To: Undergraduates Who Really Want to Understand How U.S. Government Works

If you are an undergraduate who wants a deeper understanding of how our government works and how our public policy is developed, I cordially invite you to be part of Cornell University's Summer Program in Washington, D.C.

You are welcome no matter what your field of study, no matter how long-standing or recent your interest in these areas may be. Students from any college or university are eligible to participate, but you must have completed your freshman year or higher.

For years, all Cornell students have had the opportunity to spend a fall or spring semester studying and working in the nation's capital through the highly regarded Cornell in Washington Program. Inevitably, many Cornell undergraduates have been prevented from participating by the nature of their academic program or other constraints. Moreover, the fall-spring program is not open to students from other institutions. I have worked with my colleagues in the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions to develop a summer program that builds on the strengths of the fall-spring semester but is available to all these students.

How is the program structured? All students take two of the three courses offered to participants. "An Introduction to Public Policy" meets two mornings each week for four credits. "History of American Foreign Policy" meets two evenings each week for four credits. "America's Changing Faces: A New Generation of Political, Economic, and Cultural Leadership" meets one evening each week for two credits. Both four-credit courses are limited in size and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may arrange to spend the remainder of their time in an individually chosen internship at a government office or organization, reinforcing the academic aspect of the program with focused, hands-on experience. For most students, the six-credit option with a four-day-a-week internship allows enough time to comfortably complete all required work. The eight-credit option with a three-day-a-week internship offers a rigorous challenge for determined and disciplined students. And, of course, participants can take advantage of any free time to enjoy the unique resources of Washington: the great national museums and libraries, as well as the theaters and art galleries.