About WCSC
Why do students join WCSC?
WCSC is an opportunity to explore city life and cultural diversity, to build your resume and work experience, and to serve the community. Students are challenged personally and professionally at the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (formerly known as the Washington Study-Service Year).
Internship
Through an internship in DC, you can build your resume, gain job skills and work experience, and explore a job field that interests you while contributing to your community. We can place students from any major, including the sciences, the arts, and professional programs.
Cultural events
As part of the program, students will gain free admission to several musical, theater and dance performances during the semester. The seminar class also provides space for students to explore museums, coffee house poetry readings, and public art and historical walking tours. From slam poetry readings to Hamlet – the arts are at your doorstep in D.C.
Classes
Seminar Class: WCSCs inter-disciplinary seminar analyzes social problems, faith issues and urban experiences through reading and writing, the arts, field trips, and group discussion. Guest speakers, internship visits, and history and arts tours are part of the weekly seminar course.
Local University Class: Students may also elect to take a course at one of the following local universities (other universities may be considered on a case-by-case basis), with priority given to those who need the credits to meet graduation requirements:
- Trinity University
- University of the District of Columbia
- Corcoran College of Art and Design
- Foreign language courses at the Graduate School of the U.S.D.A.
- Several other colleges available on an as-needed basis
Group living
WCSC student life is a community experience, including shared meals and household responsibilities. Through sharing space and many new experiences, students come to know one another and themselves in surprising ways. Students build interpersonal communication skills and learn about conflict resolution strategies during group meetings.
The newly renovated facility is located in Brookland, a working-class, largely African-American neighborhood near Catholic University of America. We are just four blocks from the Metro, and there is a bus that goes from the front door of the house directly to the Metro station.
Additional info
Overview of WCSC (.pdf)
Next steps for accepted students
Eastern Mennonite University is a small Christian liberal arts college dedicated to Anabaptist and Mennonite values of peacebuilding and service.