A few years ago, Franchesca Moore was torn between studying in Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles. On one hand, the Miami Beach native was passionate about policy and politics, yet she fell in love with Southern California when visiting USC’s campus.
Now, she gets to do both.
Moore, a junior at the USC Price School of Public Policy, is part of the inaugural cohort of Price students spending a Spring semester in Washington, D.C. She’s interning at Emily’s List, a political action committee aiding campaigns for women candidates while taking classes at USC’s new Capital Campus.
“I had wanted to move somewhere that was more politically driven, so when I found out about this program, it was the best of both worlds,” said Moore, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy (BSPP) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA).
This year’s Price Policy Semester in D.C. is giving 10 undergraduate students the chance to live and learn in the nation’s capital for a few months. Most days, they’re interning with members of Congress or policy nonprofits they’ve chosen. The internships give the aspiring public servants real-world experience and the chance to network with professionals. Moore, for example, researches candidates’ backgrounds and tracks their news media mentions for Emily’s List. She’s learned the ins and outs of campaigning and gets hands-on experience in the political world, she said.
Meanwhile, classes feature guest speakers from federal agencies, tours of the FBI headquarters and coursework that’s relevant to the students’ internships. In their spare time, students take in the city’s culture, restaurants and iconic monuments.
“It’s an invaluable experience, something I don’t think you can get from a semester abroad because it’s so real,” Moore said. “It feels like a post-grad experience, which I love, and you’re so absorbed by things going on in D.C., which is really cool.”
The goal of the D.C. program is to help undergraduate students boost their career prospects while giving them a well-rounded experience in a new city, said Nicole Pompilio, the USC Price School’s Assistant Director of Experiential Learning. The program also provides a semester-long experiment for students considering careers in the nation’s capital.
“The students are not just going to class, going home, studying – they’re becoming a more well-rounded person,” Pompilio said. “I think that’s the value of experiential learning, having them become adults in front of our eyes and giving them these opportunities for real-world experiences…They will be more prepared for the workforce.”
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Find Out MoreOn Capitol Hill, BSPP junior Ezekiel Buenaventura gets an up-close look at the legislative process. As part of his internship with Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove – whose district includes USC – Buenaventura writes memos about legislation and letters that Congressmembers plan to send to cabinet members. His memos help Kamlager-Dove decide whether she should co-sponsor legislation or add her name to the letters.
“The entire world looks at what happens here in Washington, D.C.,” Buenaventura said. “One thing I’m really interested in right now is learning about the regulatory framework, how the government regulates businesses, and the intersection of the public and private sector…What better place to do that than in D.C., working for the legislative branch?”
Buenaventura has gained a lot from the experience, from improving his work ethic and time management to honing his ability to communicate complex topics clearly and concisely. One of his classes in D.C. features a “weekly briefing” assignment in which students summarize current events in just minutes – or even seconds. The assignment is meant to mimic how aides brief the president.
“Being here has really broadened my perspective about opportunities that are available to us,” Buenaventura said. “There is so much more after graduation that you can take advantage of, that you don’t have to limit yourself to the opportunities you find in L.A. The opportunities here in D.C. are quite literally endless.”
