Washington D.C. Internship

IU Internship in Politics, Opportunity, Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship

The IU Internship in Politics, Opportunity, Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship (IU POLS DC) is a semester-long mentored internship program in Washington, D.C. The program provides students from all academic backgrounds the skills, guidance and experiences needed to pursue meaningful careers. Whether your focus is in Political Science or another social science, in the humanities, business, or the arts, IU POLS DC prepares you to find, apply for, and secure the kind of job that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning.

What is a “mentored internship?”

In a mentored internship, we provide you with guidance and coaching every step of the way—from the moment you decide that you want to spend a semester in D.C. until you move back home. Prior to going to D.C., you will take a career readiness/professional development course (POLS X-299) that prepares you for the semester ahead with resume workshops, networking and LinkedIn tips, emotional intelligence coaching, job hunting skills, and professional ethics—everything you need to enjoy a successful semester in D.C. and smoothly transition from student to professional. While you are in D.C., you will earn internship credit by taking 6 hours of POLS X-477 with a faculty supervisor with whom you will communicate weekly about how the internship is progressing and who is available for consultation and coaching as needed. For those who find their professional feet quickly, the mentoring aspect will fade to the background but for those who want a safety net or a mentor on call, it is available as needed.

How does it work?

You should apply for the program a full year before you hope to go to D.C. If you are admitted, you will enroll in the section of POLS-X 299 (career development class) reserved for IU POLS DC students the semester before you go. The central objective of X299 is to sharpen your job search skills and your readiness for the professional world while you apply for and secure your job for the following semester. Once you’re in D.C., the program provides 12 hours of IU credit, including 6 hours of credit for the internship that you obtained while taking X299 and two 300-level IU Political Science courses taught at the Willard Office Building on Pennsylvania Ave. We also arrange an authentic D.C. living experience in a charming townhome within the Capitol Hill security area. You will live only blocks from the Supreme Court, the House, and Senate.

You’ll have the semester of a lifetime while gaining job experience and networking opportunities. Open the doors to your future while maintaining full-time IU student status and financial aid.

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Spend a Semester in Washington, D.C.

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Program details

Enroll in the IU POLS DC section of POLS-X 299—the two-hour professional development class during the semester before you go.
Semester-long internship in Washington, D.C. that provides 12 credit hours (6 credits for the internship; 6 credits for two 300-level IU Political Science courses taught in D.C. by IU faculty).
Eligibility: All undergraduate students from freshmen to senior standing at IU Bloomington are encouraged to apply, although you must have at least sophomore standing by the time you plan to be in D.C. This includes students from the Kelley School of Business, the Media School, the College, and the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required, though exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Live in a town home in a double occupancy room.
Have a great time, learn new skills, and return with the proficiency and contacts you need to find a fabulous job.
The cost: your regular IU tuition plus the cost of housing—for 2026 that will be $5,250 (plus $400 nonrefundable processing fee), billed through IU. You will pay the entire sum on your Bursar bill at the start of the semester. Food is not included in that price.

How is the IU POLS DC Program different from other programs offered on campus?

There is a prep class to get you ready and help you develop the specific skills necessary to land a great job in D.C.
The internship is mentored; no one here expects you to do this on your own until you are ready.
It enables you to get College of Arts and Sciences credit that counts toward your major (if you are in Political Science) or that can earn you most of a minor—often requiring as few as two additional classes—if you are not.
It includes group-living in Capitol Hill townhouses—offering you the opportunity to develop important social skills and to create bonded, lifelong friendships.

Housing information

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