A group of students pose in front of the Washington Monument at night

Students in the USC Dornsife Washington DC Program gather for a photo at the Lincoln Memorial.

Students meet Washington insiders and connect theory with practice in the nation’s capital

Through the generosity of donors, the Dornsife Washington DC Program immerses students in real-world policymaking through internships and courses.

ByTaline Rumaya May 16, 2024

In the heart of America’s capital, where the decisions that shape our nation and the world are made, a unique academic endeavor is bringing students at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences into the epicenter of political life.

Last spring, USC Dornsife senior and political science major Alex Kavaldjiev and his classmates gathered at the National Counterterrorism Center with center Director Christine Abizaid and Executive Director Celia Durall to learn about the center’s mission of protecting our nation from terrorism. Just weeks before, Kavaldjiev had played the role of a National Security Council advisor in a class-wide simulation to understand the complex threats facing the United States.

At the Pentagon, Isobel Smith, a senior majoring in international relations and public diplomacy, and her peers met with Deputy Press Secretary and USC Dornsife alumna Sabrina Singh ’09 to discuss matters of U.S. foreign policy, giving real-world context to knowledge she gleaned from textbooks.