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Office of International Programs

United States: Washington DC Semester Internship Program

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Intern in the Capital!

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Overview

This competitive program at American University lets students intern in Washington D.C. while taking seminars that highlight guest speakers from the realms of politics, law, international business, journalism, economic policy, peace and conflict resolution, and more. This program is excellent for students interested in international relations and political science.

  • 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 submitted on-time, are edited before submission, 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
  • American University requires students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in their program.

  • This program has a required advising session (30 minutes) as part of the application process. Please visit our home page to schedule an advising appointment.

Fall 2022

  • Aug 20 - 28: Welcome Week
  • Aug 29: First Day of Classes
  • Oct 14: Fall Break
  • Nov 23 - 27: Thanksgiving Break
  • Dec 9: Last Day of Classes and Internships
  • Dec 12 - 17: Exam Period 
  • Dec 17: Program End Date and move out

Spring 2023

  • Jan 12 - 15: Welcome Week
  • Jan 17: First Day of Classes 
  • TBD: Internship must begin no later than this date 
  • Mar 12 – 19: Spring Break 
  • May 1: Last Day of Classes 
  • May 4 - 10: Exam Period 
  • May 11: Program End Date 

Flight & Orientation

Students are responsible for booking their own flights. During the orientation program, students move into their housing, learn about the program, meet their fellow students and finalize course registration. The orientation wraps up with the Internship Bazaar where approximately 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. However, if you choose to participate in an international experience as part of your program, AU will assist with any visa paperwork as needed.

Courses

This program offers a number of concentration areas and students choose one area to focus on for the internship and core seminar.

Students on this program take the following courses:

  • Internship: The internship and accompanying course are designed to provide you with professional experience in your concentration area or a related field. You will have access to the program's internship network to search for your placement site.  During the first two weeks of the program, you will attend interviews and confirm your placement. 
  • Core Seminars:  The two core seminars are focused on your concentration area and utilizes guest exports and out-of-classroom visits to enhance the learning experience. You'll go "behind the scenes"; into the offices of most of the speakers to get a first-hand insider's view of the week's topics of discussion. Some of the speakers are big names and some are not, but one thing's certain, they are all major players at the local, national, and international levels.

Transfer of Credit

The internship and core seminars are worth 4 credits each for a total of 12 credits. Courses on this program appear on the Rollins transcript as transfer credit; the grades are displayed and are factored into the Rollins GPA.  It can take up to three months for grades to be processed and appear on the Rollins transcript. For information on approving courses for major/minor and General Education/rFLA requirements, and other academic policies, please visit our Academic Information page.

Housing

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.

Meals

There is no meal plan. Instead, apartments have kitchens and students cook for themselves.

The Student Association of Student Activities (SASA) organizes a variety of events for students in the school of Professional and Extended Studies at American University, including students from this program.  Past events include barbecues, a Super Bowl Watch Party, Second Chance Prom, Winter Masquerade Ball, Karaoke Night, Nationals game, themed food nights sponsored by Bon Appétit Catering and more. The organization also plans community service events, fundraisers for local/international organizations and bring 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: $29,150
  • Housing: $4,925

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.