The Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program: where it's all happening.
The Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP), sponsored by the university's Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS), 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 community 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. Every CMU/WSP student is paired with a Washington, DC-based alumni mentor to share career advice and tips about life in DC. IPS 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.
Students should contact the IPS deputy director to discussthe specifics of the program and how the CMU/WSP may fit into their curriculum. Students who participate in the CMU/WSP may qualify for a minor in Politics and Public Policy.
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.