I’m interested in politics/government and besides obviously schools located in Washington DC, I wanted to know which colleges offer good DC study abroad/internship programs, or other good political programs. Thanks in advance.
Hamilton offers a long-established D.C. program: https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/offcampusstudy/washington-program.
If you have an interest in world politics that might be enhanced through proximity to the U.N., you might also look into Hamilton’s New York City term: https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/offcampusstudy/nyc.
Wake Forest is in its second yr of Wake Washington. It’s an outstanding program. Wake purchased a prominent address on Dupont Circle which houses students and is used for classes. Students all have (a requirement) internships in DC (many with congress or think tanks) . They go to internship by day and attend lecture series / class in the evening. Have high profile guest lecturers (Madeleine Albright, Andrea Mitchell, etc. were speakers last year).
Hamilton and Wake are good recommendations. We loved the Hamilton campus (it is cold up there).
Three other schools that I think are outstanding for your area of interest: Dickinson College in PA (very beautiful too); Holy Cross in Worcester, MA; and William and Mary. Academics in general at these are as strong as anywhere. And specifically in your field of interest. And DC programs to boot. I always like to point out that Robert Gates, James Comey, Jen Psaki, John Stewart, and Serge Kovaleski (Pulitzer Prize winning NYT journalist) are all W&M grads (Glenn Close too). Jon Favreau (not the actor) was Obama’s top speechwriter not long after leaving Holy Cross.
http://blogs.dickinson.edu/twc/
https://www.wm.edu/offices/dccenter/
Good luck!
If you’re interested in International Politics, Diplomacy and World Affairs, Occidental College has a unique,
“Oxy at the UN” internship program, which includes time in DC:
https://www.oxy.edu/academics/areas-study/diplomacy-world-affairs/oxy-un
Tufts has a strong semester in Washington program in partnership with American University.
It includes:
2 days a week Internship
3 days a week meetings with “political elites”
An independent research project
https://as.tufts.edu/politicalscience/undergraduate/tuftsInWashington
Through the Tisch Colllege of Civic Life there is an internship program called “summer fellows” where one of the locations for internships is Washington DC
https://tischcollege.tufts.edu/education/tisch-summer-fellows
there is also a 3-year “civic scholars” program for developing civic leaders
https://tischcollege.tufts.edu/education/tisch-scholars
a distinguished speaker series related to political topics
https://tischcollege.tufts.edu/article-tags/distinguished-speaker-series
and special civics coursework
https://tischcollege.tufts.edu/education/courses
Through the Institute of Global Leadership (in conjuction with the Fletcher school) there is a one year colloquium (called EPIIC) that focuses on a current political theme of global scope. It includes speakers from around the world, research and internships, a weekend immersion and a symposium put on by the students, that draws from a worldwide community. This year’s topic was global migration.
https://www.tuftsgloballeadership.org/EPIIC-2019-Overview
Tufts is also the regional site for the US State Department diplomat in residence program which provides career guidance and access to internships.
https://ase.tufts.edu/ir/people/diplomatResidence.htm
Tufts also has one of the first cybersecurity/policy programs and symposiums. Cyber politics has become an important domain both nationally and globally.
https://sites.tufts.edu/cybersecurity/
https://sites.tufts.edu/cybersecurity/events/symposium-in-cybersecurity-policy/
James Madison University - Harrisonburg, VA. https://www.jmu.edu/polisci/washington.shtml
https://www.jmu.edu/polisci/washingtonglobal.shtml
Hamilton’s DC program is absolutely fabulous, I have a kid doing it right now.
My D’s friend at Lafayette who studied/was interested in politics went to American U in DC for a semester. Honestly I think many colleges will have a DC option – I would first select a group of colleges that look like good fits and then contact the study abroad office at each one to see if they have a program with a school in DC.