Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP).
In DC, decisions are made by those who show up. This is your chance to do so.
The Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program provides undergraduate students from any department the opportunity to live, intern, and study in the nation's capital.
During the day, students gain real-world experience with an internship. At night, they take classes on public policy, American politics, governance, institutions, and law with Carnegie Mellon faculty, applying what they are learning in class directly to their internship experience.
The Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP), sponsored by the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology, is a semester-long program in which students live, intern, and take CMU classes in Washington, DC. Full-time undergraduates from any course of study at the university may participate in the program. Students earn forty-eight units for the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program, interning about twenty-four hours per week in any sector or field of interest within Washington, DC, while taking classes taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty.
From embassies to nongovernmental organizations, think tanks to advocacy organizations, government agencies to congressional offices, and consulting firms to media outlets, Washington, DC, is the center for many political, international relations, and public policy activities. Students in the program come into direct contact with political, business, and industry-specific leaders and learn about the most pressing policy issues of the day.
Through this experiential learning program, CMU/WSP participants develop professional and networking skills, explore how coursework connects to the real world, learn to give and receive constructive feedback in the workplace and classroom, and intentionally reflect on their learning and growth. CMIST also sponsors events and policy-oriented opportunities in Washington for students participating in the program to further enrich their experience and enhance their understanding of how Washington functions as a hub of international and policy decision making.
Participation in the CMU/WSP also qualifies students to apply for the Master of Science in Security, Technology, and International Relations- Accelerated Master's Program MS STAIR-AMP. AMP candidates will complete the master's degree in just two semesters beyond the undergraduate degree.
Applications are accepted on a rolling admission basis with a final deadline of October 1, for spring semester participation, and March 1, for fall semester participation.
For More Information
For information about the CMU/WSP program, application process, and internship opportunities, please contact Ashley Barnes, CMIST Washington Program Manager.
For Curriculum Questions
For questions regarding academic coursework in Washington, DC, the minor in Politics and Public Policy, and how the CMU/WSP might fit into your academic plan, please contact Emily Half, CMIST Deputy Director.