Washington Community Scholars' Center

Owned by Laura Lehman (Deactivated)
Last updated: May 28, 2020

Faculty: Kimberly D. Schmidt, Ryan M. Good

Students explore career-building internships, city life, cultural diversity, and the connections between faith and work at the Washington Community Scholars' Center (WCSC). Begun in 1976, WCSC brings students to Washington, D.C. to learn hands-on about their vocations, urban social change, race and ethnicity, faith, and personal growth. WCSC programs combine professional internships, group living, and seminar courses. WCSC faculty design internships in partnership with students and their academic advisors.

WCSC Student Life

Students share a house in a working/middle class, largely African-American neighborhood. The house, located in the historic Brookland neighborhood, is a ten-minute walk from the Brookland-CUA Metro station, the Catholic University of America, shops, restaurants and recreational areas. It is an excellent location from which to explore the city. WCSC student life is a community experience, including shared meals, cooking, and cleaning. Through living together, students gain new perspectives about themselves and others, as well as build stronger interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.

Information on internships and applications can be found at https://www.emu.edu/wcsc. Inquiries are also welcome at wcsc@emu.edu or call 202-529-5378. WCSC brochures and applications are available from the cross-cultural programs office.

Programs and Academic Credit

The Washington Community Scholars' Center provides strong academic programs grounded in field experiences in Washington D.C.'s diverse neighborhoods. WCSC programs meet EMU cross-cultural and EMU Core requirements.

The following programs are offered:

Summer 2020

  • CCSSC 387 The Urban Landscape: Race, Space, and Inequality - 3
  • WCSC 325 Career and Vocation: Strategies and Values - 2
  • WCSC 380 Internship - 5

Fall 2020

  • CCSSC 386 A Multicultural History of Washington, D.C. - 3
  • HIST 385 From Monuments to Murals: Exploring Social Issues Through D.C.'s Public Art - 3
  • WCSC 285 Internship Theory and Practice - 1
  • WCSC 385 Internship - 6
  • WCSC 485 Servant Leadership - 2

Spring 2021 & Fall 2021

  • CCSSC 387 The Urban Landscape:  Race, Space, and Inequality - 3
  • SOC 375 People, Place, and Community: The Politics and Practice of Community Development - 3
  • WCSC 285 Internship Theory & Practice  - 1
  • WCSC 385 Internship - 6
  • WCSC 485 Servant Leadership - 2

Summer 2021

  • CCSSC 386 A Multicultural History of Washington, D.C. - 3
  • WCSC 325 Career and Vocation: Strategies and Values - 2
  • WCSC 380 Internship - 5