skip to content

Bulletin Archive

This archived information is dated to the 2008-09 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Stanford in Washington

Up one level:

School of Humanities and Sciences

Director: Adrienne Jamieson

The Bing Stanford in Washington program provides highly-qualified undergraduates with an opportunity to work and study in the nation's capital. In addition to providing students with an understanding of public policymaking, the program offers an opportunity to take advantage of the city's unique cultural resources.

Central in the student's educational experience is a full-time internship. Students serve as interns at such institutions and agencies as the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Office of Management and Budget, the White House, the National Institutes of Health, the Smithsonian Institution, CNN, World Bank, the departments of State, Justice, Treasury, Education, and Health and Human Services.

In addition to the internship, students must also complete an academic course of study consisting of small tutorials taught by policy experts, and weekly policy seminars taught by Stanford faculty members. Seminars are generally 3 -5 units. Past seminar topics have included Congressional Oversight and the Press; Economic Growth & Development Patterns, Policies, and Prospects; Critical Health Issues in the U.S. and Abroad; Policymaking in the Washington Community; and Criminal Justice Policy. Frequently, speakers from the Washington policy community join students and faculty for discussions. Students usually write a major paper related to their internship for 3-5 units of credit. Course and seminar topics vary according to student and faculty interest.

Stanford in Washington offers stretch quarters in the Autumn and Spring (early September to mid-December, and late March to the end of June) and a regular quarter in Winter, which focuses on environmental and health policy. The program is designed for students in their junior year or during the first or second quarter of their senior year. Applications must be completed two quarters in advance, and three quarters in advance if a student is overseas or otherwise not on campus during the qualifying quarter. To attend SIW during Autumn Quarter, apply early Winter Quarter of the previous year. For Winter Quarter, apply early Spring Quarter of previous year. For Spring Quarter, apply early Autumn Quarter. Students interested in the program should contact the Public Policy Program, Encina Hall West, room 204, (650) 725-0109, or email publicpolicy@stanford.edu.

© Stanford University - Office of the Registrar. Archive of the Stanford Bulletin 2008-09. Terms of Use | Copyright Complaints