Capital Connection Program

Have you ever wondered about living and working in our nation’s capital?

You’re in luck! The School of Public Service has a program for students to apply to spend a spring semester living, studying and interning in Washington, D.C. We’ll help pair you with an internship that fits your interests (Congress, a federal agency, etc), and you’ll get to experience DC life and culture while learning from your internship experience, bonding with your Boise State cohort, and gaining academic credit, not just with your internship, but also with two remote courses taught by SPS professors. The program will be similar in both cost and workload to a typical semester at Boise State. The program runs during every spring semester, with applications due at the beginning of the fall semester.

Interested? Still have questions? Use the online form to let us know about your areas of interest, and/or email the program’s Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Charles Hunt (charleshunt@boisestate.edu). Check out the information on this page for more!

The cornerstone of the Capital Connection Program is the internship, where you’ll make important career connections, learn critical skills, and get a taste for what it would be like to work in our nation’s capital. If you are accepted into the Program, SPS  will help pair you with a full-time internship that aligns with your career goals.

Internships will be available at organizations like:

• Congress
• Federal agencies
• Thinktanks/advocacy groups
• Media organizations
• Law firms and consulting
• DC city government

Although SPS is committed to helping you secure your internship, we strongly recommend that you do two things before applying:

1. Use the online form to let us know of your career and academic interests early on so that we can begin the search for opportunities as soon as possible. That way, once you’re accepted into the program, we can hit the ground running!
2. You can get ideas for the kinds of internships you might have an interest in by using this spreadsheet created by SPS detailing potential opportunities and organizations in the DC area.
3. Feel free to investigate your own opportunities, including personal connections you may have in the area. We’re open to anything!

In conjunction with your internship, you’ll be completing 14 credits of coursework throughout the spring semester.

In-person coursework includes:

• POLS 491 – An internship and experiential learning course that integrates your lived experience in your internship (6 credits)
• POLS 340 – A series of professional development workshops on skills like networking, resume-building, and interviewing for jobs (2 credits)

In addition, you will take two standard 3-credit upper-division POLS courses related to your time in Washington (mostly asynchronous/online). These courses include:

• POLS 406 – The U.S. Congress (3 credits)
• POLS 407 – Policymaking in our Nation’s Capital (3 credits)

NOTE FOR NON-POLS MAJORS: POLS 491, POLS 340, and POLS 407 can be adjusted for majors in Criminal Justice, Environmental Studies, Urban Studies, and Global Studies, and can count as electives for your major!

Additionally, POLS 406 and POLS 407 can be substituted on a case-by-case basis for any remote course you would prefer to take while completing the program. However, please first secure permission from the Faculty Coordinator (Dr. Hunt – charleshunt@boisestate.edu) and check in with SPS Advising, so you can make sure all coursework fits into your timeline for graduating.

Worried about where to live? Don’t be! By contracting with Turnkey Housing Solutions, we’ve got you covered with student housing that offers:

• Modern, move-in ready, pre-furnished apartments
• Great options in prime locations throughout DC
• Close proximity to DC metro
• Safety and security
• Shared space for professional development events

You can learn more about Turnkey housing on their website. 

You may also be asking yourself, “doesn’t it cost a ton of money to live in DC?” It can, but we estimate that costs will be roughly equivalent to a semester on-campus at Boise State. 

Here’s a rough breakdown of the costs for the semester:

• BSU tuition ($4,182)
• Turnkey housing ($6,000 for double occupancy)
• Program fee ($1,500)
• Additional costs (Est. $4,500 for transportation, flights, meals)

In addition, we are thrilled to be able to offer scholarships (courtesy of the Frank Church Institute and other generous patrons) and other sorts of aid to help defray these costs for potential applicants. We’ll also be able to work with most current financial aid situations to keep these costs as low as possible. If you have questions about the financial aspects of the Capital Connection Program, please email Dr. Hunt at charleshunt@boisestate.edu.

We are pleased to share our Spring 2025 program application. The application will ask for basic information, as well as the following:

• Statement of interest (why do you want to join this program?)
• GPA and transcripts
• Updated resume
• Areas of interest for internships
• Housing preferences

The main deadline for applications will be September 1, 2024. Applications received by this time will receive priority consideration; however, you are welcome to submit your application after this deadline — but before October 1, 2024 — to have your application considered if space permits in the program. Regardless, we will be making the initial decision shortly after the September deadline, so that you can be fully prepared for Spring registration. We also strongly encourage “early decision” applicants prior to the deadline, and will reach out early with decisions on particularly strong applications.

Is the Capital Connection Program just for Political Science majors?

We are hoping for applications from all SPS students, not just POLS majors and minors! We even welcome applications from outside of the School of Public Service. However, before applying, please make sure you get in touch with your major/minor’s advising team, as well as SPS Advising, so you can make sure the coursework fits into your timeline for graduating.

What kind of public policy areas will be covered by POLS 407?

Although the POLS 407 course will cover general principles of public policy, it will also be tailored to each of your respective experiences; for example, if you are most interested in environmental policy, the course will be designed for you to learn more about that area and utilize (ideally) your internship experience.

What kinds of people will I get to meet in Washington?

In addition to your internship co-workers and your fellow students, we have an extensive network of Boise State alumni in Washington who will help guide you throughout your experience, including in your professional development course! We also hope to be able to help you make connections with other students living and working in the area during your stay.

Have any other questions that aren’t covered here? Send an email the program’s Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Charles Hunt (charleshunt@boisestate.edu).