The Washington Semester program  allows Lasell undergraduate students to study journalism, foreign policy, business and other disciplines in our nation's capital. Students attend the Washington Semester at American University and participate in internships and seminars that align professional development with academic coursework. 

While enrolled in the Washington Semester program, Lasell students take part in an Academic seminar worth 8 credits in which they learn from professors who are experts in their fields and who know Washington, DC. They will introduce students to local, national, and global experts as they explore key issues in the topic. Using D.C. as a classroom, students will learn about the inner workings of non-profits, businesses, government agencies and international organizations through innovative assignments like applied learning activities, business plan development, service-learning, and use of media and simulations.

Students may select the seminar from the following concentrations: 

• American Politics
• Foreign Policy
• Global Economics & Business
• International Law & Organizations
• Journalism and New Media
• Justice & Law
• Public Health Policy
• Sports Managment & Media
• Sustainable Development

In addition to the Academic Seminar, students will complete a 4-credit professional internship in which they will gain knowledge of an organization or industry as well as practical knowledge of a career field. Prior to arriving in DC, students will receive access to the internship database, which provides students with an instant network of organizations.

Costs and Housing

Students participating in the Semester in Washington program are registered at Lasell and are billed all the costs of the program through Lasell. However, there is a significant surcharge for this program.  Contact studyabroad@lasell.edu for current surcharge rates.   This arrangement does not apply to programs with a travel component. Those additional costs would be billed directly to the student by American University. Costs include tuition, room, board, fees, and medical insurance, if not waived by the student. Though students are housed at American University in Washington, D.C., all costs are billed by and payable to Lasell by the billing due date. Students receiving financial assistance from Lasell will continue to receive their aid while in Washington. There is no provision for continuation of work-study during the semester in Washington.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Students must have at least a 2.5 GPA
• Submit the Lasell Domestic Study Abroad Application (requires MyLasell account) by the deadline. The application deadline to study in the spring is October 15th, and the fall semester deadline is March 15th.

Applicants may not apply before their fourth semester of college work; that is, students must be at least a first semester junior by the time they enroll in the program in Washington.