Admissions
There is probably a wide variety of information and opinions about DC being thrown your way as you prepare for this adventure! Although we're going to let you form your own opinions, we will tell you more about the location of ASP. Read this FAQ to find out location information!
We accept applications on a rolling basis until all spots have been filled (usually around June for a fall semester; October for a spring semester). We recommend applying as soon as possible to better your chances of acceptance! Since we review applications on a rolling basis, the sooner you apply the sooner you will know your admissions status-- we review each completed application and make an admissions decision within five business days!
o Note: Each campus makes its own policies regarding off-campus study, so you should consult your academic dean, off-campus study coordinator, and/or advising faculty member at your school to ensure completion of all campus requirements before submitting your ASP application.
The American Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program which gives no preference to students in any particular field of study (it is not just for political science majors!). However, a good academic record is necessary: students are required to have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. ASP is designed for students in their second, third or fourth year in college. All full-time students earning credit toward their degree are eligible.
Students must attend every scheduled course activity, including their internships. However, we do try to be as flexible as possible to accommodate important family events (graduations, weddings, funerals, etc.). Please bring these events to our attention as soon as you can. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee housing availability outside of the program dates; ask for more details. Click
here for the dates of our current and upcoming semesters.
Yes, international students who are already enrolled in a U.S. or Canadian-based institution are welcome to participate in the program. Unfortunately, ASP is not able to sponsor an independent student visa (F-1 visa) for a student not currently enrolled in a U.S. or Canadian-based institution. Please call (202-546-3086) or email (
asp@bestsemester.com) us with questions about your specific situation.
You can expect to use all of your Federal and State financial aid to study off-campus through the American Studies Program. Additionally, many (but not all) campuses allow students to transfer some or all of their institutional financial aid, scholarships, and grants. Contact your Off-Campus Study Coordinator, Financial Aid Office, or other applicable office on your campus for more information and to determine how much financial aid can be applied to your off-campus semester.
We understand that even after the financial aid options listed above, paying for a semester off-campus can be a daunting task, so we want to do whatever we can to help! Tuition Fee Reductions are available and are approved based on the student’s financial need. To apply for a fee reduction, you will need to complete the fee reduction request form after your application has been accepted.
Each semester, we offer paid student worker positions in departments throughout the CCCU (the President’s Office, BestSemester, Facilities, IT, etc.). These positions are paid minimum wage ($12.50/hour in DC) and only average 5 hours a week, but students usually earn enough to assist with groceries and transportation costs.
Program Location
There is probably a wide variety of information and opinions about DC being thrown your way as you prepare for this adventure! Although we're going to let you form your own opinions, we will tell you more about the location of ASP. Read this FAQ to find out location information!
For 16 weeks, you’ll live in the Capitol Hill residential neighborhood. Many students are (pleasantly!) surprised to find that DC isn’t all suits and monuments—farmer’s markets, festivals, and a wide array of (free!) cultural offerings take place every day of the week! Your apartment building, the Dellenback Center, is eight blocks (less than a mile) from the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, and Library of Congress.
You will be living in our 4 story apartment building called the Dellenback Center. Each two-bedroom apartment is fully equipped with a furniture, a full kitchen (supplied with basic kitchen items like plates, silverware, and pots/pans), living room/dining room, full bathroom, and in-apartment laundry. Each apartment houses 4-6 students. Additionally, there are a number of common spaces, including two student lounges (with TVs), a classroom, conference room, workout room, and a rooftop deck with an amazing view of the Capitol!
Washington, DC has a very robust public transportation systems. The Dellenback Center is located in the heart of Capitol Hill with convenient access to Metro bus stops and train lines. DC is also a very walkable city-- by the end of the semester, students are surprised to find themselves walking places where they initially took public transportation. Due to limited space, students are not allowed to bring their car; however, cabs are easily accessible (the Uber and Lyft apps come in handy!).
Weather in Washington is fairly moderate. If you’re a fall semester student, you will most likely experience a still-warm August and September before enjoying the lovely autumn foliage; you may even see snow before you leave. For the spring semester, you should prepare for the possibility of January and February snow and a few rainy days—but you can also look forward the beautiful cherry blossom season. On a whole, DC has more sunny days than cloudy.
Academics
While your time with the American Studies Program is sure to be an eye opening adventure, your main purpose in being there will be to learn. In fact, we think this is half the adventure, especially since you will be learning through doing and serving in addition to time in the classroom. Read this FAQ series to find out more about the program’s academics.
All ASP students are required to enroll in a 9-credit Internship course, 1-credit Professional Development Practicum course, and then choose between our Public Policy study track or Strategic Communication study track. Each study track is comprised of two 3-credit courses. You will earn 15 credits total for the semester.
Current course descriptions and syllabi can be found on our website:
http://www.bestsemester.com/asp/academics/.
You will receive 15 academic credits for your ASP semester. Due to the intensive nature of your workload-- four full workdays at your internship site and seven additional credit hours of fieldwork-based coursework—we strongly advise against any plans to also take online or independent study courses during the semester.
Yes, by a process we refer to as “course substitution.” In short, the courses you take at ASP are substituted for courses you would otherwise elect or be required to take in order to earn your major, minor, or general degree on your home campus. You remain enrolled at your home campus while at ASP, so your ASP courses show up on your transcript as courses provided by your home campus.
It is up to your academic advisor and other campus administrators (Registrar, Provost) to decide how your 15 credits of academic work will be substituted for other coursework. We strongly encourage you to clarify with them early on in the application process about which electives or required courses your ASP courses will substitute for. ASP faculty are happy to work with your advisors to provide additional information or answer any questions about coursework as part of this process.
ASP’s classrooms are located on the main floor of the Dellenback Center (student apartments make up the top three floors of the building, shared student spaces are on the main floor, and faculty offices are located in the basement). That said, ASP is truly an experiential education program. During the semester, many of our class sessions occur in the city at briefings with communications or public policy professionals and organizations. Both study tracks offer equally intensive fieldwork study experiences.
o Students in the American Studies Program intern all over Washington, DC. The internship is the primary way you will customize your semester here. After acceptance, you will start communicating with Hannah Wasco, ASP Internship Coordinator. She will help you narrow down which organizations fit your interests and goals. After you determine the organization(s) of your choice, then it’s time to start submitting applications! Make sure that you check each organization’s website to identify due dates and decision timelines. Note: We do not place you in an internship; securing an internship is your first professional development accomplishment in DC and is great practice for post-graduation job applications.
Check out our Internships FAQ (coming soon)! If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out at
asp@bestsemester.com or 202-546-3086.
Daily Life
Want to know what your days will entail while living in the United States' capital city? Read this FAQ to find out more about daily life.
o With so much going on and so many opportunities, it is hard to say what a typical day looks like, but (generally) each week is structured as follows: From Monday through Thursday, you will be at your internship site, working hours set out by your supervisor. On Fridays, you will be in class, either in the Dellenback classroom or out in the city for briefings and meetings. Additionally, there are two evening commitments each week-- on Monday nights, we all meet together for a catered meal that we call Family Night Dinner; on Wednesday evenings, there is an on-site class session. Outside of classes, internships, and Family Night Dinner, there are also student activities (planned by students and staff) and a few special events/activities throughout the semester. Other than that, the rest of your time is your own to use to balance personal life with your other commitments. We specifically try to keep most weekends open so that you are free to explore the city and have time to do the other things you want and need to do.
We do not offer a formal meal plan. Part of the goal of ASP is to give you a window into life after graduation, so you will cook most of your meals in your apartment kitchen and do your own grocery shopping. Monday nights, all of the students, faculty, and staff will join together for Family Night Dinner—a catered meal to reconnect in the midst of busy internship and coursework schedules. If you have any special dietary restrictions, please be sure to let us know so we can accommodate those for all program provided meals.
There are a lot of factors that go into the community at ASP, and you can read more about them on our student life page here. Generally, though, your roommates and classmates will come from all around the country and even the world. They may hold different political beliefs, theological perspectives, and cultural backgrounds. Regardless of where students come from, though, everyone is unified in the challenge of life in a new city with new responsibilities and being able to process it all together.
Similar to many things at ASP, spiritual development is one of the areas that we encourage you to press into and take ownership of this semester. We do not require chapel or Bible Study, but we do believe that faith should be a formational part of your life here and will provide resources to help you take ownership of this. One way we do that is encouraging local church engagement; there are dozens of churches within walking distance (hundreds more throughout the rest of the city) and even more small groups and/or Bible studies you can join. Another way is resources and support for student-led initiatives such as worship nights, Bible studies, or prayer groups. Lastly, we strive to collectively model and live faith-informed lives where faith is not an isolated aspect of our lives, but something formational to our everyday practices and conversations.
Career Preparation & Professional Development
How will the American Studies Program will enhance your career? Read this FAQ to find out!
ASP is blessed with over 3,000 alumni. This loyal and active alumni base is over 40 years in the making, stretching back to our inaugural semester in Fall 1976. Presently, we have ASP alumni working in Washington, DC at:
- - The White House and other Executive Department Offices
- - The U.S. Supreme Court
- - Congressional leadership and personal offices of Democratic and Republican members
- - Research and advocacy organizations as communications and policy experts
And many of our alumni make careers outside of Washington, DC as policy professionals at the state or local level; as professors of history, law, or political science; as law enforcement officials and intelligence agents; as advocates for international relief-and-development organizations; and in leadership at countless for-profit, non-profit, and church-affiliated organizations.
