The program, housed in the College of Communications under the direction of Robert D. Richards, has placed students in internships with various senate and congressional offices as well as other prestigious organizations, including the White House's Office of the Vice President, CNN and the Children's Defense Fund. While in D.C., students are offered a full 12-credit course load taught by distinguished lecturers and Penn State faculty. One such distinguished lecturer and a new addition to the faculty is Charles Bierbauer, senior Washington correspondent for CNN and a Penn State alumnus. Although he has worked with numerous interns at CNN, Bierbauer has found time with the students in a classroom setting to be even more rewarding. Although the program's course offerings and internships were limited to communications students last fall, the program has added an Agricultural Leadership Program under the umbrella of the Washington Program this year.
Plans are already under way to add a political science program next fall.