Internship Duties
Office work varies widely, from copying and faxing, to giving tours of the Capitol,
to answering constituent mail. In addition to routine office work, interns might also
take notes for the Congressional office at a committee meeting, attend meetings and
hearings or provide public policy research. The job can range from preparing information
for news conferences to representing an office at a reception to writing public blogs. The beauty of this program is that you become a member of your office family.
Internship Search Process
Each student selected for the South Carolina Washington Semester Program (WSP) is responsible for securing a full-time internship in Washington D.C. The WSP internship placement director will assist in the process and will speak individually with students during orientation to discuss career interests and preferences for a full-time internship. However, students must be proactive in the placement process.
Internship Sites
On-the-Hill Internships. The South Carolina Congressional Delegation, with seven representatives and two senators, host many of our students each semester. If you are interested in working on Capitol Hill, the WSP internship placement director will be more involved with working with you to secure an internship, and will coordinate applications with the S.C. delegation.
Off-the-Hill Internships. Students interested in off-the-Hill placements, such as federal agencies, NGOs, professional associations, etc., will need to research organizations in Washington D.C. consistent with their interests and come prepared at orientation to discuss these organizations. Below is a list of recent off-the-hill placements.
- Aspen Institute
- Center for American Progress
- Children's Defense Fund
- CNN’s The Situation Room
- Department of Education
- Department of Justice
- Heritage Foundation
- House Committee on Financial Services
- House Subcommittee for Africa and Global Health
- Institute of Peace
- National Endowment for the Arts
- National Organization for Women
- Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
- Smithsonian
- The State Department
Curriculum
All students enroll in three courses for a total of 15 Honors credits. Each course is designed specifically for the Washington Semester Program and stresses experiential, hands-on learning. Students are responsible for checking with their advisors to ensure the applicability of these courses to specific degree programs.
Washington D.C. is much more than politics. It’s a vibrant city filled with art, culture, history and more. This course will allow students to learn about the diversity of D.C., hearing from experts in different fields and exploring the city through experiential learning activities. Students will also be expected to participate in some night and weekend activities designed to help them adjust to life in D.C.
Topic may vary each semester.
This course will help students reflect on their experiences in their internships through a series of journals, one-on-one meetings with the program manager and other professional development assignments. With learning outcomes based on the 8 Career Competencies defined by NACE, students will learn how work in a professional setting, and be more prepared for life in the workplace after graduation.
Students work full-time — usually 40 hours per week. This course allows students to earn credit for the internship, while receiving continuous feedback from the internship supervisor throughout the semester.