PROGRAM DATES

January – mid-March 2007

DIRECTOR

Steven Schier, Congdon Professor of Political Science.

Steven Schier, Congdon Professor of Political Science, founded the Carleton Washington D.C. seminar in 1983 and has led it on nine occasions. A veteran of an undergraduate Washington program in 1973, he knows the city and its ways well. Articles by him on national politics have appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today and other newspapers. Cable News Network, the CBS Evening News, C-SPAN and National Public Radio have broadcast his commentary. His ninth and latest book, High Risk and Big Ambition: The Presidency of George W. Bush was named an “academic press best seller” in 2004.

PREREQUISITES

Students are encouraged to participate in the Washington D.C. program as sophomores, juniors, or seniors. The sole prerequisite is the completion of Political Science 122. Should the program be oversubscribed, applicants will be preferred on the basis of their academic background and expressed interest in the program. Senior majors in the political science department will complete their comprehensive exercise before attending the program.

OVERVIEW

Washington D.C. is a wonderful location for many kinds of learning beyond the classroom. In addition to the major institutions of national government, the city is an international capitol that is home to over 150 foreign embassies. This seminar allows students work experience three days a week in a Washington internship and provides over fifty class sessions with leading Washington figures — legislators, administration officials, judges, lobbyists, American and foreign diplomats, and members of the American and international press.

Previous speakers have included Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), former House Speaker Tom Foley (D-WA), Vice President Dan Quayle, Cable News Network’s Judy Woodruff, and Bob Woodward of the Washington Post. Students in the past have met with journalists and diplomats from Sweden, Russia, Germany, Nicaragua, China, Japan, South Africa, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Mexico and Cuba.

The program will not be offered for another three years (Maastricht and China POSC seminars are offered in the two other years).

COURSE OF STUDY, 16 CREDITS

Students will intern on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, and attend seminars on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

POSC 290-17: Directed Reading

4 CREDITS

This independent reading course focuses on American national politics and foreign policy. It is completed during winter and spring breaks, and students will write two papers on the readings.

Instructor: Professor Steven Schier

POSC 289-07 Seminar: 6 credits

Students will participate in a seminar involving meetings with leading Washington figures and will complete midterm and final essays based on seminar meetings and speakers. A research paper is also required of all students.

Instructor: Professor Steven Schier

POSC 293-07: Internship

6 credits, S/CR/NC

The seminar Director will assist students in obtaining an internship. All students will intern in the office of a legislator, executive agency, interest group, or media outlet, keeping a journal of experiences and writing a summary paper.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Students are responsible for travel arrangements to and from Washington.

FACILITIES

Students will be housed in an apartment building that is a fifteen-minute subway ride from Capitol Hill. Texts will be purchased from the Carleton Bookstore prior to departure. Students may use the Library of Congress for research.

EXCURSIONS

In January the program will take an overnight trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. There the group will visit the House of Burgesses, site of Patrick Henry’s famous speech for independence and where the young Jefferson and Madison served as representatives. Students will also visit the Wythe house, where Jefferson studied law under George Wythe’s tutelage. In February the program will travel to Annapolis, Maryland to tour the historic state capital, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the harbor front. Throughout the program’s duration, the many attractions of the Washington area are available to students. A surprising number of museums and galleries are free and just a short subway ride from the apartments.

EXPENSES

Students pay the 2006-07 Carleton comprehensive fee, which covers the costs of instruction, room, board, local transportation, social events, and all scheduled excursions. Students are responsible for the cost of books, personal expenses, transportation to and from Washington D.C., and personal travel during the seminar. Student financial aid is applicable as on campus. See the Off-Campus Studies Planning Guide for further information regarding work contracts, loans, and other subjects of financial aid.

APPLICATIONS

Application forms are available from the Office of Off-Campus Studies, Leighton 119 as well as from the Washington D.C. seminar website. Applications are to be submitted by April 26, 2006 (first round) or October 6, 2006 (final round) to Tricia Peterson, Administrative Assistant for Political Science, Willis 402.

Students interested in the program should plan to attend the information meeting to be held on April 12, 2006 at 7 PM in Sayles Hill 251(first round), or September 20, 2006 at 7 PM in Leighton 305 (final round).