Beginning in the spring of 2027, students will have the option to study in Washington, D.C., with a focus on just their academics. The new “Sophomore Experience” track is part of an expanded DC Scholar program meant to appeal to students earlier in their educational careers. Open to undergraduates from every Syracuse school and college, the expanded DC Scholar program lets you engage with the world’s most important institutions.

Undergraduate students have long been able to participate in the Maxwell-in-Washington semester-long study away program, traditionally comprised of an internship during the day and classes at night. The new offering helps students make progress on their degrees with no internship requirement, allowing them to build the skills and networks they will need when they are ready to take the first steps on their professional journeys.

“We’ve heard from a growing number of students who want the D.C. experience but aren’t quite ready for a full-time internship,” says Nayyera Haq, assistant dean for Maxwell-in-Washington. “We’re excited to now be able to welcome them, and to provide access to all that Washington, D.C., has to offer—including unique exposure to subject area experts and think tanks—while they continue to work toward their degree.”

The program’s established “Professional” track—with internships and evening classes—will still be available, open to upperclassmen who intern with government agencies, nonprofits and private-sector organizations during the day while taking classes in the evening.

Haq says the new academic-focused opportunity allows more students to build a relationship with Maxwell-in-Washington that could ultimately span multiple semesters of their academic careers, from the Sophomore Experience academic immersion to a full professional internship as a junior or senior.

Since the start of the Maxwell-in-Washington program, students have interned at more than 200 offices in Washington, including the White House, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, NASA, CNN, the Brookings Institution, Human Rights Watch and several federal departments, among others. Students have gained not only connections, but all the lessons and benefits that come from hands-on learning.

“The time I’ve spent working on Capitol Hill with the House Oversight Committee has been so enlightening and beneficial,” says junior Sofie Daniszewski. “I’ve worked on legislative projects on topics spanning from homelessness to healthcare access. I’m looking forward to continuing to meet new people, make connections, build my resume and explore what DC and Syracuse have to offer here!”

Course offerings for all DC Scholar participants span international and domestic policy topics, including politics, economics, media, communications, law and policy. Students do not need to be Maxwell majors to partake in the DC Scholar program; certain online courses to complete other degree programs can be taken from Washington, to ensure students stay on track for their specific degree programs.