GSPIA students can study in Washington, D.C. through the D.C. Semester programs in the fall or spring semesters, and take courses during the summer. Classes are generally in the evening, allowing students to pursue an internship during work hours if they so choose.
In the fall semester, Pitt students have access to Syracuse’s Global Security and Development Program alongside students from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, Tufts University’s Fletcher School, and the University of Denver’s Korbel School. By participating in this program, you can meet colleagues from other leading professional schools of international affairs while learning from D.C.-area practitioners. This program is a great fit for all degree programs, but it is ideal if you are interested in national and international security, intelligence, emerging markets, international development, international trade, economic security, or post-crisis stabilization. It is offered in the fall semester and courses are taught at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The spring D.C. program, in which students take courses and work at an internship based in D.C., is run in conjunction with the Pitt Law School and Syracuse Maxwell School. There are a broad range of courses offered in the Spring DC program, making this a great fit for students in all degree programs. Participating students can take Policymaking, Lobbying & Advocacy, the Washington Practicum, Conflict & Migration, and Security Challenges in the Middle East courses. These courses include many guest speakers who are D.C.-based practitioners, providing a hands-on D.C. experience.
There are valuable internship opportunities in Washington, D.C. that students simply cannot get elsewhere. Work for the federal government, on Capitol Hill, in security and intelligence, or for one of thousands of non-profit organizations and think tanks. If you are interested in either the fall or spring D.C. semester program, contact Megan Varn, Manager of Washington D.C. Initiatives, at mev70@pitt.edu.