Capital Scholars Program

The primary goal of this program is to help students develop leadership skills that will enable them to be successful in their career, active in the community, and involved in policymaking. By supplying the Washington DC community with a reliable and consistent source of bright, hard-working interns, ASU and the state of Arizona benefit, too.

You will live in Washington DC for two months in the summer and intern full-time at an organization of interest to you (options include, but are not limited to, the White House, Supreme Court, Congress, government agencies and departments, lobbying and consulting firms, media outlets, museums, think tanks, and non-profit organizations). You will also visit government agencies and historical sites, attend cultural events, and network with professionals from a number of different fields.

Students from any major are eligible and must have a current 2.5 ASU GPA, 3.0 major GPA, and 45 hours of completed coursework by the end of Fall semester to apply.  Transfer students should contact Kayla Stamey at Kayla.Stamey@asu.edu for exceptions.

Visit the Study Abroad Office website at  https://studyabroad.asu.edu/.  Select the Program Search tab and enter “Capital Scholars” under the Program Name box to bring up the Capital Scholars brochure.  If the application is available, you will have the option to select Apply Now. If it isn’t, select Save to Favorites.  You will then be alerted once the application is open. In addition to the application, you will need to upload an unofficial transcript and clear scans of your student ID and government issued ID.  You will also need to supply two academic or professional letters of recommendation. These can be sent to Kayla Stamey at Kayla.Stamey@asu.edu. Once applications are reviewed, students will interview with a selection committee.

Yes, in order for you to have an experience in Washington DC that best fits your unique interests, background, and skills, we require that you secure your own internship. We have a number of resources and connections to organizations in DC which we will provide to help you through the process and ensure you find an internship that is a good fit.  If you are interested in interning at the White House, State Department, or any other high security agency, please contact Dr. Gina Woodall at gina.woodall@asu.edu about beginning the application process. These agencies have early deadlines!

Generally speaking, Washington D.C. based internships are not paid. However, on occasion, students may receive a paid internship within the program.

Please see the program fees section of this webpage or the application page for the most up to date program fee. The fee includes tuition, housing, and program related excursions. In addition to the non-refundable $50 application fee which will be applied toward the final program fee balance and a $200 refundable housing deposit.

You are responsible for paying for your airfare, transportation costs, daily meals, personal expenses, health insurance, and non-program related optional excursions. Once confirmed for the program, a $200 refundable housing deposit is due. Please note that day-to-day living expenses are somewhat higher in Washington DC than in Tempe.

Scholarship funding may be available for students with financial need. Students must be admitted to the program and have a complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid on file in order to be considered for these scholarships. Financial aid and many ASU and private donor scholarships may also be applied toward program costs. Visit our scholarship webpage for more information.

You will live in Washington Intern Student Housing at Woodley Park (wishwoodleypark.com). The apartments house six students each and have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. All apartments are furnished and include utilities, AC, wireless internet, cable TV, cookware and dishware. WISH amenities also include daily maintenance, on-site staff, a computer lab, and access to social events. The apartments are centrally located, two blocks from the National Zoo and two blocks from the Metro. They are one Metro stop from Dupont Circle, three stops from downtown Washington DC and the White House, and six stops from Capitol Hill.

Yes, you can earn honors credit for this program. Please contact Dr. Gina Woodall at gina.woodall@asu.edu if you are interested.  

View our resources section on the Capital Scholars Program webpage. If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Gina Woodall at gina.woodall@asu.edu.