Effective leadership is essential in order to make a meaningful impact. GW has a long history of preparing leaders to influence change in nonprofit, government, local community, and corporate settings.
Our Pre-College courses help high school students learn the principles of effective leadership by leveraging the resources of Washington, D.C. and the expert faculty at GW. Students will have opportunities to see successful leadership exemplified firsthand, and will leave our program ready to make a difference in their own communities.
On-campus and online courses are available for credit, while our noncredit offerings focus on experiential learning environments, connecting students with relevant institutions and experts in their respective fields.
All course offerings are subject to cancellation.
Noncredit
One-week program
June 24—29, 2018
A healthy community and democracy requires visionary leaders who can help solve the issues that their community is facing. In this course, students will develop their leadership skills to engage key stakeholders, and create strategies that reflect social responsibility. Students will learn best practices in implementing positive change in their communities.
Noncredit
Two-week program
July 1—13, 2018
Washington, D.C. is the heart of the legislative processes and social movements that influence structural, cultural and ideological change. This course introduces students to questions, opportunities and roadblocks faced by civic and global leaders. It will expand their leadership capacity and teach them to translate their values and ideas into action to create the change they want to see in their communities.
Noncredit
Two-week program
July 15—27, 2018
This course introduces students to principles and theories of communication in organizational and professional environments. Students will learn communication strategies essential to thriving in today’s interconnected world, focusing on cross-cultural communication, leadership, diplomacy and public speaking skills.
Noncredit
Two-week program
July 29—August 10, 2018
This course will introduce international students to concepts of global leadership and provide an opportunity for them to engage with policy makers and practitioners across multiple disciplines such as social sciences, humanities and STEM fields. They will also gain global perspectives and develop problem-solving techniques that cultivate organization, teamwork and presentation skills to help them navigate the world.
Noncredit
Two-week program
July 29—August 10, 2018
Were you born a leader or do you transform into one? In this course, students will engage in a series of lectures, guided interaction, and experiential learning to explore the principles of global leadership. Using their learned skills in individual and group leadership, students will be able to hone in their decision-making, strategic and management skills, thus influencing and affecting change in their communities.
Three credits
Three-week program
July 1—20, 2018
This is a full scholarship residential summer program that engages high-achieving juniors (rising seniors) from U.S. high schools in academic leadership development. Caminos al Futuro seeks to cultivate leadership potential and scholarship in students who desire to shape issues impacting Hispanic and Latino communities.
Three credits
Three-week program
July 1—20, 2018
The INSPIRE program is a full scholarship open to Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian rising junior and senior high school students who want to learn about intergovernmental relations between tribal governments and the federal government.
Three credits
Six-week program
July 1—August 10, 2018
Study and practice of the basic techniques of public speaking used to inform, to entertain and to persuade audiences. Emphasis on the speech-building process: audience analysis, research, development, composition, organization, style, delivery and criticism.
Three credits
Six-week program
July 1—August 10, 2018
Study and practice of verbal and nonverbal communication in ritual, information and perspective sharing, problem solving, relationship formation, maintenance and dissolution. Designed to raise awareness of the complexity and power of the communication process in daily life and to help students develop interpersonal skills cognitively, effectively and behaviorally.
Three credits
Six-week program
July 1—August 10, 2018
Major thinkers and themes in the field of peace studies and conflict resolution. Focus on philosophical and religious foundations of peace and justice movements in the twentieth century. Examination of peace and conflict through an interdisciplinary lens and on personal, local and international levels.
Three credits
Six-week program
July 1—August 10, 2018
Online course: May 21—June 30, 2018
Fundamental principles underlying human behavior.
Three credits
Six-week program
Online course
July 2—August 11, 2018
Examination of leading ethical theories (e.g., utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics) and methodology in ethics. Engagement with contemporary problems.
Three credits
Six-week program
Online course
July 2—August 11, 2018
Philosophical theories about how economic, political, legal and cultural institutions should be arranged. Topics include the meaning and significance of liberty, the legitimate functions of government, the nature of rights, the moral significance of social inequality and the meaning of democracy.
Three credits
Six-week program
July 1—August 10, 2018
Online course: May 21—June 30, 2018
Fundamental principles underlying human behavior.
Three credits
Six-week program
Online course
May 21—June 30, 2018
Psychological concepts and methods applied to problems of personnel management, employee motivation and productivity, supervisory leadership and organizational development.
Prerequisite: General Psychology.
Three credits
Six-week program
Online course
May 21—June 30, 2018
Key aspects of the literature on public opinion, with emphasis on the role of media in opinion formation and change. Topics include the meaning of public opinion in a democratic society, a review of methods used to measure opinions and media effects on opinion.
