Working in an internship each week throughout the semester, you will contribute meaningfully to the work of a governmental office, nonprofit, or company working on agenda-topping public policy issues. Because most interns don’t arrive until summer, you are likely to be given extra responsibility very quickly.

In the past, students have interned for Congressional offices such as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U.S. Rep Jamie Herrera Beutler, and the Senate Republican Caucus; federal agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the National Defense University; consulting firms such as Grayling, VOX Global, and the Nueva Vista Group; policy shops at companies such as Facebook; and nonprofits such as Turning the Page and the Children’s Defense Fund.
 

Attention: International Students – If you are an international student studying at Duke on a visa (such as F-1), you will need to obtain the required CPT or OPT authorization for the internship that is a required part of this program. Please contact Duke Visa Services immediately for assistance.

Students will be housed in the Washington Intern Housing Network (WIHN) located on Capitol Hill. The housing is close to the United States Supreme Court, Union Station, Capitol South Metro and many other DC attractions.

Each student will live in a double bedroom in a group house. Note that other university students may be mixed in with the Duke students in the house. Each house has a kitchen and a washer and dryer unit. Students enrolled in the Duke in DC program should be aware that this is not dormitory style living, and residents will be responsible for keeping their living area clean and respecting their roommates along with other residents in the facility.

Meals: Meals are not offered as a part of the program, though evening courses feature catered dinners. We also have social gatherings, both as a class and with Duke alumni, during the course of the semester.

Transportation: The program subsidizes passes for DC’s excellent subway and bus system.

Site visits and other activities are integral to the program. At times we visit our speakers in their home environment. For example, students have met with the National Archivist in his private office and then enjoyed a private tour of the fascinating exhibits. We have also visited Congress members on Capitol Hill and journalists in their television studios.

Likewise, we regularly get out of the classroom to tour places that “bring home” themes covered in readings and class discussions. For example, during a class on social movements, we have visited the home of a famed abolitionist and suffrage leader; for a class on government response to crises, we have attended a panel on post-Katrina reforms in disaster preparedness. One special activity is our own self-designed, student-led tour of “the real DC,” in which each of us learns as much as possible about one of Washington’s eight wards and then serves as the class guide to these diverse neighborhoods.

Naturally, we also find time to be tourists, visiting world-famous attractions such as the U.S. Capitol (with the tour sometimes offered by one of our own students!), the White House, the Newseum, the National Zoo, and the city’s many renowned museums.

On basketball nights, you are free to attend “watch parties” with the large and welcoming Duke DC alumni group. For those who wish to return to campus, we offer tickets to one home game during the semester.

Attendance is required at all classes, excursions, and group events. Late arrival and/or early departure is not permitted.

• Arrival: January 6, 2024 
• Departure: April 28, 2024

Housing Before/After

You will need to make your own housing arrangements if you will be arriving before the program start date or leaving later than the program end date.

Deadline:  August 15 (1st round) late applications will be accepted on a case-by-case basis as program space allows

This program has rolling admission. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until the program fills; after that, qualified students are added to a waitlist and notified of openings. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered. After a review of the student applications, finalists will be invited to interview with program staff before selections are made.

Priority: Priority will be given to applicants who apply early and meet the prerequisites.

Minimum GPA: The minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) required for this program is 3.0.

International Students: If you are an international student studying at Duke on a visa (such as F-1), you will need to obtain the required CPT or OPT authorization for the internship that is a required part of this program. Please contact Duke Visa Services immediately for assistance.

Non-Duke students: Non-Duke students are welcome to apply for this program. You must be a degree-seeking student in good standing at an accredited college or university. Consult your university’s registrar and/or study away advisor for assistance with transfer credit. Students who are not matriculated at a college or university are not eligible to participate in Duke’s study away programs.

Before applying to this program, please take into consideration the light physical demands required by some of this program’s activities. Activities include walking moderate distances on sometimes hilly, uneven, and/or cobbled terrain, climbing up stairs, using public transportation, and standing during tours and site visits. If you have questions or are concerned about any of these activities, please contact the faculty program director.