Study In Washington DC

Partnering with Butler University, Centre sends students in the fall and spring to the nation's capital, where they complete internships and take courses that focus on the art and architecture of Washington and "Politics and Policy in our Nations Capital “. Typically, students work a regular workday (often 9 to 5) Mondays through Thursdays. For this, students receive six hours of internship credit. Occasionally, an internship will be paid, though students should not count on that, most internships are non-paid. The fall program will not run this fall 2023 but will be running in the spring of 2024.

Internship opportunities are available in a wide array of fields: students who have participated in the program have interned with the Speaker and Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, and CNN; the Holocaust and Air and Space Museums; Amnesty International and the Organization of American States; more than 20 Senators from both parties; the United Nations Foundation; the Pentagon, State Department, and Agency for International Development; the National Rehabilitation Center; and many law firms, think tanks and advocacy groups.

Centre in Washington D.C. Student Handbook

Eligibility

Housing

Students live in The Congressional on Capitol Hill in apartments that are fully furnished and include all utilities, Wi-Fi, kitchenware and cookware, central air, laundry facilities, and 24/7 security. No alcohol and no overnight guests are allowed. This ideal location is just across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court and a short subway ride away from all major residential, governmental, and commercial areas in and around Washington.

Dates

Internship Coordinator and Internship Placements: The DC internship coordinator will interview and work with each participant via phone, Skype, email, and/or in person to determine internships that best meet the academic and professional interests of the student and will assist with the application process for these internships if needs be. The coordinator's role is to suggest appropriate internship sites, assist students with their applications, and try to intervene to "boost" the student's chances, but students should note that neither the coordinator nor the Center for Global Citizenship can actually appoint internships. Internships are are worked through the CCPD and Sharon Duncan is the point of contact. Spring dates are Move in Saturday January 27, 2023 and move out Saturday, May 4, 2023. Once the course is over in your D.C. program, students are NOT to return to campus until the following semester. Students at Centre are still in classes and your course has now ended so you may Not be housed on Centre's Campus for the remainder of that spring semester.

Cost

Students pay a $375 non-refundable deposit due by 29 March, 2023 plus their expenses of getting to Washington. Students on need-based financial aid with large gaps may qualify for some financial help from the Center for Global Citizenship. Participants will not pay the usual "board" fee (part of room-and-board) for the semester they're in D.C. and will instead use that money for their meals while there.

Courses

Students take two three-credit courses: one in the "Art and Architecture of Washington" and the other called "The Congressional Experience: Policy Development and Strategic Engagement". These meet in the evenings, with field trips and other meetings on some weekends.

Normally, students also take three "Washington Weekend Seminars." These are one-hour, P/F courses on specific topics in and around Washington. They are taught by faculty members from Centre and Butler University who typically hold class Thursday evening with further discussion and site visits on Friday and Saturday (and sometimes on Sunday mornings). They have been very popular with students in the past, covering Political Polling, International Sports Marketing, the Federal War on Drugs, the Declaration of Independence, the History of the Holocaust Museum, the World after 9/11, US-Russian Relations, etc. Please note: Washington Weekend Seminars are suspended for Fall of 2022.

With the three weekend seminars and the 6-credit internship, students earn a total of 15 credit hours while in DC.