From its very beginning, Washington, DC has been the center of political maneuvering, scandal, and intrigue, an international hub of power, and the place where people come to voice their concerns in protest on matters of race, the environment, equality, and more.

In  this course, classroom learning will be complemented by expertly guided tours to some of the city’s most iconic monuments, memorials and governmental institutions.  While on tour, you will have the opportunity to truly experience Washington as you travel through it on foot as well as on public  transportation, gaining a better understanding of America’s capital and its role in history — past, present, and future.

Your journey begins with a flexible, self-paced online module that will be available starting this month. Designed to fit easily around your schedule, you can complete these activities and shared assignments at your own speed in about 12 total hours.

By completing the online portion before your trip, you'll have more free time to explore the places you’ve come to see!

7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. — Live “Know Before You Go” Zoom class

12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. — In-person Washington, DC touring experience

9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. — In-person Washington, DC touring experience

8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. — In-person Washington, DC touring experience

Classes will take place at The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue N.E., Washington, DC.

The highlights of the in-person experience include the following: Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, World War I Memorial, the White House, the United States Capitol Building, National Museum of American History, and The People's House Museum.

Please keep in mind that plans are subject to change in light of factors such as the weather, time constraints, road closures and events taking place in the city during the time of your visit.

Accommodations are not included with this course. Many students find it helpful to use the Hostelworld website when searching for a place to stay. We mention this website simply as a resource that you may wish to consider and do not recommend or endorse any particular property listed there.

All class sessions — whether online or in-person — are mandatory. The Zoom class takes place live with your camera on and require each student to take an active role in group discussions.

• Before you sign up for any course, double check class times (both online Zoom and in-person) as well as the time zone according to which the class will be taught.  Make certain that the class times do not conflict with your work commitment to your host family.  If the times conflict, this is not the course for you.

• To make sure the course you’ve chosen is not already full, first sign up for the course and receive the enrollment confirmation we’ll email you.  Once that’s done, you may then book your travel arrangements.

• Please also note that as the start of the course draws near, we will send each student a link to a WhatsApp group that will allow us to communicate with students and students to communicate with one another about their plans in regard to travel arrangements.

Once you successfully complete this course, you’ll earn 72 hours of credit.

If you have additional questions regarding credit hours, please contact your au pair organization.

Students will have 3 weeks to complete their post-assignment and submit it to their teacher.

Once you submit your post-assignment, you will receive your certificate of completion directly from Towson University within 10 days, assuming you have satisfactorily completed all course work. Feel free to turn your assignment in as soon as you complete it, as this will allow us to get your certificate to you sooner.

If you cancel…
― 22 or more days before the start of the first class, you will receive a full refund.
― 21 to 11 days before the start of the first class, you will receive a full refund less a $50 cancellation fee.
― 10 to 6 days before the start of the first class, you will not receive a refund. You will instead receive a credit that can be applied toward the tuition price of any Learning Across America course. The credit will be in the amount of the tuition you paid, less a $75 cancellation fee. The credit is good for one year from the date of issue and is transferable.
― 5 or fewer days before the class begins, no refund or credit is available.

As an alternative, should you need to cancel we offer the ability to transfer your enrollment in the same course to another au pair without penalty, provided we receive notice at least 3 days before the start of the course.

Students who must cancel their course need to send an email to Learning Across America. The cancellation request must be sent directly by the student. Please make sure that the subject line of your email is Attention: Cancellation of Course.

If you decide to transfer to another Learning Across America course…
― 22 or more days before the start of your original course, you may transfer without penalty.
― 21 to 11 days before the start of your original course, a $25 transfer fee will apply.
― 10 to 6 days before the start of your original course, a $50 transfer fee will apply.
― 5 or fewer days before the class begins, there is no transfer permitted.