Lutheran College Washington Semester (LCWS)
The Lutheran College Washington Semester (LCWS) is an immersive and transformative domestic program designed to provide Cal Lutheran students with a unique opportunity to learn and intern in the nation's capital. It extends learning far beyond the confines of a traditional classroom, built on the principle that experiential education is the key to unlocking personal and intellectual growth.
LCWS strives to connect students with internship opportunities to help provide real-world experience to further their educational and professional goals, prepare students for life after college, and make them more active citizens in their communities.
LCWS is open to all Cal Lutheran students. It works exclusively with small, liberal arts colleges and predominantly with schools sharing a Lutheran heritage.
OEA APPLICATION
HOST APPLICATION AND WEBSITE
Early Action Application
LCWS encourages you to apply early, even up to a year in advance! Some internship placements may require substantial time to conduct background checks. Please complete an Early Action Application to plan ahead!
OEA Early Action APPLICATION
Courses
LCWS offers a set list of courses each fall and spring semester. Cal Lutheran has pre-aligned each course with Cal Lutheran classes to ensure that you receive Cal Lutheran credit upon return to campus. Like most other educaiton abroad programs, you are welcome to submit Course Approval Forms to determine whether you may receive credit for other requirements than those listed below.
| LCWS Course | Cal Lutheran Equivalency |
| Controversy and the Supreme Court | Elective credit in Political Science |
| Global Agenda | Elective credit in Political Science |
| Interfaith Engagement and Religious Pluralism | RLTH 334 - American Religious Experience |
| Introduction to Public Policy | Elective credit in Political Science |
| Environmental Politics and Policy | Elective credit in Environmental Studies or Environmental Science |
| Securing the Homeland | Elective credit in Political Science |
| The Symbolic City | Elective credit in Political Science |
| The Washington Theatre Experience | Introduction to Theatre |
| Violence and Values | TBD |
Please note that courses are subject to change each semester. Please contact LCWS directly at intern@washingtonsemester.org for more information.
Internships
LCWS provides access to hundreds of internship opportunities in government agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and media outlets. Before you apply, please research past internship opportunities available to LCWS students. Past Cal Lutheran students have gained internships in organizations such as:
- U.S. House of Representatives
- U.S. Senate
- White House
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Department of Education
- U.S. Attorney General's Office
- D.C. Attorney General's Office
- Amnesty International
- C-SPAN
- CNN
- Washington Post
- Democratic National Committee
- Republican National Committee
- Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
- Smithsonian Museums
- Federal Trade Commission