Academics

The Inside Washington program is more than a great internship and the chance to meet the most influential people in the world. There is a substantial academic expectation that comes with the program. As the best and the brightest of Miami, you are expected to write several response papers about happenings in Washington. Students are also expected to be aware of the current events and news in the world.

Inside Washington: Summer is an eight-credit, ten-week, 400-level course cross-listed between Political Science, Communications, and Journalism (COM 426/JRN 426/POL 426). Often it will count toward elective hours within a media- or political science-related major. Talk with your academic advisor to see how Inside Washington Summer will count for you. This one course covers all aspects of the summer program including guest speakers, response papers, and the six-week internship.

The Inside Washington Semester program will be offered every spring starting in 2011. The program is comprised of 16 Miami credit hours divided among four courses taken by all Inside Washington students.

1. Inside Washington Semester Experience (4 credit hours). This course takes place during the first five weeks of the semester. It involves the intensive study of the contemporary Washington community-government institutions, public officials, journalists, consultants, staff, and interest groups. The course utilizes prominent guest speakers from these various areas, as well as field trips to key Washington venues.

2. "The Washington Community" (3 credit hours). This course involves the examination of American national politics and governance through study of the Washington, D.C. community as political-social system. The focus is on the development and behavior of the community and its constituent elements, including elected and appointed officials, journalists, interest groups and lobbyists, think tanks, staff, consultants, and citizens.
The above courses will be taught on a sprint basis during the first 5 weeks of the semester.

3. "Internship" (7 credit hours). Students will perform full-time internships from week six through the conclusion of the semester. Students are placed in internships that directly link to their academic and professional interests.

4. "Independent Study" (2 credit hours). Students will write a research paper which details a particular issue with which their internship site had to deal. It is expected that the Semester course will meet significant program requirements for POL, JRN and COM majors. Other majors should consult with their advisors to see how the courses might apply to their plan of study.