Foreign Policy Semester

Image of the US Capitol looking from the southeast corner

Foreign Policy Semester in Washington, DC

The LBJ School of Public Affairs is proud to host an immersive spring semester program based in Washington, DC and managed by the LBJ Washington Center. The program is designed to provide participating students with an unparalleled exposure to how foreign policy is created and impacted by entities within the federal arena. Open to second and third year LBJ students as well as University of Texas at Austin juniors and seniors, this program is the perfect option for students who want to experience our nation’s capital for an edge in their job search or to round out their policy experience.

Attend an Info Session!

UT Undergrads: Thursday, September 25, 2024 - 2:30-3:30pmCT
Texas Career Engagement, 2nd Floor of the Flawn Academic Center (FAC)
Details and Registration

Program Details

Course Credit

Earn 9 - 12 hours of course credit and take classes with DC's top public policy professionals. 

DC Internship

Jump-start your career through an internship with a public, private, nonprofit or nongovernmental organization.

LBJ Network

Connect with the LBJ School network in DC, comprised of over 400 alumni!

Course Descriptions

Global Policy Institutions in Washington, DC

This course is designed to introduce students to the variety of institutions, agencies and committees in Washington, DC outside of Congress and the Executive Branch that focus on the making, implementation, evaluation and advocacy of global policy, broadly defined. It will bring in experts from, or involve site visits to, intergovernmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, think tanks and advocacy/lobbying groups that work in the global policy space. The course will unpack these organizations to understand their mandates, governance and operational structures, policies and processes, and influence, as well as how they interact with other key agencies and work to address contemporary policy challenges.

U.S. Foreign Policy

This course will focus on the role of U.S. Congress, the Executive Branch and various U.S. Departments in negotiating, legislating, appropriating, and implementing U.S. foreign policy across a wide array of areas including national and international security, trade, finance, development, environment, energy, immigration, and human rights.

Policy Simulation

Using background reading material and discussions during the first class, the students and professor will choose a topic that deals with an ongoing global policy issue and is under consideration in Washington. In preparation for each subsequent class students will be required to search for relevant information/media stories related to the topic. Students will present this material in class for open discussion. Students will apply knowledge and skills acquired in the other two courses pertaining to institutions, organizations, and processes that play a part in creating global policy at the federal level.

Policy Internship

Students will receive academic credit and jump-start their global career through an internship with a public, private, nonprofit or nongovernmental organization. Internship selection will be student-driven with assistance from their adviser/s and the LBJ Washington Center. Successful completion of the internship will account for three hours of academic credit.

Faculty

Spring 2025 Application is Open!

We are still accepting applications for the spring 2025 semester. 

The deadline for applying for the spring 2025 semester is 11:59pm, Friday, October 18, 2024. 

Apply Now

Spring 2026 Application Opening Soon!

Application for the spring 2026 Foreign Policy Semester in Washington, DC will open in late October.

Program Fees

To cover the operational aspects and the unique services of the DC Spring Semester, students will pay a program fee in addition to regular tuition. This fee will be used to hire expert faculty and cover the incremental costs associated with using the LBJ Washington Center. Students will be responsible for finding their own housing and making travel/relocation arrangements.

Undergraduate Program Fee: $4,500
Graduate Program Fee: $6,000

Headshot of Husnain Ali

"The knowledge I gained has been indispensable and incredibly meaningful to my development as a student and early professional."

- Husnain Ali, Foreign Policy Semester, Spring 2024

Rafael Paz standing in front of a stage with flags in background

"This program has immersed me in foreign policy and equipped me with crucial skills to confidently navigate DC's policy landscape as I begin my career journey."

- Rafael Paz, Foreign Policy Semester, Spring 2024

Headshot of Paras Patel

"The program deepened my understanding of how various governmental institutions and nongovernmental organizations operate in DC and influence policymaking."

- Paras Patel, Foreign Policy Semester, Spring 2024