Lutheran College Washington Semester
The Lutheran College Washington Semester, also known as LCWS, was founded in 1986 by a core group of Lutheran colleges to provide a quality residential Washington, DC semester exclusively for their students.
In addition to the three founding colleges - Muhlenberg, Gettysburg, and Roanoke - ten additional colleges are members of the LCWS. They are: Augustana College (SD), California Lutheran University, Concordia College (MN), Concordia University Chicago, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Luther College, Susquehanna University, Thiel College, Valparaiso University, and Wittenberg University. Students receive academic credit from their home institutions.
The Lutheran College Washington Semester is a small, personalized program where you live, study, and intern while earning academic credit from your college. Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters are offered, with classes being taught in the Fall and the Spring. Students attend internships on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Wednesdays are used for field trips, briefings, tours, and various other activities. Every Wednesday there is at least one activity and sometimes two or even three on rare occasions. Each of these field trips or other activities are mandatory and must be completed to fulfill the program requirements. On special occasions, events may be planned on other days of the week then Wednesdays but this is rare and typically will not interfere with work schedules.
While attending the LCWS, students are also required to fulfill the Dean's Requirements. These include a Congressional Committee Summary, a Protest or Demonstration Paper, and completing 12 hours of community service.
The Lutheran College Washington Semester offers a college program located in Rosslyn, VA, across the Key Bridge from Georgetown. Students enjoy condo living, not dormitories, while the LCWS maintains administrative offices, classrooms, computer lab, conference room, study lounge, and student residential facilities.
- Member Colleges of the LCWS -
Augustana College (SD) California Lutheran University Concordia College (MN)
Concordia University Chicago Gettysburg College Lenoir-Rhyne University Luther College
Muhlenberg College Roanoke College Susquehanna University Thiel College
Valparaiso University Wittenberg University
The Lutheran College Washington Consortium is wholly owned and operated by its member colleges which are all Lutheran affiliated. Each college has its own non discrimination statement which is available to any student in the colleges catalogue or web site, respectively. The LCWS does not discriminate against any qualified applicant for the Lutheran College Washington Semester on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, national or ethnic origin.