Summary
The US onAir Network will be working with volunteers from DC metro universities, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to oversee the curation and moderators of posts, aircasts (online discussions), and in person events related to national US onAir Hub.
In this post, we have identified many of the university civic engagement, academic, internship programs, and research initiatives related to making democracy and civic responsibility a central aspect of higher learning. This post, over time, will have similar information on other participating organizations.
Contact ben.murphy@onair.cc for more information on how to involve your organization.
Virginia-DC Metro Universities
George Mason University
Civic Engagement Programs
Student Government
The Student Government (SG) office is in the Student Involvement section of the HUB on the Fairfax Campus. SG divisions include the Executive Branch, the Student Senate (Legislative) Branch, and the Elections and Disputes Commission. The Executive Branch includes Executive Boards such as the Parking Appeals Board, Student Funding Board, and the Student Dining Board.
Students are encouraged to attend meetings and share their views:
- The Executive Branch meets Thursdays at 7 p.m. For locations and updates, check the calendar.
- The Student Senate meets Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Find meeting locations in the calendar.
- The Student Funding Board meets Tuesdays at 3 p.m. in the Student Involvement office.
For more information, call 703-993-2909.
Internships
Schar School Undergraduates
Undergraduate Internship Program
Source: Webpage
Our Internship Program provides an opportunity for students to gain professional experience and skills to complement their academic program for career readiness. Whether you are interested in public policy, law, international relations, nonprofit, or business and political communications, the Schar School can help connect you with countless organizations that will broaden your skills, deepen your expertise, and help you build a meaningful professional network.
Where do you want to intern? Here are some recent placements:
- Campaigns
- Capitol Hill – member of Congress or Senator’s office
- City of Falls Church Police Department
- Defense Intelligence Agency
- Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
- Fairfax Circuit Court
- Law firms
- NASA
- National Associations of Counties
- Peace Corps
- Republican Attorneys General Association
- Stimson Center
- The Heritage Foundation
- The Institute of World Politics
- The Partnership for Public Service
- The White House
- U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Mission to the United Nations
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management
- United Way Worldwide
Schar graduate
Source: Webpage
The Schar School of Policy and Government Internship Program provides an opportunity for students to gain professional experience and skills that will complement their academic program and enhance their career opportunities. The program also is intended to support area organizations by allowing employers to work with graduate students in an effort to increase recruiting success.
The internship program is open to all degree seeking Schar School Master’s students who have completed a minimum of 9 credits of required coursework with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. Students in the MPP and ODKM programs who do not have at least two years of relevant professional experience are required to complete a three-credit internship.
The Schar School Career Services does not place students in internships but is available to assist students with the search process. Additionally, the Schar School CareersNow contains information on available internships.
- Graduate Internship Program Packet (Spring 2021)
- Graduate Internship Program Packet (Fall 2020)
- International Internship Addendum Packet
- Requesting a waiver of the internship requirement
- PUAD 792 – Advanced Seminar in Applied Public Administration Research Waiver Packet
- Undergraduate Internship Program
Please contact Duane Bradshaw, or Brian Bar to discuss strategies in finding internships and full time positions.
Global Politics Fellow
Source: Webpage
The internship is a key component of the Global Politics Fellows program. The coursework is conveniently scheduled to allow students more time for a substantive internship. Students will intern three days a week, for twenty to twenty-five hours a week. This schedule increases the number of internships available to our Fellows and usually allows them to take on more responsibility. This makes Global Politics Fellows more of an asset for their host organization and gives the student enhanced learning opportunities. Internships are also great networking opportunities to learn more about a potential career field and gain contacts one can use when looking for a summer job and for their future job search after graduation.
Students will obtain their own internship with the help and support of the Fellows program and the Career Center. Internship host sites will likely include local and federal government offices, foreign embassies, non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations and think tanks. Internship duties often focus on advocacy, program support, communications, research and community outreach. Most internships will be unpaid, but students are also encouraged to pursue internships that offer a small stipend or a paid internship.
Global Politics Fellows will follow all of the current guidelines and requirements for internship credit set for George Mason University’s GLOA 495 and GOVT 496 courses.
Communication Internships
Source: Webpage
The Communication Department at George Mason University encourages and supports students who wish to complete an internship in a range of communication related positions, while earning academic credit. Internships act as a bridge to the workforce by offering students opportunities to gain valuable work experience, and obtain the tools needed to enter a professional environment.
The internship program pairs career management course work with the internship learning experience. Communication majors and minors spend approximately ten hours each week during the semester working with a sponsored on-campus or off-campus organization. Interns perform communication related supervised work. Positions can be paid or unpaid. The course can be taken a second time for academic credit.
The Washington, D.C. region has a wide range of internship opportunities. Students can work with a large corporation, small company or association. Communication internship related fields include: journalism, social media, marketing, public relations, sports, health, science, government, politics, public policy, education, research, human resources, administration, radio and television production.
Past and present internships include: national and local radio and television broadcast facilities, major and local newspapers, magazines, public relations companies, major sports teams, public school systems, George Mason University, industry corporate headquarters, non-profit organizations, national associations, foundations, health organizations, political campaigns, the U.S Congress, military organizations, the White House, and many national and local government organizations.. Mason students are highly regarded by area employers.
Academic Programs
Source: Schar School Website
MEET THE SCHAR SCHOOL OF POLICY AND GOVERNMENT
George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government prepares undergraduate and graduate students to be leaders and managers who solve problems and advance the public good in all sectors and levels of government—in the United States and throughout the world. Located where policy happens—just 3 miles from the Pentagon, 4 miles from The White House, and 6 miles from the U.S. Capitol Building—students are connected to jobs, internships, networking, and experiences that can only be found in the Washington, D.C., area.
Undergraduate Prorgrams
Launch Your Career with the Schar School
The Schar School combines prestige with practicality. Students can immediately build a foundation for rewarding and impactful careers in a location just a few miles from Capitol Hill and surrounded by major players in national and international policy-making.
A survey of 2018/2019 graduates found that 86% had confirmed post-graduate plans, such as a job or graduate school. Students begin building their careers on day one.
The Schar School has $800,000 in available student scholarship money. Incoming freshman are eligible for special scholarship funding through the Schar Scholars program.
Graduate Programs – Masters, PhD
With campuses in Arlington and Fairfax, Virginia, the Schar School of Policy and Government is located just minutes from Washington, D.C. The Schar School’s prime location in the heart of U.S. policy offers students unparalleled access to one-of-a-kind professional opportunities. Learning from professors with real-world experience, you will gain the applicable skills and the practical knowledge to lead government agencies and nonprofit organizations, develop public policies and programs, create innovative consulting solutions, and provide expert policy analysis.
The majority of programs are available on both a part-time and full-time basis with evening classes, allowing you to earn your degree without interrupting your career.
OUR MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS:Â
Master’s in Biodefense
Offered on-campus and online
This program will provide you with a foundation in microbiology and biotechnology combined with a broader security and organizational context. Graduates of this program are employed in biodefense and biosecurity, positions throughout academia, NGO’s, the security industry, and government.
Master’s in International Commerce and Policy
Offered on-campus and will be available online starting in Spring 2022
Broader than an MBA and more focused than a master’s in international affairs, George Mason University’s International Commerce and Policy master’s program will immerse you in the nexus of business, economics, international relations, and public policy.
Master’s in International Security
George Mason University’s International Security Program (I-SEC) prepares professionals to assess and manage traditional security threats and the emerging security challenges of the 21st century.
Master’s in Organization Development and Knowledge Management
In the Schar School’s Organization Development & Knowledge Management (ODKM) cohort master’s program, you will explore organizational development (OD) leadership theory and practice, the shift from hierarchical structures to group-based learning, and best practices to promote the creation of adaptive, collaborative work environments, and knowledge management (KM) strategies.
Master’s in Political Science
Deepen your understanding of political processes at all levels of government, improve your research skills, and gain a foundation in international relations, comparative politics, or American politics with the master’s in Political Science.
Master’s in Public Administration
Start your path toward a senior-level position in an organization that implements and manages public policies with the Master’s in Public Administration (MPA). Gain a comprehensive understanding of how leadership, management, policy, and politics intersect, along with the tools to enhance your communication, budgeting, and analytic skills.
Master’s in Public Policy
Gain the theoretical grounding and hands-on tools needed to address a vast range of public concerns, including terrorism, human trafficking, environmental hazards, and hunger with the Master’s in Public Policy (MPP).
Security Studies Programs
Our programs prepare students to become leaders who face down the country’s and the world’s largest challenges in policy, intelligence, terrorism, biodefense, emergency management, and diplomacy, among others.
PhD Programs
As a PhD student at the Schar School, you can study with eminent scholars in a wide variety of fields and conduct groundbreaking research to help you become a subject matter expert in your field and a key authority who influences public debate. Whether you desire to teach and do research at a university, lead a government or nonprofit organization, or craft innovative public policies and programs, we will prepare you to be the leader and academic you want to be.
The Schar School offers three doctoral programs (each available on a part-time or full-time basis) – a PhD in Biodefense, a PhD in Political Science, and a PhD in Public Policy. To learn more about our programs, visit the below program pages, or contact our Office of Graduate Admissions at schar@gmu.edu or (703) 993-8099.
PhD in Biodefense
PhD in Political Science
PhD in Public Policy
Other Undergraduate Programs
Source: Global Affairs Webpage
Innovative Study for an Interconnected World
Located in the DC Metro area, Mason offers you access to the cultural, political, academic, and employment resources of America’s most global city. Mason’s Global Affairs program transforms students into world citizens with a skill set that will position them for success in a rapidly globalizing world.
Our students interact with distinguished faculty committed to ground-breaking research with a global focus from multiple disciplines, and have opportunities to both work and study abroad.
Research Initiatives
Source: Research Webpage
George Mason University conducts research that goes beyond the desire to know and understand; we want to make a difference. Research is vital to expanding our knowledge, sparking new ideas, and developing innovative techniques that have an impact on society, the economy, and the environment. It’s a critical part of the university’s purpose and mission.
University of Virginia
Civic Engagement Programs
Source:Â Website
Fostering Democratic Principles and Practices
Democracy faces enormous challenges in our local communities, our nation, and across the globe. UVA is committed to being a university that responds to those pressures by researching best practices and supporting democratic engagement. Three major units focus on public service to the Commonwealth (Weldon Cooper Center), presidential scholarship, public policy and political history (Miller Center), and civic education and political participation (Center for Politics) while numerous units embedded in the schools support civic engagement and well-being in more discrete areas.
Weldon Cooper Center
Miller Center
Center for Politics
National Security Policy Center
Karsh Center
Center for Effective Lawmaking
Center for Health Policy
Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy
Democracy Initiative Website
Center for Media and Citizenship
Commpas Website
Student Government
Source: Website
History
Alumni
Executive Board
Cabinet
Resource Units
Gov Docs and Organization Chart
Internships
Source: Website
Internships can be:
- Full or part-time
- Paid or unpaid
- For academic credit or no credit
- During the academic semester or summer
While you can do an internship during your first or second year at UVA, some employers prefer students in their third year for more depth in coursework.
JUMP TO A SECTION
- Preparing to Search
- Internship Guidelines
- Deadlines
- Where to Search
- Consider Additional Ways to Gain Experience
Academic Programs
Source: Website
About
The Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics supports research and honors teaching that develop a critical understanding of national and international politics. Its distinguished faculty members seek to instill in their students a theoretical and practical appreciation of the ideas, institutions, and history that shape political life. The Department celebrates methodological pluralism: it seeks to promote an awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies so that students can evaluate and select the approaches most suited to exploring the research questions in which they are interested. The faculty and students approach these questions through a rich variety of topics, including democratization; liberalism and its critics; race, gender, and ethnicity; political economy; and the role of human rights international affairs.
The Department comprises five subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Methodology, and Political Theory. In addition, the Department has a formal working group focured on Race, Ethnicity, and Gender, made up of scholars from across the traditional subfields.
Bolstering the Department’s standing as a locus of rigorous empirical and theoretical research is its close affiliation with a number of research centers and institutions, including The Miller Center of Public Affairs, the Center for Politics, the Center for Survey Research, the Center for South Asian Studies, the East Asia Center, The Carter G. Woodson Institute for African-American and African Studies, ​the Department of Women, Gender & Sexuality (WGS), the Department of Media Studies , the Department of Middle-East & South Asian Languages & Cultures, the Department of Latin American Studies, and the Center for Russian and East European Studies (CRESS).
Respect for the Learning Environment
As stated in its official policy, “the University of Virginia is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory environment for all members of the University community.”
The Department of Politics is committed to a classroom learning environment that is respectful to all students and open to a full range of viewpoints. If any student has a concern about the conduct of an instructor within or outside the classroom, they are / she or he is welcome to raise this concern, with or without a chosen faculty advisor, with any of the following people, as listed on the Department’s Leadership webpage: the Department’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion, its Director of Graduate Studies, its Director of Undergraduate Programs, or the Department Chair.
The aim is to create a safe and confidential meeting environment. But in cases that may involve a violation of the University’s policies on sexual or gender-based harassment, students should be aware of reporting procedures and requirements (set out under Federal Law and known in shorthand as Title IX). These policies can be found at this site: https://eocr.virginia.edu/appendixb.
Undergraduate Programs
The Politics Department is home to more majors than any other Department in the College. On average since 2000, over 700 students each year have been concentrating in one of our two majors – Government or Foreign Affairs – for their College degree.
A Politics degree enables students to approach life after college with a critical eye, an analytic edge and sensitivity to the concerns of people all over the world. Our two majors stress the acquisition of analytical and critical thinking skills; we teach students to construct arguments of their own about our political world. We hope our courses and our faculty unsettle our students a bit, creating a habit of skepticism about received wisdom. Perhaps more important, we strive to help our students develop their own ideas, support them with evidence, and put them into words and numbers that will engage and persuade their peers, their co-workers and their fellow citizens.
Students who major in the Politics Department follow many different paths after they graduate. Most of our students join the labor force upon graduation. Many students work in government itself, in public service, journalism, or in other closely related fields. An increasingly large percentage of students go on to graduate work, in one of the academic disciplines, or in policy, law or other professional schools around the country.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Politics offers both Ph.D. and terminal M.A. degrees with concentrations in American Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Politics, and International Relations.
The aim of graduate training in the Department is to equip graduates with a critical understanding of the practical and theoretical dimensions of national and international political processes and institutions, and to provide a diverse package of analytical and methodological skills. Programs are designed to prepare students for careers in teaching and research, as well as public and the private sector.
The University of Virginia’s Department of Politics has a number of distinctive strengths and rare qualities that make it a very attractive place to do graduate work.
Our faculty is intellectually diverse yet we share a commitment to exploring vital political questions in depth. We probe contemporary developments with careful attention to the ideas, institutions, and history that animate politics in the United States and the world. We have strengths in all major areas of political science and a corresponding commitment to methodological pluralism. We train students to match the appropriate methodology to the question at hand.
Beyond the traditional subfields, our distinguished faculty have a number of strengths that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Among many other areas, the Department has particular strength in democratic theory, political development, political institutions, and international security. We give students the opportunity to explore important themes broadly, even as they undertake a rigorous regimen within the conventional subfields of political science.
The Department of Politics participates actively in the College’s Quantitative Collaborative, an interdisciplinary initiative designed to bring together scholars with interests in quantitative methods and research from across the social sciences. Other partnerships include the Center for Politics, Miller Center, National Security Policy Center, Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy, and the UVA Food Collaborative. We hope our web page will help to answer whatever questions you may have about the Department of Politics and its graduate program. If you desire to know more, please do not hesitate to contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Phil Potter.
Research Initiatives
Source: Website
Strategic Research and Discovery
Office of the Vice President for Research (VPR) mission is to advance knowledge and serve the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world through research, scholarship, creative arts, and innovation to enable discoveries that enrich and improve lives.
The office is responsible for the strategic vision for research, developing and executing initiatives to accomplish the vision, as well as the various compliance and support areas. VPR works to catalyze, support and safeguard UVA research.
The VPR is seed funding research with a strategy of moving research from promising to preeminent and supporting UVA’s Strategic Plan.
PATHWAYS TO RESEARCH PREEMINENCE
Collectively, UVA’s research productivity, quality, and impact are strong but could be even stronger. To help us move from prominent to preeminent in research, we will focus on a discrete set of pressing challenges and opportunities that require collaboration across disciplines and schools and where UVA can be an international leader in important fields of research.
We have identified five priority areas that represent major societal challenges and opportunities and draw on our existing strengths: Democracy, Environmental Resilience and Sustainability, Precision Medicine, the Brain and Neuroscience, and Digital Technology and Society. In each area, we will take a coordinated approach through institutes, centers, and labs to amplify the impact of our faculty’s work.
Virginia Tech
Source: University Website
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: Webpage
VT Engage is Virginia Tech’s center for service learning, leadership education, & civic engagement.
Our vision is to equip civic leaders to create a more just world.
​Our mission is to facilitate leadership, service learning, ​and civic engagement experiences that ​advance community priorities, ​contribute to student development, ​and embody Ut Prosim (That I May Serve.) ​
We invite Virginia Tech students of any major to sign up for any of our programs to #ExperienceUtProsim.
Our core values shape our approach to our work and the experiences we facilitate with campus and community partners:
- Increasing equity in every aspect of our work
- Investing in mutually beneficial partnerships
- Developing self-understanding and leadership identity
- Advancing community-engaged scholarship.
Learn more about our work.
Student Government
Source: Student Senate Transition Page
Learn more about the Undergraduate Student Senate (USS) Transition Team
The 12-person USS Transition Team is responsible for the creation of foundational documents, processes, and ways of operating that help usher in a positive future for the undergraduate student voice.
Internships
Source: Website
Internships are one of many ways to get experience during college.
- The majority of our graduates had career-related experience during college.
- Even so, over 1/3 wish they had gotten more!
Seek multiple types of experience, including field study, part-time jobs, summer jobs, volunteering, service-learning, shadowing, para-professional opportunities, co-op, undergraduate research, extracurricular involvement and leadership. Depending on your major and career field, other terminology and types of experience may be applicable.
Internship Basics
Finding
Applying
Maintaining Student Status
Preparing for your internship
Maximizing your experience
Reflecting about your experience
Telling your internship
Academic Programs
Source: Webpage
Our faculty publishes leading-edge research in a wide variety of fields. Â We prepare students to understand domestic and international affairs. Our areas of focus include national security and foreign policy, legal studies, environmental affairs, world politics and policy, global development, and international business.
Our department offers five majors: political science, international public policy, international relations, international studies and national security and foreign affairs. In the political science major, you can choose from four options: legal studies option, political theory option, national security option or the general option.
Undergraduate
Our program prepares you to understand, analyze, and participate in governments, policy, and politics in the United States and around the world. Graduates pursue careers in governmental, nonprofit, and business organizations and attend prestigious graduate and professional schools.
International Public Policy Major
Our program emphasizes the role of international organizations in global economy and development. You will think critically about governance and political economy, environment and development, and international public health.
We focus on international interactions and offer you a comparative perspective on the contemporary global system. You will think creatively about complex global problems in the analysis of political, societal, cultural, ethical, and normative aspects of international relations.
The international studies major provides a multidisciplinary approach to the study of international affairs with an emphasis on foreign language proficiency. You will learn how to design policies and strategies to manage international challenges.
National Security and Foreign Affairs Major
Our program provides a hands-on, practical approach to understanding the broad range of threats to national and global security in the 21st century. You will examine U.S. strategy and foreign policy to analyze threats that challenge security both at home and abroad.
Graduate Program
Our graduate study program is designed to provide students with a firm, broadly based grounding in the discipline of political science and a strong foundation in social science research methodologies. The Master of Arts Program covers all subfields of the discipline, and it prepares students for careers in academic life and government such as pursuing a doctoral degree in political science or entering a career in a public agency, non-profit organization or private research organization. Our graduates have taken professional positions in government agencies, and political organizations, and gone on to further study in the ASPECT program and other doctoral programs at Virginia Tech and elsewhere.
Research Initiatives
Source: Webpage
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation enriches, supports, cultivates, and champions research, innovation, creative activities, and scholarship that seeks to make the world a better place.
District of Columbia universities
John Hopkins DC
School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
SAIS’s mission is to provide an interdisciplinary professional education for the next generation of global leaders; and to foster scholarship and public engagement which contribute to addressing the pressing international challenges of the 21st century.
JHU School of Government and Policy
The school will be co-located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue with our School of Advanced International Studies  (SAIS)… The school will also draw on the work of existing government-strengthening ventures at Johns Hopkins,with deep connections …  Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Applied Physics Laboratory, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, and many other divisions of the University. It will also be part of a reciprocal connection between Baltimore and Washington that allows our Baltimore-based faculty and students to easily and effectively bring their ideas and expertise to Washington.
Georgetown University
Source: University Website
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: Website
Georgetown University is the nation’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit university and we have a deep history of education in the Jesuit tradition. Our commitment to the common good–to engaging productively and positively with our communities locally and globally–is at the heart of this tradition.
The Office of Community Engagement helps to fulfill Georgetown’s commitment to the common good in the District of Columbia and the metropolitan region. The office supports the university’s growth and economic development efforts, including master planning; facilitates and develops relationships with community organizations, local governments, and civic organizations; supports community-based research and scholarship; and strengthens the university’s partnership with our neighbors.
Student Government
Source: Webpage
Participation in student government provides a valuable opportunity for learning more about the University and the role students play in advocating for change, support, and resources. Unifying Georgetown’s diverse student community and their collective voices are the Georgetown Undergraduate Student Association and the Graduate Student Organization.
Internships
Source:Â Cawley Career Education Center
Washington, DC, is more than the center for political power. Through internships, students can explore many professions, not just politics. Students gain real-world experience by working with the federal government, the DC government, nonprofits, think tanks, private businesses, news organizations, and museums.
Students can search for internships through the Cawley Career Education Center. Before beginning an internship, it is important to speak to your dean about the options for earning credit related to your internship.
The College does not directly award credit for participation in internships. However, we do award credit for courses that combine a student’s internship experience with intellectual reflection. The College offers a one-credit pass/fail course for College sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good standing: IDST-315 College Internship Experience. Students may take this course for credit more than once, but only 1 credit will count toward the Georgetown degree (the limit of 1 credit includes credit from MGMT-311, a similar course taught in the MSB). IDST-315 may be taken in the fall or spring semester. A student who has a summer internship may enroll in IDST-315 in the subsequent fall semester.
Students may also seek faculty sponsorship for intellectual reflection related to an internship in the form of a tutorial. Tutorials require faculty, department, and dean’s office approval and the credits vary based on the tutorial.
The College also offers other internship-based courses:
- ARTH-470 Museum Internship
- ARTS-470 Art Internship
- HIST-101 & HIST-102 History Internship Tutorial
- JOUR-350 Media Techniques
Community-Based Work
Through collaboration with the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching, and Service, the College offers a number of community-based learning (CBL) courses. These three and four-credit classes fully integrate community work with academic coursework. Students typically work with nonprofit organizations in the Washington, DC area. CBL courses have included Social Entrepreneurship: Leading Social Change, Introduction to Justice and Peace, Foundations in Education, and Social Justice Documentary.
Through the CSJ, students may also add a 4th-credit option for social action. Students apply their work with disadvantaged or underrepresented individuals to a course, with approval from the CSJ and their professor.
Academic Programs
Source: Webpage
The Department of Government is an open, dynamic, and publicly engaged community of scholars, students, and professional staff. We believe in the ideal of scholarship for its own sake but are also deeply committed to the role of cutting-edge research in informing politics and public life
The department has a strong tradition in the major subfields of political science: American politics, political theory, international relations, comparative politics, and political economy. Our Ph.D. program trains new generations of scholars to tackle some of the most pressing conundrums in political and social life. They go on to become academics in the world’s leading colleges and universities as well as to positions of influence in government and global affairs. Our four master’s degrees offer challenging, policy-oriented programs focused on such issues as democracy, conflict, development, and U.S. politics at the federal, state, and local levels. Through jointly appointed faculty and shared programming, the department has strong links to Georgetown’s other major units concerned with politics and policy: the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, the McCourt School of Public Policy, and the Georgetown Law Center.
Our position in Washington, DC—an international city, the national capital, and a vibrant urban metropolis with its own cultures and histories—offers our students an unrivaled opportunity to engage directly in political life. Whether attending a Supreme Court session, interning at the World Bank, reading under the dome of the Library of Congress, or working to counter poverty in a DC neighborhood, our students have the opportunity to build a life that values both intellectual exploration and deep engagement with the world.
Undergraduate
Major in Government
Major in Political Economy
Graduate
M.A. in American Government
M.A. in Conflict Resolution
M.A. in Democracy & Governance
M.A. in Development, Management, and Policy
Research Initiatives
Source: Website
We are a global research community collaborating across our campuses and around the world. As people for others, our students and professors seek the truth to solve problems locally and globally. We’re probing major health and science frontiers and tackling data to shape public policy and understand how society can use technological advances for good. From bench to bedside and practice to policy we are innovators, incubating ideas to improve our communities and inform policy. We share ideas and shape the future.
George Washington University
Source: University Website
Civic Engagement Programs
Source:Â Center for Civic EngagementÂ
The mission of the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service is to integrate civic engagement into George Washington University’s educational work. We promote equity and active citizenship in a diverse democracy, focus GW’s resources to address community needs through reciprocal partnerships beyond the campus, and enhance teaching, learning, and scholarship at GW.
Student Government
Source:Â Student Association
The mission of The George Washington University Student Association is to further the interests and promote the welfare of all students at GW. Our responsibilities are defined in four ways: to advocate, allocate, advertise, and assist.
Internships
Source: Internships and Career Services
When you study in the heart of the nation’s capital, your dream internship isn’t hard to find. Walk from our Foggy Bottom Campus to monumental locations like the White House, U.S. State Department, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Take the Metro to Capitol Hill, anywhere in the city or explore neighboring Virginia and Maryland. Find opportunities at embassies near our Mount Vernon Campus. According to Princeton Review, there’s no better school than GW in the nation to find your dream internship.
As an intern in government, nonprofit, media, research, the arts and beyond, you’ll use what you learn in the classroom to actively address some of our generation’s most important issues. Undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to put their knowledge into action while preparing for life after graduation with one of our more than 12,000 yearly internship opportunities.
At GW, we empower you to find the internship of your dreams, whether it is paid or not. Apply to the Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund for a grant to pursue an unpaid internship. The Center for Career Services offers career coaching, self-assessment, online resume and cover letter development, and assistance with networking and interviewing. Students and alumni discover their talents and interests, decide on an academic major, explore industries and career options and create an effective job search strategy.
Academic Programs
Source: Department of Political Science
The Department of Political Science at the George Washington University offers students a unique opportunity to not only study politics and policy but to witness it in action. Whether interning on Capitol Hill, observing Supreme Court arguments or meeting the nation’s top journalists, students are immersed in all that Washington, D.C., has to offer.
With academic programs and research structured around six core strengths, the department covers a comprehensive range of political behavior and governance in the United States and across the globe. Our faculty are nationally published experts and mentors from diverse fields.
Through challenging courses and hands-on research, undergraduate and graduate students examine political problems from all angles and develop creative, policy-based solutions.
Research Initiatives
Source: Webpage
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, how do we find strength in numbers? Do low-calorie sweetened beverages really sour children’s health? Can we stop the spread of hate online by putting it on the map? What can we do to keep the Earth from being haunted by ghost forests? What happens when tourists meet tribes in Petra, Jordan? What could Jane Goodall teach people 100 years from now? Can the intersection of research, advocacy and filmmaking help turn up the heat on climate activism? Is it possible to silence schizophrenia?
These are just some of the questions that researchers at the George Washington University are trying to answer, but the possibilities for what they will discover are limitless. Home to traditional disciplines as well as more than 70 centers and institutes, our research spans science, technology, health, policy, global security, arts and humanities. Our faculty are driving progress in many different fields — everything from advancing human health and improving current technologies to expanding our understanding of the universe. But no matter what the field, given our influence in the nation’s capital, the work conducted here is sure to have an impact far beyond our campus.
With support from the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), cross-disciplinary work is highly encouraged. OVPR facilitates the interdisciplinary research performed by several institutional research initiatives.
GW’s research enterprise has been growing over the past decade, and in 2015, we opened Science and Engineering Hall (SEH), the epitome of GW’s investment in infrastructure that enables cutting-edge research and teaching.
GW’s unparalleled location and state-of-the-art facilities encourage students, faculty and staff to cultivate new collaborations and innovative solutions as they work with fellow researchers and policymakers alike.
If you’re destined to make a discovery, you’ll be right at home at GW. Here opportunities are endless and our partnerships with powerful institutions are longstanding.
American University
Source: University Website
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: CCES Webpage
The Center for Community Engagement and Service (CCES) is AU’s hub for community outreach, volunteering and service-learning opportunities in Washington, DC and beyond. Being part of the DC community is an important part of the student experience at AU, and CCES is where students come to connect.
You can tutor DC students with DC Reads. Earn class credit with volunteer work through the Community Service-Learning Program (CSLP). Participate in or lead a domestic or global service experience through the Alternative Breaks Program. You can even turn your passion into a project with an Eagle Endowment.
Student Government
Source: AU Student Government
Student Government serves American University through advocacy and programming. Led by an executive board, it is home to the Senate, Kennedy Political Union, Student Union Board and Women’s Initiative. To learn more about each branch of Student Government and their work for the campus community, visit ausg.org.
Internships
Source: AU Internships
The Career Center is a leader in experiential education and thrives on facilitating connections between students and employers.
With more than 91% of AU undergraduates and 56% of graduate students completing one or more internships before graduation, our career advisors are adept in helping students to identify and maximize meaningful internships. Advisors’ recommendations for students translate into best practices for employers.
Academic Programs
Source: AU School of Public Affairs
The School of Public Affairs has numerous programs at the undergraduate and the graduate level for interested students to enroll in. Follow the link in the source to learn more.
Research Initiatives
Source: Research at American University
There are many ways to connect with AU research! Learn about externally sponsored awards from government agencies and foundations received by faculty to conduct impactful research. Listen to podcasts such as SIS Big World that shines a spotlight on complex ideas and issues that matter and Faculty Cross Talks that focuses on pandemic misinformation & inequalities. Follow us on Twitter for research highlights and upcoming events.
Catholic University
Source: University Website
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: Service Opportunities
Whatever your interest or passion, there are weekly service opportunities for you to get involved at Catholic University. Find out how you can help some of our neighbors in Brookland or in the wider D.C. community.
Student Government
Source: Student Government Association
Welcome to The Catholic University Student Government Association. This is your chance to have a voice to the administration and get involved. Look around this site to learn about our branches, meet your representatives, and find your place to leave a mark!
Internships
Source: Center for Academic and Career Success
We work with all students and alumni in achieving their career objectives by assisting in the job and internship search process. We utilize a variety of tools that post jobs and internships targeting Catholic University students and help to identify positions in your field of interest in the U.S. and world-wide.
Additionally, our office coordinates the Federal Work-Study Program, several career fairs, and can assist you with identifying possible careers, creating resumes & CV’s, cover letters and networking strategies to help you in this process.
Academic Programs
Source: Department of Politics
Studying politics at The Catholic University of America is an opportunity to be immersed in a rewarding, exciting, and relevant major in the most prominent political city in the world, on the largest university campus in the city, in one of the largest departments of the University.
The Department of Politics at Catholic University offers a dynamic and rigorous educational experience that considers the cultural, historical, ethical, and theoretical foundations of political studies.
Research Initiatives
Source: Webpage
At The Catholic University of America, our faculty and students are immersed in a culture of research. In fact, every year, we spend a whole day celebrating the work going on at the University in our annual Research Day. Whether you’re an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student, opportunities abound for you to participate in cutting-edge research projects in every program of study.
Howard University
Source: University Website
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: Howard Forward
Student Government
Source: Student Affairs
Exemplars of Servant Leadership
The Howard University Student Association (HUSA) is more than just the student government on Howard’s campus. HUSA is the eyes, ears and voice for the Student Body. Since it was established in 1961, HUSA has aimed to become a mechanism for effective change on Howard’s campus.
Functioning as a rallying point for activists and academics alike, HUSA’s purpose is to provide input into the University’s decision-making process; to act as a spokesperson for the students; and to maintain communications concerning students’ interests and concerns in all of the university’s schools and colleges.
Internships
Source: Howard University
Academic Programs
Source: Department of Political Science
At the Intersection of Scholarship and Activism
We teach students all angles of government, politics, and public policy and how to use that knowledge to improve their world.
Research Initiatives
Source: Office of Research
Mission Driven
Howard University has been highly active in numerous areas of research that have inspired generations of faculty and students to seek solutions to the human dilemma – particularly as this concerns communities of color and historically disenfranchised communities. To name a few, these research areas include, cancer research, research on Africa and the African American diaspora, sickle cell research, clinical trial studies, research on criminal justice reform, atmospheric science, genomics research and health disparities. In addition, an underlying focus of each area of research will often include a focus on public policy and research-based best practices in community engagement.
University of the District of Columbia
Source: University Website
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: UDC Foundation
Student Government
Source: UDC SGA
The undergraduate students of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), recognizing the need for a governing body to promote the concerns and welfare of the undergraduate student community and to assure undergraduate student representation pertaining to student life and development and hereby propose to the Board of Trustees this Charter.
Internships
Source: Internships Webpage
One of the best ways to gain experience and make connections with potential  employers is through internships and fellowships. UDC now posts opportunities that could possibly match your interests, experience and skills at two locations . Go to the UDC Facebook or to Internships. These sites provide information on many fellowships and or  internships available during the school year and in the summer.
Academic Programs
Source: Political Science Program
The Political Science Program at UDC prepares students to serve our communities and change the world. Our graduates pursue careers in government, global affairs, education, law, community activism, public communication, and research. Our Political Science curriculum is rich in experiential opportunities including the American Democracy Project, Washington Model Organization of American States, Congressional internships, institutional and community service internships, and our Citizen Diplomat Program. Majors in the UDC Political Science Program acquire marketable skills in effective writing and communication, analyzing social problems and offering solutions. UDC Political Science graduates have professionally distinguished themselves at a global level, including directly assisting presidents of national governments and managing nation-wide university systems. Political Science majors are empowered to become engaged and active citizens attaining rewarding careers in public affairs in support of our communities at the local, national, and global levels.
Research Initiatives
Source: Research at UDC
The University of the District of Columbia, a Historically Black College and University and the only urban land grant institution in the nation, implements comprehensive, research-oriented initiatives. UDC is the only public university located in Washington, D.C., and has a legacy of extraordinary, innovative, and diverse research initiatives. These initiative are conducted through centers, institutes, and programs in the fields of sciences, social sciences, engineering, humanities and agriculture. For further information on our research capabilities and partnership opportunities, please contact our Vice President for Research & Graduate Programs.
Maryland universities
University of Maryland in College Park
Source: University Website
Civic Engagement Programs
Source:Â Office of Community Engagement Webpage
The Office of Community Engagement facilitates connections between the University of Maryland and its surrounding neighbors. Â Established in 2012, the office has contributed to the University of Maryland public service mission by creating mutually beneficial education, business, government, and community partnerships.
Get informed, get involved, get engaged!
Student Government
Source:Â Student Government Association
The SGA is the premier student-led governing body at UMD, representing over 30,000 undergraduate students. Through initiatives, bills and outreach, the organization constantly works to improve our campus and community.
Internships
Source:Â Career Center – Internships
An internship is a monitored work experience that has intentional learning outcomes and goals for students. Internships:
- Consist of educationally enriching projects with learning objectives, quality training and supervision, and regular feedback.
- Can be a semester, summer, or even year-long program.
- Have assignments and projects that are related to the student’s major or career interests. A minimal amount of an intern’s assignments should include clerical work.
Academic Programs
Source:Â Government and Politics Website
The Department of Government and Politics emphasizes such broad areas as political development, policy analysis, social justice, political economy, conflict, and human rights. These broad conceptual areas are integral components of study in the discipline. The areas are commonly referred to as American government and politics; comparative government; political theory; international relations; public administration; public law; public policy and political behavior.
Research Initiatives
Source:Â Division of Research
The University of Maryland research enterprise generates groundbreaking discoveries that impact the lives of people in our state, nation and the world. From breakthroughs that advance and improve human health outcomes to new technologies that keep our community, nation and planet safe, the 18 schools and colleges at the University of Maryland make lasting and innovative solutions to the most critical challenges facing our society.
John Hopkins University
Source: University Website
Civic Engagement Programs
Source:Â Community Engagement
The Center has become a leader in stakeholder-engaged research and practice.  We engage with and include a diverse set of stakeholders including researchers, health system professionals, patients, community representatives, policy makers, and funders.
Student Government
Source:Â Student Government Association
The Johns Hopkins Student Government Association (SGA) is the primary representative body for Hopkins Undergraduates. The mission of the SGA is to “strengthen student unity, represent student interests, and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas.” We want to represent “you,” the student body, to the administration, and ensure that the voices of students are being heard.
Internships
Source:Â Career Services
Advanced Academic Programs offers resources to support your professional success, regardless of where you are in your career or your job search.
Academic Programs
Source:Â The Department of Political Science
The programs of the political science department are designed to help students attain a deeper understanding of politics in its various dimensions. The department encourages students to become sophisticated theoretically and to study politics in global and comparative perspectives. Students can focus on American politics, law and politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory, but we hope all students will acquire fluency in several of these areas.
The undergraduate program offers a broad range of courses about politics and government at local, state, national, and international levels. In addition to taking courses, students can do independent research under the guidance of individual faculty members.
Research Initiatives
Source:Â Undergraduate Research
As America’s first research university, we have been tackling difficult questions and finding answers since 1876.
Every day, our faculty and students work side by side in a tireless pursuit of discovery, continuing our founding mission to bring knowledge to the world. Whether you study engineering, chemistry, music, anthropology, or all of the above, every student here—no matter his or her major—is an investigator.
