Academic Seminars

Top Secret

Top Secret:
Challenges To National Security In A Global Society

Early Application Deadline (guaranteed space) - March 1, 2010
Regular Application Deadline - April 15, 2010

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 terrorism and proliferation to natural resource constraints.

Inside Washington 2011

Inside Washington

Week One: Congress & the Obama Presidency
Week Two: Politics & the Media

Combination of lectures, site visits, tours & special events this two week Academic seminar is one of the best ways for students to witness the impact of the political process on public policy & the critical role of the media in the political process.

Inside Washington 2011

Inside Washington 2011

Full Two Weeks: January 2 - 15, 2011

Week One: The New Congress, January 2 - 8, 2011

Week Two: Politics and the Media - January 9 - 15, 2011

The first week of this special one or two week seminar will focus on the newly elected 112th Congress and what role it will play in the policy agenda in the second half of President Obama’s first term leading up to the 2012 Campaign. Week two will focus on the long but evolving relationship between pre and post election politics and the media. More information will be available in summer 2010.

The Washington Connection Program 2011

Washington Connection Program 2011

A CUSTOMIZED WASHINGTON D.C. ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

If you currently bring or have considered brining students to Washington, D.C. over Spring Break let the Washington Center help you. The Washington Connection program utilizes our 35 years of experience and connection to the Washington community to help you provide the best experience available for your students. If interested e-mail us

Inside Washington 2011

Inside Washington 2012

Full Two Weeks: January 1 - 14, 2012

Week One: In Pursuit of the Presidency, January 1 - 7, 2012

Week Two: Politics and the Media - January 8 - 14, 2012

This special one or two week seminar will focus on the 2012 Presidential Campaign and kick off our Campaign 2012 Academic Seminar Series.  Week two will focus on the long but evolving relationship between pre and post election politics and the media.  More information will be available in summer 2011.

Democratic National Convention 2008

Democratic National Convention

A TWO WEEK ACADEMIC SEMINAR THE WEEK BEFORE AND OF THE DNC

Since 1984, The Washington Center has been the only academic institution providing an inside look at both national nominating conventions while assisting college students in involving themselves as active participants in the convention process. The Academic Seminar brings noteworthy speakers in each morning and places students in volunteer fieldwork placements with the party, convention committee, host committee, media, and many other convention related organizations and events. More Details in Fall of 2011.

More Information

Republican National Convention

Republican National Convention

A TWO WEEK ACADEMIC SEMINAR THE WEEK BEFORE AND OF THE RNC

Since 1984, The Washington Center has been the only academic institution providing an inside look at both national nominating conventions while assisting college students in involving themselves as active participants in the convention process. The Academic Seminar brings noteworthy speakers in each morning and places students in volunteer fieldwork placements with the party, convention committee, host committee, media, and many other convention related organizations and events. More Details in Fall of 2011.

More Information

The Presidential Inuaguration 2013

The Presidential Inuaguration

JANUARY 2013

Participants in The Presidential Inauguration seminar will be in Washington, D.C., when the city and the nation celebrate the re-inauguration or inauguration of the nation's 44th or 45th president. In 2009 over 640 students from across the country participated this very popular seminar. Regardless of the winner, a presidential inauguration is always Washington D.C. at its best. Click here to see our Campaign 2008 page. More Details in Fall of 2011.

More Information

Inside Washington 2011

Inside Washington 2012

Full Two Weeks: January 1 - 14, 2012

Week One: In Pursuit of the Presidency, January 1 - 7, 2012

Week Two: Politics and the Media - January 8 - 14, 2012

This special one or two week seminar will focus on the 2012 Presidential Campaign and kick off our Campaign 2012 Academic Seminar Series.  Week two will focus on the long but evolving relationship between pre and post election politics and the media.  More information will be available in summer 2011.

Democratic National Convention 2008

Democratic National Convention

A TWO WEEK ACADEMIC SEMINAR THE WEEK BEFORE AND OF THE DNC

Since 1984, The Washington Center has been the only academic institution providing an inside look at both national nominating conventions while assisting college students in involving themselves as active participants in the convention process. The Academic Seminar brings noteworthy speakers in each morning and places students in volunteer fieldwork placements with the party, convention committee, host committee, media, and many other convention related organizations and events. More Details in Fall of 2011.

More Information

Republican National Convention

Republican National Convention

A TWO WEEK ACADEMIC SEMINAR THE WEEK BEFORE AND OF THE RNC

Since 1984, The Washington Center has been the only academic institution providing an inside look at both national nominating conventions while assisting college students in involving themselves as active participants in the convention process. The Academic Seminar brings noteworthy speakers in each morning and places students in volunteer fieldwork placements with the party, convention committee, host committee, media, and many other convention related organizations and events. More Details in Fall of 2011.

More Information

The Presidential Inuaguration 2013

The Presidential Inuaguration

JANUARY 2013

Participants in The Presidential Inauguration seminar will be in Washington, D.C., when the city and the nation celebrate the re-inauguration or inauguration of the nation's 44th or 45th president. In 2009 over 640 students from across the country participated this very popular seminar. Regardless of the winner, a presidential inauguration is always Washington D.C. at its best. Click here to see our Campaign 2008 page. More Details in Fall of 2011.

More Information

Inside Washington 2008

Inside Washington 2008

Inside Washington ’08 kicked off the series in Washington, D.C. on January 6-18, 2008

Established in 1984, the Presidential Academic Seminar Series consists of four separate seminars covering the potential presidential candidates to the inauguration of our next president.

More Information

Obama 100

The Obama Presidency: The First 100 Days

A Special Leadership Academic Seminar

This seminar examined the Obama Administrations first 100 days in office. An important benchmark in any new President’s first term. Click here to see the archived page from the seminar.

More Information

Democratic National Convention 2008

Democratic National Convention

A TWO WEEK ACADEMIC SEMINAR THE WEEK BEFORE AND OF THE DNC

The Tradition Continues…

Since 1984, The Washington Center has been the only academic institution providing an inside look at both national nominating conventions while assisting college students in involving themselves as active participants in the convention process.  The Academic Seminar brought noteworthy speakers in each morning and placed over 500 students in volunteer fieldwork placements with the party, convention committee, host committee, media, and many other convention related organizations and events.

More Information

Republican National Convention

Republican National Convention

A TWO WEEK ACADEMIC SEMINAR THE WEEK BEFORE AND OF THE RNC

The Tradition Continues…

Since 1984, The Washington Center has been the only academic institution providing an inside look at both national nominating conventions while assisting college students in involving themselves as active participants in the convention process. The Academic Seminar brought noteworthy speakers in each morning and placed over 500 students in volunteer fieldwork placements with the party, convention committee, host committee, media, and many other convention related organizations and events.

More Information

Syndicate content

Apply Now

Application Instructions

To apply, click on the application link. Once you have created an account and filled in the general information, you must select or fill in the name of a campus liaison or faculty sponsor who must approve your application if you are an undergraduate. Once approved, your application will be reviewed by The Washington Center. If accepted, you will receive an email notification and instructions to log in again to complete the housing request and emergency contact information. You may pay the deposit, if applicable, by credit card by calling The Washington Center finance office. Unless your institution is paying for the program, you will receive an invoice from The Washington Center.

Direct Application Link: http://portal.e.twc.edu

"I met politicians, journalists, television celebrities, visited Capitol Hill, and saw the constitution of the United States and this was all in one day of the seminar."
Eric Rosenberg
University of San Diego

Inside Washington Participant

"Our negotiations were challenging and tugged at the hearts and minds of everyone involved, lessons we could never learn in a book."
Krystal Atha
University of Iowa

Camp David III Participant

"Visiting embassies and playing Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas at Camp David got me so interested in the Middle East that I applied for and won a State Department scholarship!"
Adam Gallagher
Ohio Northern University

Camp David III Participant

"The Washington Center helped me discover a passion for politics I never knew I had – and I love it!"
Rebecca Boe
Bemidji State University

Inside Washington Participant

"I learned more about the Mideast conflict in two weeks at Camp David III than in an entire school semester. "
Peter Brown
Kean University

Camp David III Participant
The local ABC's Eyeswitness News interviews a Mark SpeedDNC: Campaign 2008 participantsAmerica's Mayor Rudy Giuliani addresses the crowdDNC: Campaign 2008 participantsDSC_8918DNC: Reception at Invesco Field at Mile High

Academic Seminars

Academic Seminars in Washington D.C.

Several times a year, The Washington Center offers unique, participatory, 1 to 2 week programs worthy of academic credit that allow undergraduate and graduate students and faculty to be actively engaged in the study of a topic unique to Washington D.C. The seminars are highly engaging and intense, yet lots of fun as you meet new people, visit new sites, and learn about the academic and career opportunities available in the nation's capital.