Prerequisites: must have a cumulative GPA of 8.5 or better, must have completed one college introductory course in American politics before the semester of application, and be in good standing (no academic or disciplinary probation). It is also recommended that students enroll in an advanced American government class during the semester of application, such as the Presidency, Congress or the public policy process.

This program grants four course credits. CMC and Pomona government students may count two courses toward the major (not including Government 30, the internship course). CMC students majoring in Econ or IR may receive credit towards the major for the research paper completed in Washington. The courses are:

Government 30: Internship in Politics.
This forty-hour-a-week internship is the core of the Washington Semester Program and provides practical work experience related to a political science curriculum. Supervised by Dr. Goldstein and Dr. Uhlmann.

Government 31: Readings in American National Politics.
This course will examine the influence of religion on American political institutions and thought from the colonial period to the present. It will be both an historical and a philosophical inquiry. Drawing upon his experience as an attorney, a Senate staffer, an Assistant Attorney General, and an aide to President Reagan, Professor Michael Uhlmann reviews both major constitutional cases and contemporary political controversies in this area.

Government 32: Policy Analysis.
This course explores the relationship of national government with the governed by focusing on the changing structures, style and content of communication between the national governing community and its citizens. Using his background as a consultant to civil rights groups, women's groups and advocates for children and the elderly Professor Goldstein explores the overall nature of this communication now dominated by an independent media. Taught by Dr. Goldstein.

Government 33: Research on the Political Process.
This course is a tutorial designed to produce a major research paper, in conjunction with the internship, of a particular aspect of American national politics. It is structured around individual meetings between one of the faculty members and each student. Taught by Drs. Goldstein and Uhlmann.

A series of special events is planned throughout the semester and in the past have included meetings with members of Congress, presidential aides, a member of the Supreme Court, and watching oral argument at the Supreme Court.

Students applying to the Washington Semester Program must submit an application, a resume, two recommendations (one from a faculty member and one from the Dean of Students), a short essay on one's reasons for applying to the program, two photos, a health form, a valid transcript and a transcript release form. Pomona applicants must also complete an additional form (the yellow form). Applicants must be on campus during the semester of application in order to be considered. Should you plan to study abroad you are advised to do so during the semester following your Washington D.C. experience. Securing your own internship prior to being accepted into the program does not guarantee you a place on the semester program.

Security clearance deadlines are set very early. For example, the deadline for the State Department is March 1 for fall internships and July 1 for spring internships. If you are interested in an internship that may require a security clearance, you should start the application process well in advance of the application to the Program and possibly 12 months earlier.

CMC, Pomona and Scripps applicants must submit the completed materials to Cathy Puckett, Bauer 222 by Friday, September 22. Pitzer External Studies Office has a once a year deadline of February 23 for '96-'97 programs. (For Spring applicants: Pitzer students may still apply in September after checking with Tom Manley in External Studies).

All materials will be evaluated and all applicants will undergo a personal interview where each applicant will begin the interview by briefly describing the organization or policy area in which he or she would most like to work. Following the interview, which plays a crucial role in the application process, students will be promptly notified of their acceptance or rejection. After being accepted to the program, future participants will be required to attend two orientation meetings. The director, Dr. Michael Goldstein and Dr. Jack Pitney, Faculty Liaison, will begin immediately to help students secure internships. Students will be asked to write letters to prospective internship offices. In the fall, students should know of their placements by the end of the semester. In the spring, most placements become finalized during the summer months.

Interns must be students in good standing at their home institution. CMC students pay CMC tuition and fees, but not room and board, and continue to receive their financial aid. Students may be eligible for additional loan funds. Pomona students pay Pomona tuition, but not room and board, and continue to receive their financial aid. Pitzer and Scripps students pay their home school tuition, room and board and continue to receive their financial aid.

Money for all interns for round trip travel to Washington is provided by CMC. Interns make their own travel arrangements. Certain restrictions apply.

There is no application fee - However, if students withdraw after the acceptance deadline or fail to attend the first orientation meeting, they will be subject to a $350 withdrawal fee.

Four special awards are available each semester to CMC participants in the internship program. They each provide a $400 stipend and are as follows:

The Margaret Martin Brock Internship Award (two awards)
The Claremont McKenna Internship Award (two awards)

The Washington Semester Program offers an independent living component. The College does not arrange housing for interns in Washington, D.C. Internship candidates will receive information on securing housing in Washington during orientation. Interns should try to live as close to work as possible, as some internships require some late hours; city life is an exciting part of the internship experience. Any large city includes safety hazards; interns should insure their own safety in living quarters and transportation.

Interns work full time at their offices. Students have often chosen to intern on Capitol Hill in the office of a member of congress or a senator. Many other placements are possible.

Course work takes place in the evening and classes are held at the CMC facility. Interns sometimes get time off from their office work to attend special lectures, hearings and other activities. The amount of time devoted to such experiences is determined by each office and no office is required to provide it. Vacations from work and from classes generally correspond to the Claremont Colleges academic calendar. The CMC Washington Semester Program runs concurrently with the CMC semester calendar.

The in-residence program director is Dr. Michael Goldstein. His address at the CMC facility in Washington and phone number follow.

Dr. Michael Goldstein
1901 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20006-3405
(202) 833-4946
(202) 833-5916 (fax)

The on-campus Washington Semester Program Faculty Liaison is Dr. Jack Pitney, Pitzer 214, extension 74224 and the Director of Off-Campus Study is Nicole Hamon, Bauer 220, extension 18267.

Advocacy Groups
American Civil Liberties Union
American Academy of Pediatrics
Amnesty International
Center for Policy Alternatives
Central American Working Group
Child Welfare League of America
Children's Defense Fund
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Council on Hemispheric Affairs
Economic Strategy Institute
Friends of the Earth
Landmark Legal Foundation
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
NAACP
National Organization for Women
National Women's Health Network
National Humanities Alliance
Northeast Midwest Institute
People for the American Way
Student Pugwash, USA
TransAfrica

Congress
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
General Accounting Office
House Majority Leader
House Republican Conference
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Security
Office of Technology Assessment
Representatives: David Dreier, Leon Panetta, David Skaggs, George Miller, Ken Calvert, Joel Hefley, Ron Wyden, Vic Fazio
Senate Budget Committee
Senators Bob Packwood, Richard Bryan

Corporations and Consultants
Capital Insights
Delphi International
Ketchum Communications
Lehman Brothers
Penn and Schoen
Price Waterhouse
Sawyer Miller Group
The Carmen Group

Federal Departments and Agencies
Corporation for National Service
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Election Commission
Federal Reserve
Helsinki Commission
NASA
National Endowment for the Arts
Overseas Private Investment Corp.
US Departments of Commerce, Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Justice, State

International and Foreign
International Institute for Energy Conservation
Organization of American States

News Media
C-SPAN
CNN
Congressional Quarterly
Foreign Trade Magazine
MacNeil/Lehrer
National Public Radio
Wall Street Journal

Political Parties and Campaigns
Bush/Quayle '92
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
Republican National Committee

State and Local Government DC Corporation Council
Think Tanks
Benton Foundation
Cato Institute
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Heritage Foundation
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
White House
Office of Policy Planning
Office of Management and Budget
Office of the Vice President