In partnership with The Washington Center (TWC), Samford in D.C. provides undergraduate students the opportunity to spend a semester or summer taking courses and interning in our nation’s capital. For more than three decades, the Washington Center has been a leader in engaged learning, helping more than 50,000 students gain valuable work experience in fields as varied as politics, law, international relations, communications, public service, business and the arts.
In addition to offering a premiere academic and internship experience, The Washington Center provides apartment-style housing at a new residential facility near Capitol Hill. In this living-learning community, Samford students build personal and professional relationships with peers from around the country and across the globe.
Learn More about The Washington Center Internship Program Experience.
Eligibility & Instructions
This program is currently intended for undergraduate students only. Students must be at least second-semester sophomores and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Interested students should contact the Career Development Center at 205-726-2980 to schedule an appointment with Dora Ditchfield to discuss the program, requirements, and next steps, including working with the Samford Academic Liaison to determine academic credit. The following documents must be reviewed by Dora Ditchfield as far in advance of the deadline as possible:
- Resume
- Statement of Professional Interest of approximately 100 words that broadly describes internship interests, future career goals, skills hoping to be gained, and ways in which you will contribute to your placement site. Please do not specify the name(s) of any particular organization in this statement.
- Issues essay/writing sample (approximately 500 words) on a key issue that is relevant to the field you are hoping to intern in or a writing sample from a previous course.
Once you have met with TWC liaisons at Samford, follow the instructions and complete application documents as listed on the How to Apply section of the TWC website.
Application Deadlines
Deadlines for submitting written materials and the application to The Washington Center can be found here*. You MUST first have these materials reviewed by the Director of the Career Development Center to increase your chance of being accepted into the program and securing an internship. We recommend you start this process at least a month prior to the deadline; you can schedule an appointment by calling 205-726-2980. You must be approved by both her, your academic advisor, and the Samford academic liaison PRIOR to completing to The Washington Center application, which can be found here.
*Because of more competition for summer internships, we encourage you to meet with the CDC, complete all documents, and apply to TWC by the priority deadline.
Academic Credit
Summer Semester
Students must register for 8 credit hours at Samford during the summer semester at TWC. Dr. Fred Shepherd and the student’s academic advisor will provide assistance to determine the Samford course most relevant to the academic seminar.
Students will also be expected to participate in a Friday LEAD Colloquium series.
Fall and Spring Semesters
Students must register for 12 credit hours at Samford during the fall or spring semester at TWC. Dr. Fred Shepherd and the student’s academic advisor will provide assistance to determine the Samford course most relevant to the academic seminar.
Students will also be expected to participate in a Friday LEAD Colloquium series.
Cost and Financial Aid
Summer Semester
Students pay Samford tuition and applicable fees for 8 credit hours, as well as housing costs associated with the Washington Center ($4,990). The University will then pay the Washington Center program and housing fees on behalf of the student. Federal financial aid may be applied towards these expenses, but institutional aid is not available. There is also a $60 TWC application fee.
Fall and Spring Semesters
Students will be charged Samford’s full-time tuition and fees for the semester, as well as TWC housing costs ($6,570). For eligible students, Federal financial aid, and up to $10,000 in institutional aid, may be applied towards these Samford charges. The University will then pay the Washington Center program and housing fees on behalf of the student. There is also a $60 TWC application fee.
If student withdraws from the associated Samford classes and the TWC program after accepting placement in an internship, the student is responsible for any TWC-related expense per their “Program Fee Refund and Cancellation Policy” found on the page here. The student may or may not be eligible for Samford tuition refund, in accordance with Samford’s standard refund policy.Student Experiences
