Washington DC Summer Internship and Research Program - Course Information

Class with Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky

The program involves two course components:

One-credit preparation spring semester seminar (PS 400)
This course is designed to provide students with appropriate professional and career preparation to enable them to both secure internships and to make the most of their internship experiences. The course will meet a total of six times during the spring semester; there are also individual meetings with the course instructor.

The Summer Internship Research Course (PS 478)
This is an intensive, eight-week course designed to provide a deeper and more complex understanding of the governing process from both an academic and a practitioner perspective. This course is a three-credit summer course that meets during the evenings. Classes include meetings with distinguished members of the Washington community, many of whom are UW alumni. Previous guest speakers have included ambassadors, members of the White House, congressional and executive department staffs, representatives from lobbying firms, trade organizations, the defense industry, the media and law firms.

As part of the course, students also complete a research project that combines their own interests with the needs of their internship office. These projects provide an excellent opportunity for students to take on more substantive projects within their offices by examining a specific policy area. The program culminates with final presentations of projects to the class.

Another key part of the program is the relationships that students are able to form with members of the Washington community and each other. Each student is matched to two alumni mentors (one who recently graduated and one more experienced Washingtonian) to meet with the students individually and help them with projects, career advice or simply guidance on how to get the most out of living and working in Washington.