A semester-long program in Washington D.C., the McCarthy Center’s USF in DC offering combines volunteer service as a part-time intern complemented by relevant coursework taught by USF faculty in D.C.
Participating students concentrate in courses which include: American National Politics, Political Journalism and Media, Campaign Politics, US Foreign Policy, Middle East Studies, International Law and Policy, Consumers and Public Health, Sustainability & Environment, International Relations, Washington Ethics, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Washington D.C., numerous internship opportunities exist with the federal government, non-profit agencies, public interest organizations, and national media outlets. The semester prior to your departure, McCarthy Center staff will work with you to revise your resume and cover letter to begin the internship search process through preparation sessions. Once in DC, McCarthy Center Program Coordinator and DC Politics faculty member will lead program on-site and provide support throughout your internship and academic experiences. Past placements have included:
- Congressional committee staff
- Members of Congress
- White House Offices
- Federal Agencies
- Human Rights Watch
- Common Cause
- Sierra Club
- CBS News
- Washington Post
- World Bank
- AFL-CIO
- and more.
Students enroll and pay tuition at USF. They sign up for a total of 16 credit units spread over: Core Seminar, Semester Elective, Research Seminar, and their internship. Students may enroll in courses including the following area of focus: American National Politics, Campaign Politics, US Foreign Policy, Middle East Studies, International Law and Policy, Consumers and Public Health, Political Journalism and Media, and more. Students also satisfy the Core Curriculum service-learning requirement with the internship course.
Credit may count toward multiple USF majors including Politics, Business, Communications, etc. McCarthy Center staff assist students with credit transfers to various majors when possible.
The program is open to all USF students with sophomore standing and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students who do not meet this academic requirement may still be eligible to apply if compelling justification is provided.
Space is limited, and we encourage early submission of application materials.
The Center assists students in securing housing for the semester, which is typically located in a central location providing easy access to the entire D.C. metropolitan area. Students are responsible for the cost of housing and meal plans.
More information can be obtained by contacting Fernando Enciso-Márquez at the McCarthy Center (MA 106) at fjencisomarquez@usfca.edu or (415) 422-2033.
