Policy Design Studio & Internship Program
Experience U.S. Diplomacy in Action
Play the role of a U.S. embassy official throughout the semester dealing with actual events as they happen under the guidance of a former Ambassador. Meet with prominent experts, discuss and debate real-time policy challenges, and develop a strategy for the future of U.S. relations with an important ally. Work directly with senior diplomats, military officers, and others to learn about national security policy and leadership. Live and intern in Washington, D.C. for the semester while earning 12 upper division credits. Visit government agencies and historical sites, and attend networking events.
An entirely virtual version of the Policy Design Studio course is also available, offering students the flexibility to earn credits without participating in a Washington, D.C.-based internship. See a chart about the two different versions of the program here. Find additional details, including the application deadline, below.
Eligibility requirements for both in-person and virtual programs include:
- Students from any undergraduate or graduate program.
- Undergraduates must have a 3.0 ASU GPA and be a junior or senior to participate.
- All majors welcome.
Course Information
POS/SGS 494: Policy Design Studio
- Fridays 10:00am to 1:00pm
- Session C
- Honors credit available
- 3 credits
POS 484: Internship*
- Session C
- 1-9 credits
*Students who apply to the virtual only version of the program will not receive the POS 484: Internship credit.
Start your application today
This program is currently accepting applications for the Spring semester and will run from January 11th-May 10th.
For those looking to apply to the in-person portion of the program, visit the Global Education Office webpage through the button below. For those looking to apply to the virtual-only version of the program, fill out the web form using the button below. 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 submit two recommendation forms (accessible via the Study Abroad application) from academic and/or professional references.
Applicants are charged a non-refundable $50 application fee. Once applications are reviewed, students who meet the program criteria are interviewed by a selection committee.
Questions? Reach out to School of Politics and Global Studies Program Coordinator Kayla Stamey at Kayla.Stamey@asu.edu or Program Manager Ashley Wright at Ashley.A.Wright@asu.edu.
Program Fees
The program fee for Spring 2025 is $8,110. This fee is only applicable to the in-person version of the program. It includes housing and program excursions. Additionally, students must also pay full time ASU tuition, fees, and transportation and living expenses. Find scholarships and financial aid resources here.
Accommodations
Students live at Turnkey Housing Solutions, Meridian at Gallery Place in Washington, D.C. with a community of fellow Sun Devils in centrally located, furnished, suite style apartments. These accommodations are only available for participants of the in-person version.
Learn more
Hear from Policy Design Studio and Internship program leaders, faculty and alumni; explore course details in-depth; and learn more about the work of ASU's Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab through our YouTube playlist here.
Explore student experiences
Policy Design Studio program participants detail their adventures in Washington, D.C. throughout semester through a blog. Keep up with recent cohorts below and learn more about alumni experiences — and how it impacted and inspired their careers.
"The [Policy Design Studio] program offers the experience any student would want. The connections in D.C, support for the internship, and the teamwork in the classes is beyond what a normal class provides. I'm glad I was a participant and ended up staying in D.C for almost a year. My internship turned into a paid position. I would highly recommend this program to any student."
— David O., program participant
"The PDS sparked my academic curiosity in public diplomacy and strategic communications while simultaneously providing me with professional experience in my dream career field. The connections and experiences that formed while I was in D.C. for the PDS have directly supported my future endeavors, as I now am a Master’s Student in Global Communications at the George Washington University actively pursuing a career in public diplomacy."
— Nikki H., program participant
“The Policy Design Studio course was one of the most important and formational experiences of my undergraduate education. From simulating the inner machinations of US embassy mission teams, to developing real-world experience through an in-person internship in Washington D.C., my semester with the Policy Design Studio opened countless doors for me. Thanks in part to my experience Now, as a member of the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations and GlobalTiesAZ, I am able to bring my PDS experience from ASU to the real world and enact change in the very community that gave me the tools to achieve the success I have reached today.”
— Bastien A., program participant
Before [PDS], I knew I was interested in international relations and policy making, but being in Arizona I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to determine exactly what area I was interested in. While in the PDS program, I was given the opportunity to not just apply skills I had been learning in school such as brief writing and public speaking, but I also was given the chance to speak with professionals in a variety of different fields related to policy. These experiences in addition to the new skills I learned, in particular, data visualization, helped me land my job as a Senior Research Analyst for ASU’s Decision Theater in Washington, D.C.”
— Victoria M., program participant
"The [ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab] Program gave me an opportunity to learn from a former ambassador about the functions of a US embassy. The simulation allowed me to create new skills and improve others. I was also able to intern on Capitol Hill and this provided me job opportunities that I would not have received if I had not been part of the program."
— Daniel R., program participant
Frequently Asked Questions
You will live in Washington, D.C. during the fall or spring semester and intern four days a week at an organization of interest to you (options include, but are not limited to, the White House, Supreme Court, Congress, government departments and agencies, law firms, lobbying and consulting firms, media outlets, museums, think tanks, and non- profit organizations). Once a week, you will participate in a seminar at the ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab in which you will research solutions to real world foreign policy issues. You will also have the opportunity to visit government agencies, historical sites, and network with professionals from a number of different fields.
Yes, this is a great resume building and networking opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students in any program. You will gain invaluable, hands-on work experience. Other benefits include obtaining strong letters of recommendation from internship supervisors and potential job offers. Undergraduate students receive six credits of POS 484: ASU- DC Internship, three credits of POS 484: Internship, and three credits of POS 494: Policy Design, which can count toward upper division major and/or general elective requirements. These credits can also count toward a minor and/or certificate offered through the School of Politics and Global Studies. To learn more, visit https://spgs.asu.edu/minors-certificates. Graduate students receive six credits of POS 598: ASU- DC Internship and three credits of POS 494: Policy Design.
Students from any undergraduate or graduate program are eligible. Undergraduate students must have a 3.0 ASU GPA and 60 hours of completed coursework by the semester in which they wish to participate. Transfer students should contact Ashley.A.Wright@asu.edu for exceptions.
Click on the Apply Now link on our website, which will direct you to the Study Abroad Office application. 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 submit two recommendation forms (accessible via the Study Abroad application) from academic and/or professional references. Applicants are charged a non-refundable $50 application fee. Once applications are reviewed, students who meet the program criteria are interviewed by a selection committee.
You will take one class in addition to your internship that is worth a total of 12 credits. This class is one day a week and lasts all day (from 10:00 a.m.-1 p.m.), usually on Fridays. You can also take additional online courses if you need to satisfy the minimum amount of credits for a scholarship. You will be working at your internship for the rest of the week. You may have a couple field trips during the week in which you will have to call off-work ahead of time. Be sure to notify your supervisor that you need this day off from work as soon as you receive the dates of the field trips.
If you are interested in earning honors credits, please contact the ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab.
See the semester cost above. This includes housing and program related excursions. Additionally, students must also pay fulltime ASU tuition, fees, and transportation and living expenses.
You are responsible for paying fulltime ASU tuition and student fees, 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. Note that living expenses are somewhat higher in Washington DC than in Tempe.
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. Contact Ms. Kayla Stamey at Kayla.Stamey@asu.edu for more information. Please note that many internship providers have internship application deadlines well in advance of actual start date and may require a criminal background check.
You will live in Turnkey Housing Solutions, Meridian at Gallery Place, in Chinatown (Meridian at Gallery Place). The apartments house four students each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a shared kitchen and living room. All apartments are furnished and include utilities, AC, wireless internet, cable TV, cookware and dishware. Turnkey amenities also include a rooftop pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, concierge service, complementary coffee service, a front door attendant, and more. The apartments are centrally located, two blocks from the Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metro station, with access to the green, yellow and red lines. The apartments are a 18 minute walk to Capitol Hill and a 20 minute walk to the White House.