Academic Experience
The program includes a rigorous academic component made up of several required classes and assignments.
Public Policy Seminar
The Public Policy Seminar is a key component in students’ Washington study and internship experience. It is designed to help students articulate and synthesize their work experiences into generalized concepts and language consistent with an academic course. The Seminar also encourages students to apply the lessons learned in other settings, such as their internship. The Public Policy Seminar reviews the historical roots and context of the American system of government, the development of governing institutions, the roles of individuals, groups and parties in the political process, and the formation and structure of public policy as well as its impact on the workforce. The Professional Development Seminar provides students with the intellectual and practical skills needed to succeed in their own careers and to become informed and productive citizens.
Professional Development Seminar
The Professional Development Seminar provides students with a clear sense of the critical skills and professional competencies needed to successfully enter the workforce. As such, this seminar accommodates a larger number of guest speakers and on-site visits.
Capstone Research Project
The Capstone Research Project intends to be a culmination of all components of the program. It requires the student to identify a public policy topic and to write a research paper on this topic over the course of the semester. Students are expected to make extensive use of Washington, DC resources: materials and archives from their internship; congressional hearings and reports; executive agency reports and papers; and materials from political parties, interest groups, think tanks, international organizations, or the news media.
Professional Portfolio
The development of a Professional Portfolio provides an exceptional way for students to assemble samples of their best work as well as demonstrate the semester-long networking process in DC. Elements of the Portfolio include a career interview and essay, updated copy of resume, writing sample, contributions at the internship workplace and evidence of semester-long networking.
Useful Academic Resources
Washington, DC Program Research Guide. Your gateway to the extensive resources and services thoughtfully assembled by MSU's Library staff for your study experience in Washington, DC. With links to MSU's Distance Learning services and a focus on Public Policy research, this page guides you to thousands of online indexes, full-text journal articles, e-books and much more.
The Library of Congress. The official web site of the Library of Congress. The LOC is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world. The Library's mission is to make its resources available and useful to the Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations. Although LOC primarily serves the U.S. Congress, the Library welcomes the use of its facilities by researchers, although access to some collections may be more restricted.
Media Links
