Who is Eligible for the Davidson in Washington Program?

Davidson students in their sophomore or junior years may apply for the program. Freshmen with particular interest and background in politics may also apply, though preference is given ordinarily to upperclass students. Sixteen to twenty students are selected from among those who apply. Eligibility is NOT limited to political science majors; indeed, students who have yet to declare a major or who are non-majors are encouraged to apply. The only thing in common among participants, in fact, is an abiding interest in politics and a desire to spend part of the summer in Washington, D.C.

What is the Content of the Program?

Participants in the program take a seminar taught by a Davidson political science professor who lives in the Washington area for the duration of the program. The nature of the seminar is determined by the teaching interests of the resident professor. Past seminars have dealt with American politics, international politics, comparative politics, and political theory.

The seminar is a "regular" Davidson College course; that is, participants receive a letter grade and a full course credit for the seminar. Under most circumstances, the seminar meets in the evenings in a classroom on a local university campus. Seminars sometimes meet on Capitol Hill (in a U.S. House or Senate hearings room, for example) or in the offices of interest groups or trade associations.

Participants serve also as interns in Washington area offices. The diversity of internship experiences can hardly be exaggerated. Peruse the list of offices (below) in which Davidson students have worked during the last eight years. Internships have included work in House and Senate offices, congressional committees, public and private interest groups, political party organizations, think tanks, media offices, and the like.

Students receive a full course credit for successful completion of their internship. The grade is pass/fail, but (unlike other internships) political science majors may count it as a credit toward fulfillment of major requirements.

Application for the 2007 Program

To apply for the 2007 Program, please complete the application (available here) and return it to Ms. Kerrie Moore, either by hand (CHA2129) or by email (kemoore@davidson.edu). The application deadline is December 1, 2006. If you have questions, please contact with Ms. Moore or Dr. Pat Sellers, the 2007 Program Director.

A List of Past Internships

To see what sort of internships past participants in the Davidson in Washington Program have completed, simply click on the link for any year listed below. You will find the student's name, name of the office, and (in some cases) a contact person, address and phone number at each office.

2006 Internships
2005 Internships
2004 Internships
2003 Internships
2002 Internships
2001 Internships
2000 Internships
1999 Internships
1998 Internships
1997 Internships
1996 Internships
1995 Internships
1994 Internships
1993 Internships
1992 Internships
1991 Internships
1990 Internships