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Discover the World of Communication

Summer 2021 on campus sessions begin June 11 and June 23, online sessions begin June 15 and July 15!
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American University's Discover the World of Communication Program is on campus at American University for summer 2021; and online with Discover the World of Communication. See below.

At this time NSLC/DWC courses on campus are filled but you may apply to be on the waitlist. DWC Online courses are still open and available!

The American University Discover the World of Communication Program (DWC), has been in association with The National Student Leadership Conference, (NSLC) for more than 15 years to offer classes in journalism, film, and communication on American University and U.C. Berkeley's campus. Classes in animation, broadcast journalism, filmmaking, newswriting and investigative reporting coupled with leadership training and educational field trips to local newsrooms, communication organizations are what each student participating in the program will experience! Students may live on campus or commute. For summer 2021 Discover the World of Communication is offering on campus experiences through the National Student Leadership Conference. To view a list of the AU DWC courses please visit the National Student Leadership Conference website.

Discover the World of Communication also offers DWC Online 2021.  In the American University Discover the World of Communication Online program, students ages 13 - 20 may choose from 9 film, journalism or communication non-credit classes and 1-credit public speaking course to take online from the comfort of wherever the student is in the world. All classes are taught by American University School of Communication faculty and communication professionals. DWC Online 2021 runs Session 1, June 15 - July 15 2021. Students must be registered by June 1 to guarantee being able to begin on June 15.  Session 2, July 15 - August 15 2021. Students must be registered by July 1 to guarantee being able to begin on July 15. Students registering for this program may take anywhere from one to all ten course offerings during the summer. Students register for the online program and have the flexibility to determine when they'd like to begin the work. Check the course descriptions for information on whether the course is offered as a synchronous, asynchronous or hybrid online course.

Outstanding communication skills are needed in any career a student chooses to pursue and Discover the World of Communication On Campus or Online Program is the place to build these skills as well as college portfolios and have fun along the way.

For more information, download our brochure. Or you can view our international brochure.

Discover the World of Communication Program Overview

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American University's School of Communication offers high school students the opportunity to explore the field of communication through the Discover the World of Communication program.

Top 100 Summer Program Badge 2020

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Looking Ahead: Discover the World of Communication Summer 2022

Session I: June 20, 2022 (residential students move in) - July 1, 2022.

Session II: July 11, 2022 (residential students move in - July 21, 2022. Check back in fall 2021 for our brochure with course offerings!

Frequently Asked Questions

Participants range in ages from 14 to 19. Students entering freshman through senior year in high school are eligible to participate. The average age of students participating during the last 4 years was 16 years with approximately 45% males and 55% females.

Yes! In the past 4 years students came from 37 countries.

To participate in the Discover the World of Communication program, complete the registration form located online in the Register section. Registration is accepted on a first come-first served basis, so register early!

619 students from 36 states, 2 territories and 19 countries participated in Discover the World of Communication during summer 2019.

Each online class would consist of 7 modules. Each module will take about 3 hours to complete (including some of the time the students need to do their work). The class will be delivered as an asynchronous class (Screenwriting: Hollywood Three-Act Structure will have designated class times), which means you can take the class any time of day or night no matter where in the world you are located. We will try our best to make these as hands-on and experiential as we can, given the constraints that one may need to complete their work from home. A student may begin a class (or several) as early as June 15 or as late as July 30, but all of the work needs to be completed by August 15, 2020 in order to receive feedback and a certificate or completion for each class completed. The students will access the material through Blackboard and submit work through Blackboard. Nine of the classes are non-credit and one of the classes, Public Speaking, is a college level 1 credit course. 

The classes are taught by American Univeristy faculty and working professionals.

Create a resume worthy news article, video, flash fiction writing, screenplay as well as work fro your portfolio that may be used for college admissions, internships and your own enjoyment. You will also receive a DWC Certificate for each non-credit class completed and an AU transcript for the 1-credit Public Speaking course. This information can be used on your college applications.

The online classes will be available on Session 1: June 1 - July 15 2021 and Session 2: July 15 - August 15, 2021.

It is possible to take as many as four classes on campus and up to 9 classes online. Online courses consist of 7 lessons of about 3 hours of work.