D.C. Internship Program Offerings

The Leadership Forum

The Leadership Forum is a structured set of activities that enriches your experience by helping you to understand leadership and the opportunities you have to contribute to your community locally, nationally and internationally. You hear and engage with speakers, are introduced to public policy debates and the people who shape them and attend activities related to your professional field.

Please note that Sophomore Exploration Program and Washington, D.C. Legal Externship Program participants may have a modified schedule of events and assignments.

President's Lecture Series

Students hear the perspectives and experiences of distinguished leaders from the business, nonprofit and government sectors.

At the end of each lecture, students have the opportunity to ask questions. Attendance at all presidential lectures is required.

Four to six lectures are scheduled each semester. They are held on Monday afternoons.

Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill, sponsored by Verizon

Students hear from and meet with Capitol Hill policymakers, including Members of Congress and their staffs.  The meetings provide opportunities for personal interaction and detailed discussions of policy, politics and legislation affecting students’ lives and communities.  Each student will attend one session.

Small Group Activities

Program advisors arrange activities to suit the interests of their small groups; includes site visits, briefings, tours, workshops, walking tours, and other activities.

Civic Engagement

Civic engagement can take many forms, from individual volunteerism to involvement with organizations or electoral participation.  It can include efforts to directly address an issue, work with others in a community to solve a problem, or interact with institutions of representative democracy. 

Students will develop a civic engagement project in consultation with their program advisor and peers, taking advantage of the many resources available in Washington, D.C.  Students will have the opportunity to play a role in effecting change in an area of personal or professional concern. 

Internship Portfolio

Each intern completes a portfolio (those in the Sophomore Exploration and Washington, D.C. Legal Externship Programs prepare a customized version).  Components include a statement of learning objectives, résumé, internship defense letter, analyses of lectures, informational interviews and other writing or work assignments.  Together, these components document, analyze and reflect on the internship experience. They are completed and reviewed week by week. The final product provides home institutions, prospective employers and graduate and professional schools impressive evidence of what interns have accomplished.

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