Briefings at an embassy followed by a Q&A with a diplomatic representative, possibly the ambassador or other high ranking official.
- Visits to a Washington think tank or lobbying organization or political campaign headquarters.
- Visits to a national media organization’s D.C. headquarters.
- Small group discussion and reflection sessions facilitated by your faculty leader.
- A reception at the National Press Club.
- A bus tour of Washington, D.C.
Academic Credit
TWC’s Academic Seminars are designed to qualify for academic credit at many colleges and universities. A one-week seminar is equivalent to one or two credit hours and a two-week seminar equivalent to three or four credits. While The Washington Center does not grant academic credit, your home institution may; therefore, to receive credit you must make arrangements with your home institution through your campus liaison or a faculty sponsor.
Students are not required to receive credit, but all participants are required to fully engage in all the activities organized and complete all assignments regardless of their credit arrangements.
Evaluations
Students are typically placed in small groups led by a faculty leader with an advanced degree and university classroom experience. The faculty leader oversees the students’ learning experience and assesses their performance with a written evaluation and a recommended grade. This grade is then submitted to the student’s home institution via the school’s designated liaison with TWC or campus sponsor as indicated in the student’s application. All students are evaluated and their campus liaison or sponsor will receive an extensive evaluation and recommended grade for each student, even if they are not participating in the academic seminar for academic credit.
Actual credit and grades are awarded by a student’s home institution through each campus liaison or sponsor. The final grade recommended is usually based on attendance, participation, completion of assigned readings, written assignments such as a journal or essays and demonstrated efforts to achieve established academic and professional learning goals commensurate with each student’s level.
A View Into Washington
Throughout your brief stay in Washington, D.C., you’ll often have an insider’s access to the intersection of society with areas such as policy, international affairs, science and politics. You’ll also have the time to, independently or with other seminar participants, explore Washington, D.C., a city rich with cultural diversity, historical significance and artistic flair.
Each academic seminar will take you to places you’ve only seen in pictures, but you’ll also have an option for free time to explore the city on your own or with other students. Take in the impressive architecture, incredible museums, or a good meal from any corner of the globe. Go to a world-class performance at the Ford Theatre or take in music and dance at the Kennedy Center. It’s a fascinating city with innumerable ways to expand your learning and enhance your entire Washington experience.
Guaranteed Housing
Housing is guaranteed and included in the program cost for most* of TWC’s Academic Seminars. You’ll stay in one of our comfortably appointed apartments either in the District or in nearby neighborhoods in Maryland or Virginia. Apartments are fully furnished and close to the Metro; they also include:
- Air conditioning
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Access to laundry facilities
- High speed Internet access via cable modem, local telephone, and basic cable service
- Secured building access with 24-hour front desk staff
- A convenient location near shopping and restaurants
* The Washington Connection [83] customized seminar program offers group discount rates at nearby hotels in lieu of included apartment housingDisability Accommodations Program participants requiring accommodation should notify TWC as soon as possible after acceptance into the seminar. We strive to make our programs and our housing accessible to all and make every effort to accommodate reasonable requests and services. Past residence accommodations we’ve been able to fulfill include:
- Roll-in showers
- Hand-held shower heads
- Flashing smoke detectors
- Lowered appliances
- Electronic door openers
Complementing Your Classroom
Higher-education Opportunities in Washington, D.C.Academic Seminars are an ideal way for institutions to use the resources of Washington, D.C., for academic purposes. These programs are especially attractive to students:
- Who wish to explore the resources, both academically and professionally, that Washington, D.C., offers.
- Who are otherwise unable to arrange a semester or summer in Washington for an internship.
- Who are at any academic level, even those who have just graduated, who are seeking new, expanding opportunities to network and meet professionals in their field of interest.
- Who do not necessarily need academic credit, but want to be exposed to academic programming in a specific policy area to enhance their credentials.
Institutions often encourage their faculty to promote these seminars or even accompany their students as faculty leaders or faculty fellows in order to:
- Offer the academic seminar as a course (such as a January or May term or summer school offering) or as part of a course.
- Enhance the institution’s presence in Washington, D.C., and ensure its students have a wide range of experiential and civic engagement opportunities off campus, often at a more affordable cost than study abroad.
- Provide freshmen and sophomores with a taste of off-campus programming provided by the institution, resulting in greater retention and a more focused academic and professional career path.
- Provide enhanced faculty development opportunities, especially for faculty involved in various forms of engaged learning on or off campus.
Bring a Class or Group
It is common for faculty to organize a group of their own students to attend an academic seminar at The Washington Center. Teachers find many incentives for organizing their own group seminar;
- TWC’s Academic Seminars are an ideal professional development opportunity for faculty.
- Leading a group is an easy way for your institution to ensure that the work completed is sufficient for the number of credits being awarded for students’ participation.
- Cohorts are a way for you to help fully integrate what students learn with a particular course or curriculum offered on their campus.
- A full scholarship is awarded by TWC for every 10 fully paid students who accompany the faculty leader. This amount can be given to an 11th student or distributed among the 10 paid students to reduce the overall cost per student.
There are several options available to faculty [85] who accompany a group of their own students to TWC:
- You can serve as their faculty leader.
- Your students can be distributed among other groups.
- You can participate as a faculty fellow, becoming a paid participant.
If you are interested in serving as a faculty leader or would like to recommend someone, please fill in a faculty leader response form, indicating which seminar you are interested in. For ideas about how to promote the academic seminar on campus or to request additional seminar brochures, please contact us at seminars@twc.edu [15].
Costs & Scholarships
Many schools encourage student participation by collecting the tuition for three credits and pay The Washington Center for the seminar from the tuition collected, keeping the difference. In that way, students are not “double-billed” and the program becomes quite affordable. Some institutions have waived tuition or forwarded the tuition to The Washington Center with the students paying the difference if necessary. Most students are granted between one and two credits for one week and additional credit for independent study work if arranged separately.
Scholarships are available to help recruit students. For every 10 students participating, their institution receives one full scholarship that might either be used for an 11th student or can be distributed among the other 10 students to lower their overall costs.
Request More Information About:
Faculty Opportunities: Come as a teacher or a student
Faculty can get involved with The Washington Center’s Academic Seminars in a number of ways:
- Promote TWC programs on your campus to students who are particularly interested in the topics covered by our seminars or to students just looking for a short, in-depth experience in Washington, D.C.
- Include The Washington Center seminars in the curriculum of one of your classes and bring that class to Washington, D.C., for one or two weeks (or in a customized program through Washington Connection [83]).
- Apply to act as a Faculty Leader [87]. As a Faculty Leader you will be assigned to work with a group of about 15 students during the seminar. The students can be either your own students or students from other institutions.
- Apply to participate in the seminars as a Faculty Fellow, taking advantage of the programming with the freedom to choose sites among the arranged site visits Faculty fellows receive a discount on the cost of the program.
Faculty LeadersFaculty leaders are chosen for their exceptional teaching skills. They are assigned to work with 10-15 students for the duration of the seminar. Responsibilities include:
- Facilitating small group discussions.
- Serving as advisors and mentors for seminar participants.
- Recommending a grade for each student.
- Work with their own students if they bring a minimum of 10 students from their school.
Leaders receive a stipend for their work during the seminars. Additional information is available here. [87]
Faculty FellowsCollege faculty and secondary education teachers are eligible to be involved in program activities as a participant, without the responsibilities associated with being a faculty leader.
Faculty DirectorFor each seminar, a faculty director oversees the academic component the seminar. Faculty Directors select readings, advise on speakers and present lectures on relevant topics. Faculty directors are selected for their unique expertise and experience and provide analysis and insights into the various topics presented.
Recent faculty directors have included:
- Ross K. Baker, Ph.D. professor of political science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Presidential Inauguration 2009; Inside Washington 2002-2010; Congress and the Obama Presidency)
- Steve Bell, professor emeritus of telecommunications, Ball State University, former news anchors on Good Morning America (Presidential Inauguration 2009, Politics and the Media1998-2010: Politics and the Media)
- Thomas E. Cronin, Ph.D. McHugh Professor of American Institutions and Leadership, Colorado College (2008 Democratic National Convention)
- Hon. Mickey Edwards, J.D., Former Member of Congress (R-OK), Executive Director, Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowships in Public Service (2004, 2008 Republican National Convention)
- Juan Zarate, J.D., Senior Adviser, Transnational Threats Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies, former Deputy National Security Advisor (2005-2009) (2010: Top Secret: Challenges to National Security in a Global Environment)
Scholars-in-ResidenceScholars-in-Residence are national or international experts on topics related to a particular seminar who are invited to give periodic lectures and presentations during a seminar program. Often Scholars-in-Residence are chosen to be a part of the national political convention seminars. Among those recently involved were:
- Meena Bose, Peter S. Kalikow Chair in Presidential Studies, Hofstra University (Republican National Convention 2008)
- Michael A. Genovese, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Loyola Chair of Leadership Studies, Loyola Marymount University (Democratic National Conventions 2000-2008)
Request More Information About:
Become a Faculty Leader
Faculty leaders at TWC are chosen for their exceptional teaching skills. Each of them is assigned to work with a group of 10 to 15 students for the duration of the seminar.
Faculty leaders:
- Lead small group discussions.
- Serve as advisors and mentors for seminar participants.
- Recommend a grade for each student at the end of the program.
- Work with their own students if they bring a minimum of ten students from their school.
- Attend all program sessions.
- Meet with students at least once during each weekday for 1-2 hours of group discussion and instruction.
- Accompany the students on site visits to embassies, think-tanks, and other organizations in D.C.
- Advise students on a variety of academic and professional matters related to the program.
- Read the students’ written work and provides a written evaluation of their academic and professional performance.
Faculty leaders receive a stipend. Housing is provided as well as a weekly, seven-day Fast Pass Metrorail pass. Participation in all program events is included. Meals, transportation and other personal expenses are not included.
Requirements & Eligibility
Faculty leaders are chosen on the basis of a variety of criteria. They must have a graduate degree (Ph.D. strongly preferred) and experience teaching at the college level. Since programming and other arrangements are of a very flexible nature, often subject to last minute changes and even some cancellations, they must not only be energetic and enthusiastic, but also have a mature, positive approach in dealing with students.
Faculty leaders who come with a pre-formed group of at least 10 students are automatically hired to be in charge of their own students. Priority is then given to faculty who recruit less than 10 students from their own institution. In that case, they may be assigned additional students coming without a faculty member from their school. In addition, we are seeking faculty to add to the diversity of backgrounds and interests of the staff as well as the majors of the students who enroll in the program.
Faculty Leader Response Form
Customized Programs
You can bring a student group to Washington, D.C., over spring break for a customized program through the Washington Connection [83] opportunity. TWC will help you create and design an invaluable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that your students and you will always remember, leveraging 35 years worth of Washington-based experience and connections on your behalf. Build a program to suit your course material, degree program or special events. Get an insider’s look at:
- Policy think tanks
- Congress in action
- Embassies
- Communications centers
- Historic sites
- Government agencies
Just let us know what you most want your students to see and experience. Our staff will work to make your ideal Washington, D.C., visit a reality. We can plan a full curriculum, including speakers, panels, readings and discussions to suit your group’s needs and interests.
Learn More
Academic Seminars help participants explore and form informed opinions on the major topics of the day. Here are the details you need to get started in reaching further in your education and deeper in your understanding.
Program Tuition
The Washington Center works hard to make its program accessible. Program tuition varies, and a variety of scholarships are often available. Check each seminar description for additional information. For more information, click here. [91]
Apply to an Academic Seminar
Who Should Apply
- College students in good standing at their home institution
- Recent graduates
- Alumni of The Washington Center
- Faculty interested in the topic
Undergraduates must have their application approved by their school’s designated liaison with The Washington Center or a campus sponsor. If there is a campus liaison at your school, you will be able to select his or her name from a scroll down list. If there is no liaison at your school, please fill in the appropriate space on the application with the name and contact information of a faculty member or other campus sponsor. This can be any professor or administrator at your school who agrees to receive your evaluation and recommended grade at the end of the seminar. Your application will then be reviewed by The Washington Center.
Once your approved application is submitted and reviewed by The Washington Center and you meet the minimum requirements of the seminar program, you will receive an acceptance notice that confirms your check-in and check-out dates for the seminar. If you will be staying in The Washington Center’s housing, you will be asked to sign a housing contract and submit a credit card number that will not be charged unless you have damages to your apartment or withdraw after the deadline.
Typical Timelines
Registration for most seminars begins four months before the start of the program. The early deadline for guaranteed space is generally two-and-a-half months before the start of seminar; the final deadline is usually one month before its start date.
The Campaign 2012 series (Inside Washington 2012, the Democratic National Convention seminar, the Republican National Convention seminar and the Presidential Inauguration seminar) will seek and accept nominations from college presidents, deans, campus liaisons, honors directors and others as early as 18 months prior to the seminars.
Please check individual seminars’ pages for a more detailed timeline.
Program Fees
The cost of attending an academic seminar varies depending in which seminar you are enrolled. Tuition includes all programming and housing*, but not food, transportation or other expenses. Students are not required to stay in The Washington Center’s housing, but there is no refund for students who choose alternative housing arrangements.
Please check individual seminars’ webpage for a particular seminar’s tuition.
* Washington Connection does not include housing in its program fee but group discount rates at nearby hotels are available.ScholarshipsThe Washington Center offers scholarships for the following groups:
- Alumni of The Washington Center*
- Student government leaders
- College newspaper editors
- Students enrolled in an honors program or honor society
- Students coming as a group of 10 or more from one institution
- Students nominated by a college administrator (Campaign Series)
- Faculty Fellows
*Alumni who have graduated receive a 50% scholarship for seminar programs.
Check individual seminars’ pages for specific scholarships. The Washington Center Academic Seminars can also provide a fundraising guide upon request. Please email seminars@twc.edu [92] to ask for a copy.
Academic Seminars
Academic Seminars are Intense, Interactive & In-depth An academic seminar at The Washington Center is experiential learning at its finest. Gather with other students to explore, debate, and study every angle of the important topics the world is talking about. You’ll get an in-depth education from site visits and tours, panel interviews, group discussions, lectures from distinguished speakers and sometimes fieldwork in a specific field. Explore this section to learn more and to get all the details [94] about Academic Seminars.
Important IssuesAcademic Seminars explore the most important issues of the day, from government’s interaction with the media, to the political process, to peace in the Middle East and other important international issues. Each seminar lasts from several days to a few weeks in length and is highly focused on the topic at hand. It’s a unique opportunity to clarify and sharpen your point of view on the nation, and the world. Learn more. [95]
Special AccessYou’ll interact with the nation’s leading minds. You’ll get an insider’s access to Washington institutions. You could even play a role in the national presidential conventions. Let TWC open doors you never imagined were available.
Important Issues
Several times each year, The Washington Center’s Academic Seminars bring students together to explore the intersection of current affairs, politics, international relations and society. Academic Seminars are timely, relevant, and comprehensive. The time you spend in D.C. will open your mind for years to come. You’ll gain a better appreciation of the complexities facing world leaders, and see things from points of view you’ve never considered before.
Academic seminars will explore the inner workings of the nation’s capital, and topics such as the relationship between politics and the media, the sensitive and complex issues of Israeli-Palestinian conflict [96], and the challenges to national security [2] in a global society.
Presidential Campaign SeminarsEvery four years, a special series examines the race for the Presidency for students interested in learning more about how our democratic processes really work. The year begins with a special in-depth look at the politics of the nation and the processes that exist today. The following summer, you could travel to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions to do a variety of field-work and see how politics work from the center of the action. The series ends with the President’s inauguration and an in-depth study of the issues facing the capital, the country, and the world for the next four years.
Distinguished Speakers
When you attend an academic seminar at The Washington Center, you’ll do much more than read books and sit in a classroom. Washington, D.C., offers myriad opportunities to learn from the people and the institutions that affect the very issues you’ll be studying.
Over the course of the seminar, you’ll get to interact with the men and women who are shaping national policy, leading international discussions and making news. In the past, speakers have included:
- Juan Zarate, Fmr. Deputy, National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism [ Watch His Speech ] [76]
- Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff [ Watch His Speech ] [77]
- Mickey Edwards, Fmr. Congressman from Oklahoma [ Watch His Speech ] [78]
- Ed Gillespie, Fmr. RNC Chairman [ Watch His Speech ] [79]
- Juan Williams, NPR News Analyst [ Watch His Speech ] [80]
- Brian Lamb, C-SPAN Founder [ Watch This Video ] [80]
- Ann Compton, ABC News
- Charlie Cook, Cook Political Report
- Andrea Mitchell, ABC News
- Sam Donaldson, ABC News
- Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune
- Chuck Hagel (R-NE), U.S. Senate
- Ted Koppel, ABC News
- Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary
- Antonin Scalia, U.S. Supreme Court
- Bob Schieffer, CBS News
- Bob Woodward, The Washington Post
- Ambassador Nabil Fahmy, Arab Republic of Egypt
- Ambassador Husain Haqqani, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Mike McCurry, Fmr. White House Press Secretary
Attend an Academic Seminar
Unique perspectives, important issues, insider’s access and distinguished speakers form the basis of every academic seminar available only through The Washington Center. There are even more great reasons to come to Washington, though.
Academic CreditTWC’s seminars are designed to qualify for academic credit at many colleges and universities. You may even be able to attend with one of your own classes or professors from your home college or university.
Behind-the-Scenes in Washington, D.C.This is a fascinating city and a fast-paced hub of politics, business, arts, diplomacy, and science. In addition to the regular access to major institutions and distinguished leaders, you’ll have time to explore a city that is rich in cultural diversity, historical significance and artistic flair.
HousingHousing is guaranteed and included in the cost of the seminar. You’ll stay in one of our comfortable, fully furnished apartments at the Residential and Academic Facility in NoMa or the Residential Facility at Solaire. All apartments are located near the Metro subway system, so it’s easy to go out and enjoy the city. Learn more about our housing [99].
Highly FocusedNot everyone can dedicate the time to a semester-long internship, but everyone can spend time pursuing academic excellence in the nation’s capital. Seminars last from several days to a few weeks and are intensely focused on the issues at hand. You’ll get a semester’s worth of study in a fraction of the time.
Upcoming Seminars
Presidential Inauguration Program
January 12–22, 2013The Presidential Inauguration is a special ten-day academic seminar focusing on the newly elected presidential administration. Students from all across the country converge in the nation’s capital to be a part of the historic moment when the President will be sworn into office.
Learn more [25]
In Others' Words
“My Washington, D.C., experience has given me the initiative to become more involved not only politically in my community but in other aspects as well.”
Tracy Tomlinson, University of San Diego
Gandhi once said: ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ I think this seminar helped exemplify this statement, giving each and every one of us the necessary tools to be that change.”
Joseph Vithayathil, Honors College at Miami Dade College
“I think the greatest thing about this experience was the fact that every speaker and site visit provided me inspiration in one way or another. We are the future, and this seminar was geared directly towards us.”
Yeeka Yan, Mount Olive College
"The most exciting part is the chance to hear from amazing speakers that most people just get to see on TV or read about"
Chelsey Hood, Quinnipiac University
"The Washington Center allowed me to learn about my government, my school, and myself. They helped me escape the apathy of young people around me, and to hear the political beliefs of young people all over the country."
Richard V. Gello, Suffolk University
“A college education is a necessity for a better life. But there are things that just can not be learned in a classroom. The Washington Center lets you learn and experience them.“
Andre Gilchrist, Kean University
“The Washington Center provides an experience unlike any other. The mixture of fieldwork, speakers on many sides of various issues, exposure to academic discussion…all these have helped me grow and better define myself. I am a better person and more informed citizens now. I have made contacts that will help me in my road to success. I am so glad that I came to the RNC and that The Washington Center provided worked so hard to provide me with this exceptional experience.”
Erin Walker, Washington State University
Getting Started
The Washington Center’s Academic Seminars will help you explore and form informed opinions on the major topics of the day. The schedule of seminars changes from year to year; those scheduled for 2011 are listed here [98]. Details for Campaign 2012 - a special series focusing on the race for the presidency - will be announced next year.
Joining a Seminar
All college and university students in good standing are welcome to apply to any seminar they’re interested in. Recent graduates, TWC’s alumni and college faculty are also welcome to attend as students. Some seminars may have additional requirements or have an ideal student profile. Explore the individual sections for each seminar to learn more.
Applications are accepted online. Check the information for the seminar you’re interested in for specific deadlines, fees or requirements. More information on the application process is available here [14].
Program TuitionThe cost for each seminar varies; check the information for the seminar you’re interested in for the price schedule. Your tuition will include all programming and housing costs. Food, transportation and other expenses are not included. Scholarships may be available for some students. Visit each seminar page to see costs. [98]
In Others' Words
“My Washington, D.C. experience has given me the initiative to become more involved not only politically in my community but in other aspects as well.”
Tracy Tomlinson, University of San Diego
“Gandhi once said: ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ I think this seminar helped exemplify this statement, giving each and every one of us the necessary tools to be that change.”
Joseph Vithayathil, Honors College at Miami Dade College
“I think the greatest thing about this experience was the fact that every speaker and site visit provided me inspiration in one way or another. We are the future, and this seminar was geared directly towards us.”
Yeeka Yan, Mount Olive College
"The most exciting part is the chance to hear from amazing speakers that most people just get to see on TV or read about"
Chelsey Hood, Quinnipiac University
"The Washington Center allowed me to learn about my government, my school, and myself. They helped me escape the apathy of young people around me, and to hear the political beliefs of young people all over the country."
Richard V. Gello, Suffolk University
“A college education is a necessity for a better life. But there are things that just can not be learned in a classroom. The Washington Center lets you learn and experience them.“
Andre Gilchrist, Kean University
“The Washington Center provides an experience unlike any other. The mixture of fieldwork, speakers on many sides of various issues, exposure to academic discussion…all these have helped me grow and better define myself. I am a better person and more informed citizen now. I have made contacts that will help me on my road to success. I am so glad that I came to the RNC and that The Washington Center worked so hard to provide me with this exceptional experience.”
Erin Walker, Washington State University
Road to the White House
An Academic Course Examining the Issues & Themes Shaping the 2012 Campaign
A Partnership of TWC, C-SPAN, George Mason University & Purdue University Fall 2011 & 2012
Course Description
This course will give students the opportunity to study the 2012 presidential campaign as it takes shape around them. Students will examine the issues influencing the American political landscape, and how both social and traditional media determines the winners and losers. With an incumbent president seeking re-election, it is a special opportunity to study in-depth how the President's public policy agenda is affecting the presidential race. Students will examine topics such as:
- Polling
- Campaign advertising
- Targeted messaging
- Focus group strategies
- Debates
Class Format
One hour of each class will be devoted to interviews and discussion with special guests, which will be recorded and televised through one or more of C-SPAN's channels or other outlets. The class will also reconstruct the historical development of the current political scene, affording students a better understanding of how candidates interact with voters and how they develop the political messaging behind every speech, slogan and phrase on the campaign trail.
HOST/PROFESSOR BIO
Steven L. Scully [103] is the School of Communication and Office of the Provost’s Faculty in Residence in Washington, D.C. and is the Amos B. Hostetter, Jr. Chair in the School of Communications at the University of Denver.
SCHEDULE AND BIOS
The 2012 Presidential Election [104], Oct. 29
Geoff Garin talked about the 2012 presidential election.
Evolution of Presidential Debates [105], Oct. 22
Stephen Farnsworth, Robert Lichter, Rob Ritchie, and Carolyn Curiel talked about the candidates' performances in the first two presidential debates between President Obama and Mitt Romney, and analyzed prior presidential debates as well.
Role of the News Media in Elections [106], Oct. 15
George Mason University professor Robert Lichter conducted a discussion on the role of the news media in elections.
Evolution of Political Advertising [107], Sept. 24
Thom Mozloom, founder and president of the M Network, discussed campaign ads.
Role of Debates in the Political Process [108], Sept. 24
Newt Minow talked about the evolution and role of debates in the political process, and how they are affected by the quickly changing landscape of the media.
Key Moments of the 2008 Presidential Campaign [109], Sept. 17
John Heilemann, co-author of the New York Times bestseller Game Change, talks about some of the story lines and key moments from the 2008 election that were outlined in his book.
Political Landscape for the 2012 Elections [110], Sept. 10
Roger Simon, the Chief Political Columnist at POLITICO, talks about the political landscape for the 2012 elections.
"Nightly News Nightmare [111]", April 23
George Mason University Communications Professor Bob Lichter discusses his book, "Nightly News Nightmare"
Politics of the South [112], April 16
Former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder talked about Southern politics
Money and Politics [113], April 16
FEC Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly Discusses the Role of Money in Political Races
Presidential Debates [114], April 9
Commission on Presidential Debates Exec. Dir. Janet Brown Discusses Presidential Debates
Presidential Election Polling [115], April 2
Gallup Polls Editor in Chief Frank Newport Discusses Presidential Election Polling
Douglas Wilder on Changing Presidential Advisors [116], March 26
Douglas Wilder, Former Governor of Virginia Discusses Changing Presidential Advisors
Presidential Campaign Ads [117], March 19
Darrell West, VP and Director of Governance Studies at Brookings Discusses Political Advertising
The 2012 Political Landscape [118], March 12
Craig Crawford, Former Orlando Sentinel Washington Bureau Chief Discusses the 2012 Political Landscape
Dan Balz and Michael Steele on the Ohio Primary [119], March 5
Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Washington Post Political Correspondent Dan Balz on 2012 Ohio Primary
Social & New Media in Presidential Campaigns [120], Feb. 27
Lee Rainie, Pew Internet & American Life Project Director on Social & New Media in Presidential Campaigns
Candidacy of Hubert H. Humphrey [121], Feb. 20
Filmmaker Mick Caouette on His Film "Hubert H Humphrey: The Art of the Possible"
Richard Nixon's 1968 Campaign [122], Feb. 13
Pat Buchanan on Richard Nixon's 1968 Campaign
Lessons from the Tea Party Movement [123], Feb. 6
Theda Skocpol, Harvard Professor and Peter Maer, CBS News White House Correspondent
Women in Modern American Politics [124], Nov. 28
Tiffany Dufu, President of the White House Project
Polls and Focus Groups [125], Nov. 21
Peter Hart, President of Hart Research Associates
The Role of the News Media in Presidential Elections [126], Nov. 14
Stephen Farnsworth, Communication Professor at GMU
Six Men Who Failed in Their Presidential Campaigns [127], Nov. 7
Richard Norton Smith, Presidential Historian
Parties, Politics and Public Policy in America [128], Oct. 24
Mark Hetherington, Professor of Political Science – Vanderbilt University
Money & Politics: Nixon [129], Oct. 17
Sheila Krumholz, Executive Director, Center for Responsive Politics
Road to the White House 2008: Obama vs. McCain – Lessons from the McCain Campaign [130],
Oct. 3
Charlie Black, Republican Party Strategist
Presidential Primaries: Lessons from the Past & What to Expect in 2012 [131], Sept. 26
Mark Halperin, Co-Author, Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime & Senior Political Analyst, MSNBC & Time Magazine
Bipartisanship in Congress [132], Sept. 19
Former Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Trent Lott (R-MS)
Road to the White House 1976: Carter vs. Ford – How Jimmy Carter Won [133], Sept. 14
Gerald Rafshoon, Media Strategist, ’76 Carter for President & Fmr. White House Communications Director
Go to our C-SPAN page [134]
