Washington, DC

Programs in our nation’s capital offer students within four of Pepperdine’s schools hands-on learning about government and policy, with access to resources exclusive to the District of Columbia. 

During a time when the intricacy of international relations has possibly never been more pertinent to global safety and the future of democracy, a visit to our nation’s capital has become an event that holds more significance than a simple opportunity to see the Lincoln Memorial and buy a trinket from one of the region’s many gift shops. In fact, the experience is considered so important that Pepperdine has officially deemed its Washington, DC, program as one of its official International Program sites, given its powerful influence on the US and the world at large. With many options of study, internships, and externships available to undergraduate students at Seaver College as well as those pursuing graduate-level degrees at the School of Public Policy, Caruso School of Law, and the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine has built a robust offering of educational and professional experiences for our gifted scholars, so they may begin making a difference in the political landscape even before graduation.

Through the DC internship program, former student participants have gained on-the-job knowledge from placements at the White House, the Department of State, the Smithsonian, the United Nations, MSNBC, and several additional governmental, charitable, and media organizations. Caruso School of Law’s DC Externship Semester program provides full-time placements to students at NGOs, nonprofits, and lobbying firms, and supplements those externships with intensive classroom study focused on lawyering skills and legal writing expertise tailored specifically to conducting work in the nation’s capital. The Graduate School of Education and Psychology offers a master’s in social entrepreneurship, which includes a curriculum completed in DC. Lastly, the School of Public Policy, alongside partnering organization the Trinity Forum, periodically hosts “evening conversations” at the National Press Club in DC, discussing topics regarding the intersection of faith and public policy. The school also offers students seeking a master of public policy degree the option to complete a capstone semester in DC, familiarizing them with the district that may likely become their future professional home.