Select a Concentration
All participants select one of several areas of concentration, including
- Environmental and Sustainability Policy Studies
- Global Health Policy Studies
- Global Women’s Leadership Development
- Inside Washington: Politics and Policy
- International and Foreign Policy Studies
This program gives qualified students the opportunity to work with people and resources in the nation’s capital so as to understand better the dynamics of American politics and policymaking.
What You Will Do
Under the direction of WII faculty and staff, students participate in seminars with governmental officials, lobbyists, and media representatives; they secure an internship within a governmental office or non-governmental organization, political parties, interest groups, research organizations, or the media; and they complete a major research project on a current issue or policy problem. Candidates must apply to the College in order to be nominated to WII. Semester participants pay Ursinus tuition, room and fees (but not board) and their Ursinus financial aid travels. Summer participants pay tuition, room and fees directly to WII and pay for their own meals, but Ursinus aid does not travel. Interested students should contact Sue Valerio Sladen.
- <div class="row"> <div class="widget-image col-sm-5"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2136,3200/19686_Thomson.rev.1513626058.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2136,3200/19686_Thomson.rev.1513626058.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2136,3200/19686_Thomson.rev.1513626058.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2136,3200/19686_Thomson.rev.1513626058.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2136,3200/19686_Thomson.rev.1513626058.jpg" alt="Photo of Blake Thomson" width="392" height="488" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2136,3200/19686_Thomson.rev.1513626058.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2136,3200/19686_Thomson.rev.1513626058.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2136" data-max-h="3200" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <div class="widget-content col"> <div class="eyebrow"> Meet Our Students </div> <h4 class="h1 title"> <a href="/live/profiles/3527-blake-thomson">Blake Thomson</a> </h4> <div class="profile-class-year"> Class of Class of 2018 </div> <div class="profile-major"> International Relations and Theater </div> <div class="profile-hometown"> Internship Location: Charney Research </div> <div class="read-more"> <a href="/live/profiles/3527-blake-thomson" class="btn purple-button">Meet Blake</a> </div> </div> </div>
- <div class="row"> <div class="widget-image col-sm-5"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/19685_Rohrer.rev.1513626058.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/19685_Rohrer.rev.1513626058.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/19685_Rohrer.rev.1513626058.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/19685_Rohrer.rev.1513626058.JPG 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/19685_Rohrer.rev.1513626058.JPG" alt="Photo of Charlotte Rohrer" width="392" height="488" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/19685_Rohrer.rev.1513626058.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/19685_Rohrer.rev.1513626058.JPG 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2133" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <div class="widget-content col"> <div class="eyebrow"> Meet Our Students </div> <h4 class="h1 title"> <a href="/live/profiles/3529-charlotte-rohrer">Charlotte Rohrer</a> </h4> <div class="profile-class-year"> Class of 2019 </div> <div class="profile-major"> Politics and International Relations </div> <div class="profile-hometown"> Internship Location: Washington Institute </div> <div class="read-more"> <a href="/live/profiles/3529-charlotte-rohrer" class="btn purple-button">Meet Charlotte</a> </div> </div> </div>
- <div class="row"> <div class="widget-image col-sm-5"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,720,960/19688_Engber.rev.1513626058.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,720,960/19688_Engber.rev.1513626058.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,720,960/19688_Engber.rev.1513626058.jpg" alt="Photo of Hannah Engber" width="392" height="488" data-max-w="720" data-max-h="960" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <div class="widget-content col"> <div class="eyebrow"> Meet Our Students </div> <h4 class="h1 title"> <a href="/live/profiles/3526-hannah-engber">Hannah Engber</a> </h4> <div class="profile-class-year"> Class of 2018 </div> <div class="profile-major"> International Relations </div> <div class="profile-hometown"> Richmond VA </div> <div class="read-more"> <a href="/live/profiles/3526-hannah-engber" class="btn purple-button">Meet Hannah</a> </div> </div> </div>
- <div class="row"> <div class="widget-image col-sm-5"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/87/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,808,868/40157_Miranda_Staley.rev.1650463044.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/87/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,808,868/40157_Miranda_Staley.rev.1650463044.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/87/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,808,868/40157_Miranda_Staley.rev.1650463044.jpg" alt="Miranda Staley" width="392" height="488" data-max-w="808" data-max-h="868" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <div class="widget-content col"> <div class="eyebrow"> Meet Our Students </div> <h4 class="h1 title"> <a href="/live/profiles/6419-miranda-staley">Miranda Staley</a> </h4> <div class="profile-class-year"> Class of 2022 </div> <div class="profile-major"> Politics and International Relations </div> <div class="profile-quote"> Difficulties Obtaining Medical Insurance and Care in the U.S. </div> <div class="read-more"> <a href="/live/profiles/6419-miranda-staley" class="btn purple-button">Meet Miranda</a> </div> </div> </div>
- <div class="row"> <div class="widget-image col-sm-5"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/28/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1440/48634_katherine_hein_strousbourg.rev.1728064708.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/28/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1440/48634_katherine_hein_strousbourg.rev.1728064708.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/28/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1440/48634_katherine_hein_strousbourg.rev.1728064708.jpg" alt="katherine hein strousbourg" width="392" height="488" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/28/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1440/48634_katherine_hein_strousbourg.rev.1728064708.jpg 2x" data-max-w="1080" data-max-h="1440" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <div class="widget-content col"> <div class="eyebrow"> Meet Our Students </div> <h4 class="h1 title"> <a href="/live/profiles/10030-katherine-hein-25">Katherine Hein ’25</a> </h4> <div class="profile-class-year"> Class of 2025 </div> <div class="profile-major"> French and Politics </div> <div class="profile-hometown"> Florence, NJ </div> <div class="profile-quote"> Katherine Hein traveled to Strasbourg, France and completed a 12-week internship at Caritas Alsace, an NGO focusing on giving aid. </div> <div class="read-more"> <a href="/live/profiles/10030-katherine-hein-25" class="btn purple-button">Meet Katherine</a> </div> </div> </div>
- <div class="row"> <div class="widget-image col-sm-5"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1375,1835/19687_ClaraKiss.rev.1513626058.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1375,1835/19687_ClaraKiss.rev.1513626058.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1375,1835/19687_ClaraKiss.rev.1513626058.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1375,1835/19687_ClaraKiss.rev.1513626058.JPG 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1375,1835/19687_ClaraKiss.rev.1513626058.JPG" alt="Photo of Clara Kiss" width="392" height="488" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1375,1835/19687_ClaraKiss.rev.1513626058.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1375,1835/19687_ClaraKiss.rev.1513626058.JPG 3x" data-max-w="1375" data-max-h="1835" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <div class="widget-content col"> <div class="eyebrow"> Meet Our Students </div> <h4 class="h1 title"> <a href="/live/profiles/3528-clara-kiss">Clara Kiss</a> </h4> <div class="profile-class-year"> Class of 2018 </div> <div class="profile-major"> International Relations and French </div> <div class="profile-hometown"> Banks, OR </div> <div class="read-more"> <a href="/live/profiles/3528-clara-kiss" class="btn purple-button">Meet Clara</a> </div> </div> </div>
- <div class="row"> <div class="widget-image col-sm-5"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1281,849/47732_connor_rancher.rev.1721899622.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1281,849/47732_connor_rancher.rev.1721899622.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1281,849/47732_connor_rancher.rev.1721899622.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1281,849/47732_connor_rancher.rev.1721899622.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/34/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1281,849/47732_connor_rancher.rev.1721899622.jpg" alt="connor rancher" width="392" height="488" data-max-w="1281" data-max-h="849" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <div class="widget-content col"> <div class="eyebrow"> Meet Our Students </div> <h4 class="h1 title"> <a href="/live/profiles/8689-connor-rancher">Connor Rancher</a> </h4> <div class="profile-class-year"> Class of 2025 </div> <div class="profile-major"> Political Science and Applied Economics Double Major </div> <div class="read-more"> <a href="/live/profiles/8689-connor-rancher" class="btn purple-button">Meet Connor</a> </div> </div> </div>
- <div class="row"> <div class="widget-image col-sm-5"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/39569_Emelyn_Rodriguez_Intern.rev.1645640904.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/39569_Emelyn_Rodriguez_Intern.rev.1645640904.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/39569_Emelyn_Rodriguez_Intern.rev.1645640904.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/39569_Emelyn_Rodriguez_Intern.rev.1645640904.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/39569_Emelyn_Rodriguez_Intern.rev.1645640904.jpg" alt="Emelyn Rodriguez" width="392" height="488" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/39569_Emelyn_Rodriguez_Intern.rev.1645640904.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/39569_Emelyn_Rodriguez_Intern.rev.1645640904.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2400" data-max-h="3200" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <div class="widget-content col"> <div class="eyebrow"> Meet Our Students </div> <h4 class="h1 title"> <a href="/live/profiles/6564-emelyn-rodriguez">Emelyn Rodriguez</a> </h4> <div class="profile-class-year"> Class of Class of 2022 </div> <div class="profile-major"> Politics </div> <div class="profile-hometown"> Internship Location: Judge Stephanie Sawyer, Philadelphia, PA </div> <div class="read-more"> <a href="/live/profiles/6564-emelyn-rodriguez" class="btn purple-button">Meet Emelyn</a> </div> </div> </div>
- <div class="row"> <div class="widget-image col-sm-5"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1024,768/43758_Paige_Bristow_photo.rev.1680628604.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1024,768/43758_Paige_Bristow_photo.rev.1680628604.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/58/width/392/height/488/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1024,768/43758_Paige_Bristow_photo.rev.1680628604.jpg" alt="Paige Bristow" width="392" height="488" data-max-w="1024" data-max-h="768" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <div class="widget-content col"> <div class="eyebrow"> Meet Our Students </div> <h4 class="h1 title"> <a href="/live/profiles/7298-paige-bristow">Paige Bristow</a> </h4> <div class="profile-class-year"> Class of 2023 </div> <div class="profile-major"> International Relations and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology </div> <div class="profile-hometown"> Internship Location: US Department of State, Washington, DC </div> <div class="read-more"> <a href="/live/profiles/7298-paige-bristow" class="btn purple-button">Meet Paige</a> </div> </div> </div>