core course expansion Anticipated in fall 2027
Students take two courses: the Internship Seminar and a Core Course. Starting in Fall 2027, WII is expanding its selection of Core Courses to the ones below. The list is subject to change due to enrollment and faculty availability. Sample syllabi are provided below.
Fall and spring students will rank their top three choices on WII’s application form. Students can add a note if a particular course is needed for graduation, and we will do our best to accommodate the request; however, we cannot guarantee it. We will finalize course assignments within a month of the application deadline.
Summer students will take Inside Washington: Politics and Policy.
Business and Government Relations | Fall 2027 | Syllabus
In Washington DC, there is little separation between government and business, as the government relies on a multitude of consultants and contracting firms in order to achieve administrative goals. In turn, the use of government contracts is a strong business model for many corporations, non-profits, and service organizations. This course disentangles these relationships by examining 1) the economic and political issues shaping how business and government interact; 2) the role of government contracts in the political economy of DC; and 3) the importance of government relations to the viability and success of private and non-profit organizations.
Controversies in Public Health | Spring 2028 | Syllabus TBD
Public health has saved millions of lives, yet it often provokes deep disagreement about the role of government, personal freedom, and collective responsibility. Using the unique ecosystem of Washington, DC, this course explores key controversies, past and present, that reveal the complex interplay of science, policy, ethics, and culture. Through readings, debates, and DC-based experiences, students will explore the tradeoffs between protecting the public’s health, preserving individual liberty, and overcoming the types of systemic health inequities illustrated by the divide between the Northwest and Southeast quadrants of the city.
Controversy and the U.S. Supreme Court | Spring 2028 | Syllabus
This pre-law course provides students with an understanding of the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in shaping the U.S. Constitution through its most controversial cases. It will examine the history of the Court, discuss landmark cases and current controversial cases, and examine the human factors that influence these decisions, including the backgrounds of the parties to, and jurists of, the cases. This course will enable students to analyze the quality of these decisions, to appreciate their significance in shaping the U.S. Constitution, and to logically defend or oppose them.
Environmental Politics and Policy | Fall 2027 | Syllabus
This course will explore contemporary environmental challenges and the difficulties associated with resolving environmental disputes by focusing on (a) the competing points of view, which inevitably shape public discussion about the relation between humans and the natural environment and (b) the institutions, actors, and approaches involved in making environmental policy. The course will use global, national and local case studies to think about first principles; the trade-offs in making environmental policy; the interaction of science, economics and politics; and the practical hurdles to implementing environmental policies.
Global Agenda | Fall 2027, Spring 2028 | Syllabus
This course explores the international and domestic forces that shape the complex and multi-faceted political, social and economic challenges confronting the quest for a stable world order. Among the many topics explored during the semester are: International Conflicts, Arms Control, Foreign Aid, Climate Change, International Trade, Human Rights, Trafficking of Women & Children, Immigration & Refugees, Global Health & Disease, Endangered Species, Globalization, and Food Security.
Inside Washington: Politics and Policy | Fall 2027, Summer 2028
This course is the same one that WII has offered in the past.
Journalism, Law, and the Modern Public Square | Fall 2027 | Syllabus
Washington, DC embodies the complex relationship between the government, the press, and the voice of the people. The city serves as a national public square where people protest, journalists interrogate politicians, and courts decide legal battles over the limits of government power. This course explores the First Amendment jurisprudence surrounding freedom of speech, assembly, and the press asking questions about the limits of government, the people, and the press in exercising these rights. As the public square expands to include social media platforms, how does existing law apply and what complications arise?
Monuments, Memorials, and Museums: An Evolving National Story | Spring 2028 | Syllabus
The National Mall is a place that strives to tell the story of America. But what stories and perspectives are included? How has this changed over time? And who decides? This course will explore the history, symbolism, and politics of the National Mall, engaging with questions about national identity, public governance, and systems of civic infrastructure. Students will meet with experts from organizations tasked with planning and maintaining the Mall and take field trips to several points of interest.
Race and Power in the Nation’s Capital | Fall 2027 | Syllabus
Home to “Black Broadway” and nicknamed “The Chocolate City,” Washington, DC's history is intertwined with the Black struggle for freedom, equal rights, and economic well-being. This course will examine this history, illustrating how DC has served as a center for the Black middle class while simultaneously reinforcing ethno-racial inequalities. As the city’s demographics have changed such that no racial group makes up a majority of the population, the course will raise questions about racial equity, power, and opportunity that remain central to African-American life in DC.
Securing the Homeland | Fall 2027, Spring 2028 | Syllabus
This course will explore the challenge of securing the liberal democratic state and rules-based order in an age of increasingly global and interconnected threats, including domestic and international terrorism, disruptive technologies, cyber threats, and disinformation. What does “security” mean in this context? How might various approaches to achieving security for the homeland adversely impact the rights and well-being of individuals, especially ethno-racial minority communities? Students will meet with experts from the national security community and with members of the legislative branch with first-hand experience in confronting these complex and difficult challenges and making critical policy decisions.
Violence and Values | Fall 2027, Spring 2028 | Syllabus
This sociology and criminology course will explore the presence of violence and criminality in our lives and culture, as well as the values society holds concerning violence and criminal deviance. The course will also cover the methods used to prevent, control and respond to violence and criminality. Why are we violent? Do we tolerate, or even embrace, violence? How does our criminal justice system work, and what are the ideals and barriers that affect how justice is dispensed? These and other questions will be explored and discussed by the class, and by criminal justice and social services professionals who work in the field with victims and perpetrators.
Washington Theatre Experience | Fall 2027, Spring 2028 | Syllabus
Although known primarily for government and politics, Washington, DC, is one of the extraordinary cultural capitals of the world. The breadth and diversity of its many theatres, and the high quality of its performing arts productions, makes it an ideal laboratory to learn about the multiple dimensions of the theatre. Not only does Washington, DC, attract renowned shows and plays with internationally recognized artists, but the city also lends itself to pre-Broadway productions, experimental theatre, and programs reflecting the rich cultural, racial and ethnic diversity of the city. In this course, students will attend several live productions, critique them, and explore how a theatre company is created and managed. Topics will include the history of the theatre as an art form, directors, actors, producers, technical production, marketing and sales, fundraising and development, and theatre management, among others.
