Description

The International Environment and Development (IED) program is a unique 'experiential' learning experience that combines a 12-week seminar in Washington, D.C. with an intensive 3-week field practicum in Ghana or Ecuador, and a 2-day per week internship in DC. The three weeks overseas is not so much of an adventure program as it is an experiential and academic program involving meetings and interactions with local communities in the Amazon Rain Forest, the Galapagos Islands, the Andes, or throughout Ghana, studying wildlife conservation, national parks, and ecotourism.

The academic semesters involve travel to Ghana in the spring or to Ecuador in the fall.

Highlights

Intern and Study in Washington, DC: You will spend 12 weeks in Washington, DC participating in an 8-credit academic seminar and 2-day per week Internship. Through the seminar, you will explore various development topics from a variety of perspectives. Led by a full-time American University professor, your seminar provides you the opportunity to meet, debate with, and interact with representatives from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the World Bank, local advocacy groups, nongovernmental organizations, and think tanks. You will enhance your resume and gain professional experience through an internship at organizations such as: Amnesty International, the Environmental Protection Agency, Greenpeace U.S.A., the Institute for Policy Studies, the Mexican Embassy, the Organization of American States, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Ghana Highlights (usually offered in the Spring): Ghana is a culturally and historically rich nation that provides excellent opportunities for witnessing the challenges of development, urban and rural diversity, and ongoing efforts to meet the Millennium Challenge Goals. It also provides insight into difficulties with and potential approaches to environmental sustainability in a rapidly developing society. On past trips to Ghana, students have:
* Met with the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana
* Provided supplies to schools, orphanages, and local communities for education projects
* Visited schools, orphanages, community development projects, and craft development projects
* Learned how to make pottery, batiks, Ghanaian food, and kente cloth in various workshops
* Visited the Cape Coast slave castles and learned about West African history
* Encountered monkeys, baboons, warthogs, and elephants through national park and sanctuary visits

Ecuador Highlights (usually offered in the Fall): The fall International Environment and Development program includes an extraordinary excursion to Ecuador with visits to the Amazon rain forest, the Andes mountains, and the Galapagos Islands. The fragility of our environment is clearly visible here, because, as with many developing nations, the environment has been rapidly changing to accommodate economic growth. In the past students have:
* Hiked and rafted through the Amazon rainforest with local community members
* Participated in short service projects and/or delivered supplies to an after-school program for children living in a garbage dump, visited an innovative school in the rain forest, and studied a clean water access program
* Swum with dolphins, penguins, sea turtle, and diverse marine life in the Galapagos Islands
* Met with environmental NGO leaders in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
* Woven baskets, played Ecuadoran music, and cooked Ecuadoran food

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Minimum Education

High School

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Variable. Please contact us for details.

Program Fees Include:

All travel costs (from Washington, DC to international travel location), in-country costs such as food, lodging, transportation, etc. Living costs at American University/in Washington DC are not included.

Experience Required

yes

at least one year (and preferably two) of college courses (flexible on majors).

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Apartment/Flat
• Dormitory
• Guest House
• Independent living
• Other

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 22

Scholarships are Available

Dean's scholarships and travel grants based on need and academic qualifications.

Application Process Involves

• Resume
• Transcript
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

2 to 3 weeks

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

American University's Mission Statement

The American University Washington Semester Program is an exclusive, unique opportunity to discover today's most complex and compelling fields through an intense academic seminar and part-time professional internship. Choosing from one of ten areas of study (5 which include international travel), you will have the opportunity to meet, learn from, and network with domestic and international policy makers, business leaders, well-known media personalities, politicians, corporate and non-profit legal professionals, and other standout industry visionaries. Each semester 350-450 students from across the United States and around the world participate in this program. Since its inception in 1947, more than 35,000 students have advanced their career and life goals through the Washington Semester Program. Our alumni serve as living proof that the program can change lives and provide ambitious college students with the tools and networks they need to succeed.

Year Founded

1947