Washington Semester Program: Work Assignments

All students are required to acquire substantive work experience in a public or private agency which has a role in the governance process in Washington, and to gain insight into the operation of that agency.

Types of organizations that are appropriate settings for work assignments include congressional committee staffs, federal executive agencies, advocacy and interest groups, news organizations, political parties, and think tanks.

Complete lists of previous internship sites are listed below.

Students normally work three days a week, but those taking only three course units may work on four days. Most internships are unsalaried. Although students must take the initiative in applying for work assignments, the WSP staff lends assistance and provides leads through directories and files compiled with the help of Penn alumni in the Washington area and past WSP participants. Assignments must be approved by the Director to assure that all students are performing relevant and educationally valuable duties.