Office of International Programs
United States: Washington DC Semester Internship Program
“I would highly recommend this program to students seeking an impactful internship, professional connections, and political involvement in our Nation’s Capital.” - Rollins D.C. Alum
- There are limited places on this program -- it is highly competitive!
- Juniors and Seniors
- Clean record with the Office of Community Standards and good academic and College standing
- Professional application: materials are edited and submitted on-time and are thorough and thoughtful.
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Endorsement from the Faculty Director, Dr. Mike Gunter. You will need to prepare your preliminary proposal to share with Dr. Gunter
- Depending on your major, you may need to have completed specific course prerequisites in order to receive major credit for the internship
- Required advising session (30 minutes). Please visit our home page to schedule an appointment.
Fall 2023
- Aug 23 - 25: Orientation
- Aug 28: First Day of Classes
- Oct 14: Fall Break
- Nov 23 - 27: Thanksgiving Break
- Dec 8: Last Day of Classes and Internships
- Dec 11 - 16: Exam Period
- Dec 17: Program End Date and move out
Spring 2024
- Jan 6 - 10: Move in Window
- Jan 16: Internship starts and first Day of Classes
- April 29: Program End Date
- April 29- May 5:Move out window
Fall 2024
- Aug 16 - 20: Move in Window
- Aug 26: Internship starts and first Day of Classes
- Dec 6: Program End Date
- Dec 6- Dec 12:Move out window
Flight & Orientation
- Students are responsible for booking their own flights to DC.
- During the orientation program, students move into their housing, learn about the program, meet their fellow students and finalize course registration.
- The orientation week hosts an Internship Bazaar where 100 prospective internship employers come to campus to conduct on-the-spot interviews with interested students.
Visa
- No visa is needed since this program is based in the United States.
- If you choose to participate in an international experience as part of your program, AU will assist with any visa paperwork as needed.
Courses
Students on this program pick a particular concentration area (listed below) and then take the following courses:
- Internship and Internship Course: provide students with professional experience in their concentration area or a related field. Students use the program's internship network to search for a placement site: internship placements are confirmed during the first two weeks of the program.
- Two Core Seminars: focused on your concentration area and utilize guest exports and out-of-classroom visits to enhance the learning experience.
Students choose one cocentration area to focus on for the internship and core seminars:
- American Politics
- Foreign Policy
- Global Economics & Business
- International Law and Organizations
- Journalism & New Media
- Justice & Law
- Public Health
- Religion, Politics, Peace & Security
- Sustainable Development
Transfer of Credit
- The internship and core seminars are worth 4 credits each for a total of 12 credits.
- Students take three courses for a total of 12 credits.
- Grades appear on the Rollins transcript and are factored into the Rollins GPA.
- It can take up to three months for grades to be processed.
- Students can take major and minor courses abroad (with approval from the academic department) and can also take competencies and rFLA200-level seminars abroad (with approval from the Registrar).
- Students will choose off-campus housing from a selection offered by AU from the following: the Flats at Bethesda, 1301 Thomas Circle, or Meridian Mount Vernon.
- There is no meal plan. Instead, apartments have kitchens and students buy groceries and cook for themselves.
- Student Association of Student Activities (SASA): organizes events for students such as barbecues, a Super Bowl Watch Party, and Second Chance Prom.
- SASA also plans community service events, fundraisers for local/international organizations and host special guest speakers to the Tenley campus.
- Students also have access to other American University activities, events and facilities.
Program Fee
Most Rollins financial aid and scholarships will apply to the semester.
- Tuition: $30,290
- Housing: $5,115
Also Includes
Orientation, seminar activities and excursions, transportation pass for DC metro and bus, program administration, and emergency insurance.
Estimated Additional Costs
- Transportation: Round-trip airfare from FL $300
- Meals/food: $1,550
- Books, course materials, supplies: $200
- Personal expenses: $1,040
- Federal student loan fees if applicable: $40
- Professional licensure, certification or credentials costs: $0
Need-Based Scholarships
Since this program is US-based and does not involve extensive additional costs, scholarships are only available to off-set increased costs of accommodation for commuter students. Students can apply for scholarships through the Rollins program application.