Policy Design Studio & Internship Program

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.

Apply to the virtual POS 494 course

Course information

POS/SGS 494: Policy Design Studio

Instructor: Ambassador Roderick Moore
Fridays 10:00am to 1:00pm
Session C
Honors credit available
3 credits

POS 484: Internship

Instructor: Ambassador Roderick Moore
Offered virtually through Zoom
Session C
1-9 credits

Instructors

Program dates

Spring 2024: January 6 - April 28

Fall 2023: August 12 - December 2

Program fees

The program fee 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.

Program fee for Spring 2024 - $7,680

Program fee for Fall 2023 - $7,905

Application deadlines

Spring 2024: September 25, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Eligibility requirements

Students from any undergraduate or graduate program are eligible.
Undergraduates must have a 3.0 ASU GPA and be a junior or senior to participate.

Accommodations

Students live at Turnkey Housing Solutions, Meridian at Gallery Place, conveniently located in Chinatown with a community of fellow Sun Devils in centrally located, furnished, suite style apartments.

Start your application today

This program is currently accepting applications. Visit the Global Education Office webpage through 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.

Apply here

Helpful Links

Connect with Us

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

Student testimonials

"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, program participant

"The Policy Design Studio is the best way to learn about the Foreign Service, short of actually becoming a diplomat! While I was in Washington, D.C., I built up valuable skills that I will take into the professional world after I graduate. This program encouraged me to take risks, think creatively, and try new things. I made valuable connections through my internship and my course, and overall I loved my semester in DC!"

Julia, program participant

"The [ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab] program is an unmatched opportunity to live and learn in our nation's capital while pursuing an internship that supplements your academic career and develops your professional career."

Michael, program participant

"The Policy Design Studio gave me the confidence to commit to a career in diplomacy. While studying under Ambassador O'Donnell, I learned more about the art of diplomacy and how government agencies, the military, and the private sector interact in our efforts overseas. This program demonstrates the value of SPGS as a global institution, and I could not recommend it more highly to students."

Matthew, program participant

"It allowed me to expand my horizons. By bringing together all of these great minds in this one city, it allows for a lot of personal development. You make those personal connections through this program. It’s going to be a lot easier for me to find a job where I want to work. It was a fantastic experience."

Ryan, 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, program participant

“The School of Politics and Global Studies’ Policy Design Studio (PDS) 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 DC, 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 (PCFR) 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, program participant

“PDS for me was my gateway into using data to bolster policy-craft and for becoming a clear communicator in the fast-paced world of policy. Before the program 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. Additionally, it was the use and role of technology in policy craft that was taught to us in the program that truly struck me as an area I wanted to pursue. 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 DC.”

Victoria, program participant

“The ASU Policy Design Studio was the most engaging and beneficial class I have ever taken. I appreciate being allowed the opportunity to learn so much about foreign policy from both of you and our amazing guest speakers. Your instruction also helped me enormously in the clarity and brevity of my writing as well as my public speaking.”

Ryan, 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, program participant

“The Policy Design Studio course was a truly unique university experience. Whereas the overwhelming majority of university courses focus on career preparation by means of lectures or textbooks, the PDS course provides students with the rare opportunity to grow their understanding of both the academic and professional components of U.S. foreign policy through an authentic simulation of an American embassy. With the incredible guidance of two retired U.S. ambassadors, both of whom hold a wealth of knowledge and experience in an embassy environment, this course quickly became one of the most rewarding decisions of my university career. As a simulated embassy team, every student has a vital role in contributing to the work of the group throughout the semester. Whether it be on the rule of law in Russia or creating a stable economy in Afghanistan, by the end of the course, every person on the team becomes an authoritative voice on any given subject of concern to the embassy. In addition to the expertise of both professors, the course regularly brings students together with subject matter experts and career professionals to have frank and revelatory, but always professional conversations about the dynamics of U.S. involvement in the embassy's host country, or about the host country itself. The PDS course stands out as a one-of-a-kind experiential learning environment that any student would regret passing on.”

Spencer, program participant

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I be doing on the program?

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.

Does this program work with others?

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.

Am I eligible to participate in the program?

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.

How do I apply?

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.

Will I take any classes? If yes, how many days a week?

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.

Can I earn honors credit for this program?

If you are interested in earning honors credits, please contact the ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab.

What is the program fee? What does this include?

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.

What additional costs am I responsible for?

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.

Am I responsible for finding my own internship?

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.

Where will I be living?

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.