As part of its mission to encourage students to integrate Christian faith and public life, the Henry Institute operates the Semester in Washington D.C. each year during Calvin University's spring semester. Students choose one of four general tracks which help guide their preparation for the Semester during the preceding fall, as well as providing class study and mentoring/networking opportunities during the spring semester, via a Politics & Policy, Pre-Law, Strategic Communication, or Social Work track. A wide range of internship experiences are available across these areas, depending upon the student's interests and future career plans.

Washington, D.C. is an international city with a wide range of interests. Internship experiences may be unrelated to the world of politics, focus on domestic politics, or take advantage of the vast resources in the international political arena.

More information

Non-political internships are available in the arts, museums, computer science and technology, criminal justice, environmental studies, social work, urban studies, business, marketing, event planning, fundraising, development, and more.

If your interest is domestic politics you can intern in Congress or most agencies of the Executive Branch. Internships with law firms, think tanks, or lobbying firms, with the national offices of the major political parties, and in print or broadcast media, are among the myriad of opportunities that are available.

Opportunities related to international relations, global development, diplomacy and all aspects of international interaction are available in United Nations offices, international human rights agencies, international relief agencies, foreign embassies, or internationally-oriented organizations such as the Organization for American States, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Atlantic Council, or the Middle East Institute, to name just a few.

Contingent on the type of internship and individual arrangements students make with Calvin's academic departments, academic credit can go toward a variety of majors, minors, and other university requirements, and students should discuss the number of credits that will be applicable to their major field of study.

For more information, contact Professor Micah Watson or Professor Joel Westra