Summer Program academic information may be found here.

Academics

Fall / Spring Semester

Students receive 16 credits for coursework during the semester.

Required Course

CAS SS 350 American Institutions (4 credits) — syllabus
The course, currently taught by a former member of Congress, examines the “who” and “how” in the formula for shaping public policy. While the theoretical will be reviewed, the emphasis will be on the practical - how does the government framework with which we are endowed work in practical terms.

A diverse mix of entities, public and private, will be reviewed during weekly lectures which will require preparatory readings and reflections designed to produce interactive and productive class discussions. The objective of the course is to increase understanding of the complexities and uncertainties endemic to policy making in the United States. Exciting guest speakers such as former Clinton Administration Chief of Staff, John Podesta are featured.

Elective Courses

Students choose up to two

CAS HI/PO/IR 356 Foreign Affairs, Politics & Presidents in the Twentieth Century (4 credits) — syllabus
This is a four-credit course that meets once a week, two-three hours per session. It aims to provide an overview of American presidents in the 20-21st centuries and how they crafted American foreign policy. The course will cover specific presidential campaigns worth noting, as well as the individuals who helped construct the modern-day American political tradition. How politics relates to foreign policy is very important to understand; therefore, concepts such as isolationism, manifest destiny, American moralism, national self-interest, and the topic we are currently all too familiar with, terrorism, will be covered. The current war in Iraq will be discussed in great detail throughout the semester, hopefully making most of the course material more relevant. We will also try to come to terms with how our conduct overseas has shaped U.S. foreign policy in addition to the primary players throughout history who have molded U.S. international relations.
CAS PO 406 Introduction to Congressional Policy Making (4 credits) — syllabus
The purpose of this course is for you, the student, to gain a working knowledge of the U.S. Congress, from both a theoretical and a practical perspective, in an effort to further develop your own views into the legislative and political processes. This will be done by combining themes from assigned readings and lectures with insight gathered from guest speakers, current periodicals, and in-class discussions.
Students also have the option of taking any undergraduate course at George Washingto n University subject to class size limits and student's ability to meet course requirements (3 credits). The George Washington University calendar is different from Boston University's, so the dates for beginning and ending the semester may differ for students choosing this option.

Internships

Fall and spring semester internships are four full-time days per week. One day (usually a Tuesday or Thursday) is kept aside so student can catch up on academic work, attend field trips, or have meetings with Boston University advisors. Since students receive 4 credit for their internship, there is an academic component in addition to the time spent at the internship site. All internships are 4-credit. — syllabus

Here are the various fields in which students may do internships.

SHA HF390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration
COM CM471 Internship in Advertising or Public Relations
CAS EC497 Internship in Business / Economics
CAS EE404 Internship in Energy and Environmental Policy
COM FT493/494 Internship in Film and Television
CAS PS495 Internship in Health and Human Services
CAS PO/IR455 Internship in International Organizations
COM JO411 Internship in Journalism
CAS PO451 Internship in Politics
CAS PO453 Internship in Pre-Law
CAS AH505 Practicum in Arts / Architecture
CAS PO404 The Washington Internship

Regardless of the course chosen, the academic components are the same. —

CAS IP 400E Washington Seminar (4 credits)— syllabus
Students have the option of taking the Washington Seminar for 4 credits in lieu of one elective course. The goal of this seminar is to give students a broad sense of the Washington experience as well as the kind of organizations which are based here. There will be a number of field trips including a visit to an embassy, a think tank, a Cabinet agency and a lobbying organization or interest group. Most of these trips include a tour of the offices and a presentation by one or more staff members. Students are required to take an active role in these visits, by preparing and asking questions.