The Grinnell-in-Washington DC program is offered in the first semester of each academic year. One core course of the curriculum changes from year to year, reflecting the interests and expertise of the Grinnell faculty member leading the program that fall. A second course, POL 295, is part of what all students take. For students on GIW pursuing internships, the internship and internship seminar make up the rest of the academic credit that students receive for the semester.  Students pursuing internships undertake mentored searches to find an appropriate match with their individual interests and experience. The internship is at least 12 weeks in length, Monday-Thursday, approximately 32 hours per week (in Fall 2012 it lasts 14 weeks). Classes for interns are typically held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, as well as during the day on Friday.

The home campus faculty member from Grinnell for 2013 will be Professor Gene Gaub.

In the Fall 2013 student applicants for the GIW program are invited to consider an alternative to an internship by proposing a 4 credit independent study under the theme of American Memory: Arts and Literature. This unique policy and research opportunity will examine the cultural and political organizations of Washington, integrating site visits to organizations and library/archival research at resources such as the Library of Congress. To complete their schedules, these students will also take POL 295, MUS 295, and an elective from a selection of courses offered through the University of California consortium in D.C. to be proposed in your application to GIW (in consultation with a representative of Grinnell's OCS).

The curriculum for interns: