Washington D.C. Internship

Remain fully enrolled at Occidental and earn 16 in-residence credits while conducting a full-time internship at a government agency, think-tank, non-governmental organization, or elected officials' offices.

Eligibility

  • Junior status during participation
  • Target GPA of 3.2 at the time of application
  • Appropriate and well-articulated scholarly purposes for participation demonstrated in all parts of the application
  • Neither on academic or disciplinary probation nor under investigation for code of conduct violations which may result in probation between application and departure
  • All holds must be cleared with campus departments and offices before leaving campus

This is a two-tier application process. You must apply both to IPO and to WII for approval.

Usually, a maximum of 8 credits (two courses) will be applied toward the POLS* major. Exceptions considered by the Chair on a case-by-case basis.

internship 8 credits
(4 credits College elective, 4 credits POLS internship)

Oxy students have interned at:

  • US Department of the Treasury - Office of Legislative Affairs
  • US Department of Justice - Criminal Division
  • Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
  • Ameson Education and Cultural Exchange Foundation
  • Office of Congressman Adam Schiff
  • Office of Senator Kamala Harris

internship seminar 4 credits - Reflections on Public Service, Leadership and Professional Development
(POLS elective)

thematic seminar 4 credits - select one course

  • US Foreign policy (equivalent to POLS major international relations requirement)
  • Inside Washington (equivalent to POLS American Politics major elective)

Interns share program apartments in Washington, DC, a short commute by Metro.
Meals are on your own in the apartment kitchen or at many restaurants.

As with Occidental at the United Nations, participants are charged Occidental tuition and a standard double room for the semester. The College pays the program fee to WII and rent. Meals are purchased on your own, but Financial Aid eligible students may have the cost of meals included in their total package. Consult with Financial Aid.

Program Advisor

Elizabeth Wiener, Associate Professor, Politics

Regina Freer, Professor, Chair, Politics

Program Contact
Robin Craggs, Executive Director, International Programs
Contact International Programs
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson 102
Phone: (323) 259-2533
Fax: (323) 341-4976
ipo@oxy.edu

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