PL SC 177N: Politics & Government in Washington, D.C.
Go inside politics and government during a trip to D.C. over Spring Break. The political science program organizes a student trip to Washington, D.C., over Spring Break during every odd-numbered year. The next trip will take place over Spring Break 2023. The trip is a required portion of the course PL SC 177N (GS/GH). The class is taught by Dr. Robert Speel, Associate Professor of Political Science. Dr. Maggie Shum, Assistant Professor of Political Science, will also accompany the group in Washington, D.C., in 2023.
The exact itinerary will not be determined until February of 2023, but on past such trips, the group has met with all of our local members of Congress, with officials at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Organization of American States, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the embassies of Australia, Romania, Botswana, India, Ireland, Canada, Jamaica, Estonia. Bulgaria, Latvia, Slovakia, and Indonesia. We have toured the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the C-SPAN studios. We have participated in seminars held in the Supreme Court chambers, Ford's Theatre, and the Federal Reserve Board room. Among the highlights of the trip will be meetings or tours with Penn State Behrend alumni who work on Capitol Hill, for federal government agencies, as policy analysts, or as political consultants in Washington.
We always visit Arlington National Cemetery and all the most famous monuments and memorials. Free time is provided to visit museums such as the International Spy Museum, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the various Smithsonian Museums, as well as the National Zoo. Students have also attended major sports and entertainment events in Washington, D.C., during the evening. Students should be aware that many of the places and people we visit during the week are only available to student groups in Washington and not to individual tourists. Some of the places we visit may provide the only opportunity some will have in their lives to tour certain government buildings or meet with certain officials in Washington.
The trip is associated with the political science course POLSC 177N (GS/GH), and students will be required to sign up for either a 3-credit or 1-credit version of the course in order to take the trip. The 3-credit version of the course will involve class meetings on campus before and after the trip. In addition, the 3-credit version of the class will involve assigned readings, quizzes, some research, and short papers appropriate for a 3-credit course.
The 1-credit version of the course will include participation in the trip and a paper to be written after the trip. It is intended for students who would like to participate in the trip to Washington, but who don't necessarily need a 3-credit political science or general education course. The course and trip are open to students in all majors. There is no prerequisite.
In Washington, our group will stay at The River Inn hotel in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. The hotel is located near a Washington Metro (subway) station. Each room in the hotel contains two queen-sized beds, a pull-out sofa bed, a full kitchen, a television, furniture, a private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, and closet space. Students are responsible for finding their own form of transportation to Washington, D.C.
The cost for the trip, per student, for an eight-night stay in the hotel, will be $600 for students who stay three to a room (by utilizing the sofa bed). Students who stay two to a room will need to pay more. Some travel expenses and admissions fees related to the course are being covered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Endowment Fund and generous donations from some of our alumni and alumnae.
Students will also be responsible for their own food and incidental expenses while in Washington. Students will be able to eat meals cheaply in their rooms if they prefer by using the kitchens present in each room. We will generally eat lunch at area food courts or cafeterias. Students should plan on bringing or having available approximately $200 in personal spending money. ATM bank machines are available throughout Washington. Penn State students registered full-time in Spring 2023 will incur no additional tuition costs for the course or trip.
Brochures with a full explanation of the trip are available at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences office (170 Kochel). To register for the trip and course, students must submit a non-refundable deposit in the form of cash, check, money order, or credit card in the amount of $200 to Penn State University, along with a completed course registration form and course fee form, to Kristen Gincott in the School of H&SS Office, 170 Kochel, by December 2, 2022.
The $200 will serve as a non-refundable deposit to reserve a space on the trip. The remaining $400 cost of the trip will be due to Kristen Gincott by January 30, 2023.
Photos from previous trips can be found below.
For more information about the trip and course, pick up a copy of the brochure, or email Dr. Speel with any questions.
Photos from Previous Trips
Past Programs
Photos were taken during the 2023 spring break politics and government study trip to Washington, D.C.
Students meet with Representative Guy Reschenthaler, a Penn State Behrend alumnus, in the U.S. Capitol's House Rules Committee room during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students visit the FDR Memorial with Fala the Scottish Terrier during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Senator Casey arrives for meeting with Penn State Behrend students outside the U.S. Capitol. The meeting took place during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students met with Senator Casey outside the U.S. Capitol during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students met with Senator Bob Casey at the Capitol Steps during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students had an impromptu meeting with Representative Summer Lee in the Cannon House Office Building during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Students left messages for Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the Cannon House Office Building during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students met with Representative Mike Kelly at the Capitol Steps in Washington, D.C. during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip.
Penn State Behrend students met with Andrei Muraru, Ambassador of Romania to the United States, at the ambassador’s home on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C. during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip.
Andrei Muraru, Ambassador of Romania to the United States, and other Romanian Embassy diplomats meet with Penn State Behrend students at the ambassador’s home. The meeting took place during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students attended a briefing in the Simon Bolivar Room at the Organization of American States during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Andrei Muraru, Ambassador of Romania to the United States, and other Romanian Embassy diplomats meet with Penn State Behrend students at the ambassador’s home. The meeting took place during the 2023 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Photos were taken during past spring break politics and government study trips in Washington, D.C. Years included are 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
Penn State Behrend students toured inside the White House in March 2019.
A group of Penn State Behrend students in Washington, D.C., as part of the course Political Science 177, met a group of Penn State Behrend political science alumni, most of whom had taken the same course when they were students. The event was held at Whitlow's in Arlington in March 2019.
Penn State Behrend students met C-SPAN's Steve Scully and Brian Lamb in Washington, D.C., during Spring Break in March 2019.
Congressman Guy Reschenthaler, a Penn State Behrend Political Science alumnus, met with current students on Capitol Hill in March 2019.
Penn State Behrend students met with Pennsylvania's U.S. Senator Bob Casey in Washington, D.C., during Spring Break in March 2019.
Penn State Behrend students had a briefing at the Romanian Embassy in Washington, D.C., during Spring Break in March 2019.
Penn State Behrend students visited the Einstein Memorial in Washington, D.C., during Spring Break in March 2019.
Penn State Behrend students toured the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., during Spring Break in March 2019.
Penn State Behrend students visited the World Bank in Washington, D.C., during Spring Break in March 2019.
Penn State Behrend students meet with U.S. Senator Bob Casey at the Russell Senate Office Building during the 2017 spring break trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students visit the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C., during the 2017 spring break study trip.
Penn State Behrend students meet with U.S. Representative Glenn "G.T." Thompson at the Capitol Visitor Center during the 2017 spring break trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students play gamelan instruments at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C., during the 2017 spring break politics and government trip.
Penn State Behrend students meet with Steve Scully from C-SPAN during the 2017 spring break politics and government study trip in Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students meet with the Slovakian Ambassador at the Slovak Embassy during the 2017 spring break politics and government trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend and Ryerson University students meet with Erie native Steve Scully, senior executive producer and political editor at C-SPAN, in Washington, D.C., in 2015.
Students also posted about the 2015 Washington, D.C., trip on social media using the hashtag #BehrendinDC.
Penn State Behrend and Ryerson University students meet the Latvian Ambassador to the United States, Andris Razans, at the Latvian Embassy during their study trip to Washington, D.C., in 2015.
Students also posted about the 2015 Washington, D.C., trip on social media using the hashtag #BehrendinDC.
Penn State Behrend and Ryerson University students stop at the White House North Portico after a White House tour during their 2015 spring break study trip.
Students also posted about the 2015 Washington, D.C., trip on social media using the hashtag #BehrendinDC.
Penn State Behrend students and Ryerson University students visit the National Archives during their spring break study trip to Washington, D.C., in 2015.
Students also posted about the 2015 Washington, D.C., trip on social media using the hashtag #BehrendinDC.
Students visit the Albert Einstein Memorial during Penn State Behrend's 2013 spring break study trip to Washington, D.C.
Students stand under the flags of the Organization of American States during their 2013 study trip to Washington, D.C.
Students spending spring break 2013 in Washington, D.C., stand in front of the Spirit of Haida Gwaii sculpture at the Canadian Embassy.
A group of students stop for a photo at the front entrance to the Bulgarian Embassy on their trip to Washington, D.C., in 2013.
Students on the Penn State Behrend 2013 study trip to Washington, D.C., meet with Representative Glenn Thompson on the Capitol Steps.
Students meet with Representative Mike Kelly in the House Ways and Means Committee Room during the Penn State Behrend spring break study trip to Washington, D.C., in 2013.
During the 2013 spring break study trip to Washington, D.C., Penn State Behrend students meet with Senator Pat Toomey at his office conference room.
Students meet with Senator Bob Casey in the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda during the Penn State Behrend spring break study trip to Washington, D.C., in 2013.
Students on the 2011 Penn State Behrend study trip to Washington, D.C., took a group photo beneath the Organization of American States flags.
Students Marla Whitney, Caley Yakemowicz, and Kacie Scheuer show off their Senate Gallery passes during the Penn State Behrend study trip to Washington, D.C., in 2011.
Students listen to former Congressman Phil English (left) and alumnus and USAFMC Executive Director Pete Weichlein (right) during the 2011 spring break trip to Washington, D.C.
On the 2011 Penn State Behrend study trip to Washington, D.C., student Marla Whitney asks the Pentagon to give peace a chance.
Student Zane Walter stands at the entrance to Ford's Theatre during the Penn State Behrend spring break study trip to Washington, D.C., in 2011.
Students Alex Joyal, Maya Hoffman, Ashley Tidd, and Jason Grossman stand in front of the White House during the 2011 Penn State Behrend study trip to Washington, D.C.
Penn State Behrend students look up at the Library of Congress during their 2011 visit.