Academics

Get out of the classroom

Students take tours of neighborhoods, learning the often hidden and compelling history of freedom fighters, change-makers, artists, and educators, and the spaces where they transformed the city and the country. They visit organizations and hear about how the work impacts the landscape of DC and its residents. Students also hear guest speakers of diverse backgrounds share how they came to be who they are, professionally and personally.

All of this to provide students with a foundation to engage their community, analyze the structures of power and change, and reflect on who they want to be in the workplace and beyond. It's a semester that challenges students academically and interpersonally.

Fall or Spring Semester: 15 credits
10-Week Summer Program: 10 credits
Students may consider staying for 2 terms

Courses offered every Fall and Spring:

WCSC 387 Race, Space, and Inequality (3)
SOC 375 Community Development (3)
ICSSC 300 Career, Culture, and Community (3)
WCSC 385 Internship (6)

During fall and spring, WCSC 387 and SOC 375 are taught in tandem, during one seminar time, and consist of field trips, discussions, projects, and lectures.

Courses offered in Summer 2025:

WCSC 387 Race, Space, and Inequality (3)
ICSSC 305 Career, Culture, and Community (2)
WCSC 380 Internship (5)

Courses offered in Summer 2026:

WCSC 388 La Lucha Latina (3)
ICSSC 305 Career, Culture, and Community (2)
WCSC 380 Internship (5)

Course descriptions

WCSC 387 Race, Space, and Inequality
This course is an introduction to urban studies, focused in particular on questions of space and place. Through fieldwork, readings, and discussion, we explore the urban landscape of Washington, DC, seeking to understand the spatial organization of the city, the inequalities it reflects, and the implications for people and communities. What drives racial and economic segregation? How do we make sense of cycles of neighborhood development and disinvestment? This course asks students to consider the breadth of actors and forces that shape the city, and to reflect on what it means to seek justice within this context. This course can substitute for CORE 300 Power, Systems, and Justice (3) and meets the Writing Intensive requirement.

WCSC 388 La Lucha Latina
The Latinx Caribbean influence on Washington, DC is strong and growing. This class takes a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding that aspect of the city—delving into the push/pull factors of immigration, looking at the many contributions the Latinx community has made and understanding the many forms of injustice that they face. Students will get a chance to experience and interpret the cultural, socio-economic, geographic and political impact of the Latinx community on the metro area. They will gain insight into the current national debate on immigration issues and take the opportunity to critically reflect and analyze relevant issues through speakers, class discussions, readings, movies, visits to various community organizations, advocacy work, and a final research project. This course can substitute for CORE 300 Power, Systems, and Justice (3) and meets the Writing Intensive requirement.

SOC 375 Community Development
In this course we consider how communities differ from place to place and learn about community-based organizations working in and around DC to improve local neighborhoods. Community development focuses on meeting the needs of places that have been marginalized from political and economic power: communities with limited access to good schools, jobs, adequate housing, quality food, and other resources that make life easier and more fulfilling. We learn about the ways people work together to improve neighborhoods, to access external resources, and to more fully meet the needs of their neighbors

ICSSC 300 Career, Culture, and Community (Fall and Spring)
This course supports and builds on the intercultural experiences of the WCSC program, including living in multicultural DC, working at an internship, and living in community at the WCSC house. In the class, students develop skills in leadership, communication, and handling conflict. Together, they will discuss goals and orienting values for their vocational identities, engage with guest speakers who share about their own career trajectories, and build nuts-and-bolts professional development skills, including conducting an informational interview and developing a cover letter and resume. This course is required for all students enrolled in the WCSC semester program. This satisfies senior seminar for students with 90 SH or more when enrolled in WCSC.

ICCSC 305 Career, Culture, and Community (Summer)
This course supports and builds on the intercultural experiences of the WCSC program, including living in multicultural DC, working at an internship, and living in community at the WCSC house. In the class, students develop skills in leadership, communication, and handling conflict. Together, they will discuss goals and orienting values for their vocational identities, engage with guest speakers who share about their own career trajectories, and build nuts-and-bolts professional development skills, including conducting an informational interview and developing a cover letter and resume. This course is required for all students enrolled in the WCSC summer program.

WCSC 380/385 Internship
WCSC faculty and staff work with students to place them in community service internships that meet the student's career goals and vocational aspirations. Most WCSC interns are placed in culturally diverse settings with organizations working to address racism, injustice, violence, and other social problems. We can place students from any major, including the sciences, the arts, and professional programs. Please refer to our internships page for more recent internships. (WCSC 380 is offered during summer term and is 5 units. WCSC 385 is offered during fall and spring semesters and is 6 units)

EMU Core Requirements Satisfied

Intercultural (completely satisfied by summer or semester term)
Writing Intensive (satisfied by WCSC 387/388)
Community Learning (satisfied by ICSSC 300/305)
Social and Behavioral Sciences course requirement satisfied for Critical Thinking (satisfied by SOC 375)
For students who enrolled at EMU before 2023-2024 academic year: senior seminar is satisfied for students with 90 SH who come in the fall or spring (satisfied by ICSSC 300)

Additional Details

This is a good option for people who are concerned about fitting an intercultural and internship experience into their rigorous academic schedule.
Many students participate in both WCSC and an international intercultural program, but be sure to talk with your advisor about it to plan in advance.
Non-profit internships can count as EMU students' workstudy job during the academic year.
Tuition at WCSC is the same as on campus for EMU students. If you are coming from another university, please check with your institution's study away and financial aid office. Financial aid applies during the academic year. Tuition is less expensive per credit over the summer than during the fall or spring semesters.