For nearly three decades, the Lutheran College Washington Semester (LCWS) program has provided an opportunity for Concordia-Chicago students to study, work, and live in the nation’s capital—all while paying their normal CUC tuition.

Study

Students in the LCWS program take 2-3 courses taught by expert professionals, with all credit applicable back here to CUC. Course offerings include:

  • Securing the Homeland
  • Washington Theater Experience
  • Journalism & Law
  • Race & Power in the Nation’s Capital
  • Environmental Policy
  • Business and Government Relations
  • US Supreme Court
  • Monuments, Memorials, & Museums
  • Public Health Policy

Work

All LCWS students complete an intensive (roughly 30 hours/week) internship. Most internships are paid, with financial support available to students with unpaid internships. LCWS staff offer one-on-one coaching, weekly internship opportunity bulletins, and application workshops to make sure you’re matched with a site that fits your passions. Past Concordia students have interned at:

  • U.S. House and U.S. Senate
  • The White House
  • Amnesty International
  • Smithsonian National Museum of American History
  • Heritage Foundation
  • U.S. Marshals Service
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Small Business Administration
  • Attorney General's Office
  • Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Woodrow Wilson House
  • Jubilee USA Network
  • Washington D.C Metropolitan Police
  • Daughters of the American Revolution
  • American Legislative Exchange Council
  • German American Heritage Museum
  • The National Center on Sexual Exploitation

Live

LCWS students are housed in fully furnished 2-bedroom/2-bathroom luxury apartments in Arlington, VA, one Metro stop from the heart of D.C.  

An unlimited-ride Metro card is issued to every student, so getting around is easy. Every Friday, the entire cohort participates in the D.C. Experience, a series of shared experiences like neighborhood tours, live performances, and networking events.

Costs

Tuition: Paid as normal to CUC. Your tuition includes:

  • Textbooks for any courses you take
  • Tickets to a theater show
  • An unlimited UPass (Metro card)
  • Access to therapy and mental health resources
  • Fees for many D.C. museums

Housing: $2,900 (at or below CUC housing cost)

Food and Entertainment: Paid for by the student. No meal plan is available, but there is a grocery store across the street from the apartments, plus countless restaurants in the area. LCWS recommends budgeting $125.00/week for food/incidentals and $50/week for entertainment, totaling $2,450 for the semester.

Application

Concordia-Chicago is able to support a maximum of two students per semester in the LCWS program, so admission is competitive.  

Applicants must have junior or senior standing and a GPA of 3.0 or above, and must submit a cover letter, resume, and two letters of reference (these should be generic and addressed to potential internship sites, not the LCWS program itself), as well as the approval of the campus representative.

Fall Application Deadline: April 1

Spring Application Deadline: October 15

To start your application, contact Dr. David Bates at david.bates@cuchicago.edu

My time with the LCWS program has prepared me for my future career and education as it has allowed me to build the foundation of a significant skill set that I will grow in future endeavors. My experience was one that I will always look back on fondly. 

-Sofia Plascencia, BA ’27 History and English

The Lutheran College Washington Semester was one of the most transformative times of my life. I interned for a U.S. Congressman in the Capitol Building, learning firsthand how government functions behind the scenes. Perhaps more transformative, however, were the friends I made, who have helped shape me into the individual I am today. I thoroughly recommend this program to anyone who wishes to get a foot in Washington or to make lasting memories!

-Jacob Kimble, BA ’26 Political Science and History

I’ve taken part in LCWS two times, and am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to live and work in such a vibrant city. As a journalism and political science major, my internships helped me gain skills at the intersection of communications and politics. Being in this city gave me a clear idea of what I want my future to look like-I would love to work here, either in politics or writing for a newspaper. Participating in this semester has been the highlight of my CUC experience, and I am so grateful for my time in DC. 

-Anna Kuschel, BA ’26 Journalism and Political Science