• We have strong relationships with hundreds of DC organizations. In the last 50 years, we’ve placed more than 9,000 interns with thousands of organizations in the Washington Metropolitan area. Our vast network of connections ensure your resume ends up on the top of the hiring manager’s pile. 
• From the time you enroll in our program, dedicated staff will guide you through the internship placement process. You’ll be assigned your own internship coordinator that will ensure you are placed at an organization that matches your interests. 
• We guarantee an internship placement. Internship competition is stiff in Washington. D.C. is home to thousands of organizations in a variety of fields including, Congress, federal agencies, think tanks, Fortune 500 Companies, government affairs firms, embassies, nonprofits and international non-governmental organizations. 

• American Enterprise Institute
• American Legislative Exchange Council 
• Americans for Tax Reform
• Americans United for Life
• Center for a Free Cuba
• Center for a Secure Free Society
• Citizens Against Government Waste
• Competitive Enterprise Institute
• Free Russia Foundation
• FreedomWorks
• Hudson Institute 
• Institute for Free Speech
• McCain Institute for International Leadership
• Mercatus Center at George Mason University
• National Federation of Independent Business
• Religious Freedom Institute
• Republican Governors Association
• The Daily Caller
• The Federalist Society
• The Washington Examiner
• U.S. Congressional and Senate Offices
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Justice and Transportation
• Washington Council of Lawyers

• Tell us about yourself. Once you enroll in our program, you’ll complete the Internship Questionnaire. This is the first step in getting to know you, it outlines your skills and experience, the issue areas of interest to you and your preferred organization types. 
• Develop a game plan. Next we chat with you over the phone to get a clearer understanding of what you are looking to gain out of your internship experience. During the call we will discuss specific sites and outline a strategy for securing the best options for you. 
• Tailored internship resources. Our team will review your resume and a provide personalized feedback to ensure you are a competitive candidate in the Washington market. Additionally, we will make sure you are ready to ace the interview. We will provide you with practice questions, interview tips and resources on researching organizations. 
• By your side the whole way. Once the program starts we will prepare you for your first day and be there for you throughout the summer to ensure you have the best experience possible.

• Communication is key. Our placement team will stay in contact with you providing updates and guidance until you are placed. If you are not selected for a position after an interview or if you truly feel the internship would not be a strong fit, the process will continue until a placement is confirmed.
• Timelines. Applying for the program early always ensures that more opportunities are available, but does not necessarily guarantee an early placement as the process can last up to three months. Good things take time!
• Internship sites are all accessible by public transportation making your commute to your internship and class a breeze. 

Course Description

This course introduces students to the role of economics in the context of policy-making.  Students will learn how to apply economic thinking and analysis to a variety of public policy issues.  Examples will be drawn from current Administration policy initiatives, government economic policy, and ongoing legislative battles in Congress.  Students will examine basic economic concepts and the market economy. They will be introduced to public choice theory and analyze various policy issues through the lens of economics. A sample syllabus may be found by clicking here.

Credits: 3

Faculty Biography

Anne Bradley

Professor, Economic Problems and Public Policies

Dr. Anne Rathbone Bradley is the George and Sally Mayer Fellow for Economic Education and the academic director at The Fund for American Studies. Through this position, Dr. Bradley works to enhance the impact and reach of TFAS economic education programs through courses, seminars, videos and social media. She also delivers lectures around the country and oversees curriculum development and evaluation for economics courses.

Previously, Dr. Bradley served as the vice president of economic initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, where she continues research toward a systematic biblical theology of economic freedom. In addition to her work with TFAS, she is a professor of economics at The Institute for World Politics and Grove City College. She is a visiting professor at George Mason University and has previously taught at Georgetown University and Charles University in Prague. She is currently an Acton Affiliate scholar and a visiting scholar at the Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy. She is a lecturer for the Institute for Humane Studies and the Foundation for Economic Education.

Course Description

This course is the perfect complement to any internship in the nation’s capital – where politics and the federal government are front-page news every day. This interactive course will explore the development of the American political tradition from the New England Puritan settlement to the Founding Era and the conclusion of the Civil War. The class will also examine how the role of government has changed, how people’s relationship to the government has evolved, and what this means for the future.  Students will discuss the many ways in which Enlightenment liberalism developed alongside alternatives such as classical republicanism and Christianity. Students will explore these contradictory impulses in American political culture and discuss ways that they can be reconciled. View a sample syllabus.

Credits: 3

Faculty Biography

Samuel Goldman

Professor, American Political Thought

Samuel Goldman is executive director of the John L. Loeb, Jr. Institute for Religious Freedom and director of the Politics & Values Program at George Washington University. His first book God’s Country: Christian Zionism in America was published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2018. His second book, After Nationalism, was published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in early 2021. In addition to his academic research, Goldman’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.

Course Description

The internship seminar offers a structured environment in which to reflect on internship experiences and to explore “How Washington Works” from an insider’s perspective. Observing Washington in action makes clear that politics in real life often differs from how it is portrayed in textbooks. Students will explore both the public and private sectors roles in advancing public policy through group projects and site visits to organizations around the city. This seminar is taught by a former Congressional Chief of Staff and senior advisor at the Department of Labor. High-level guest speakers will cover pressing issues such as national security, cases before the Supreme Court, political campaigns, pending federal legislation and the media’s coverage of Washington. View a sample syllabus.

Credits: 6

Faculty Biography

Karen Czarnecki

Professor, Inside Washington Internship Seminar

Karen M. Czarnecki most recently served as the Vice President of Outreach at the Mercatus Center. Previously she served as the Chief of Staff to Rep. Mike Kelly and as a senior advisor to U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. She joined the Labor Department in June of 2001, and in June 2003 she was appointed Director of the Office of the 21st Century Workforce. In addition, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Intergovernmental Affairs, giving her responsibility for outreach to state and locally-elected officials. Czarnecki received her BA and juris doctorate degrees from the Catholic University of America and is also an alumna of the Public Policy and Economics program.

TFAS will bring you inside the walls of the city’s most influential institutions and organizations through exclusive tours and briefings with officials at:

• American Enterprise Institute
• Cato Institute
• CIA + FBI
• Embassies
• Federal Reserve
• Heritage Foundation
• National Press Club
• U.S. Congress
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Securities + Exchange Commission
• World Bank

Practice your networking skills and explore a variety of career paths through organized events with TFAS alumni and other D.C. professionals.

You will have a backstage pass to Washington institutions that most students are only able to read about.

Gain invaluable insights from top lobbyists, nonprofit executives, journalists, Capitol Hill staffers, Foreign Service officers and policymakers to leverage your D.C. experience into a promising future internship or full-time job after graduation.

In D.C. it’s often not “what you know,” but “who you know.” Establishing a professional network is critical for success in job searching after graduation. Our Professional Mentor Program gives students a personal connection to a professional in Washington, D.C.

Students have weekly virtual meetings with mentors on topics such as getting a job in D.C., resume help, advice on graduate school and much more.

Washington, DC-area professionals volunteer to be matched as mentors with TFAS program participants. We do our best to match students with a mentor based on your field of study, career goals, college or university, hometown, and other factors whenever possible.

Fellowship participants are housed together in a residential building in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC that has been converted into apartments.

Roommate matches are handmade by TFAS staff using compatibility criteria you provide during the enrollment process.

Amenities

The apartments are fully furnished, including a complete kitchen. They are internet-ready and air-conditioned, and have easily accessible laundry facilities. Each apartment has a fully furnished kitchen with plates, silverware, and glassware. 

Also included are twin-sized beds, a table and chairs, couch, a full bathroom and closets. The living/dining area is equipped with a TV with basic cable. While each apartment layout is different, the amenities included are the same.

Neighborhood + Transportation

The building is located on the House of Representatives side of Capitol Hill and is part of the largest residential neighborhood in Washington. It is one of the oldest residential communities in DC with numerous shops, restaurants, Congressional buildings and many of the city’s most significant cultural attractions close by, including the Supreme Court and Library of Congress. 

The building is located just a short walk from the Capitol South and Eastern Market Metro Stations (Orange/Blue/Silver lines), providing easy access to internship sites and other locations across the city.

Embark on a journey through history on the highway of hallowed grounds, as we explore iconic sites where significant moments in American history have unfolded. Past excursions include:

• Visit to The National Archives
• Guided Tour of the Monuments + Memorials
• Tour of the U.S. Capitol + Speaker’s Balcony
• Visit to the Library of Congress
• Tour of Old Town Alexandria
• Day trip to Philadelphia

Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Spring 2025 TFAS Washington Fellowship

• Early Deadline: May 20, 2024
• Priority Deadline: October 1, 2024
• Final Deadline: November 1, 2024

All applicants are required to complete the online application. Supplemental materials must be sent in via email or mail using the contact information below. Please keep in mind that your application will not be sent to the admissions committee for review until all required materials are received.

Online Application:

• One-page Resume
• Writing Sample (Assignment or article submitted for a college-level course or for publication)
• Short Answer Prompts
• Personal Statement

Supplemental Materials

• Official Transcript(s): Transcripts from any university attended must be mailed in a sealed envelope or send through electronic delivery from the home university’s registrar using the contact information below. This includes community colleges or study abroad experiences. The only exception is if past grades are listed on the current transcript.

The Fund for American Studies
D.C. Academic Internship Programs
1706 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 200009
202.986.0384 | admissions@TFAS.org