Politics and Economics

Curricular Global Learning

Intern on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., engage with the Equal Justice Initiative, or learn about the history of apartheid while traveling in South Africa.

Washington D.C.
Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

On this spring term program, students join the staff of a U.S. senator or representative as a full-time intern and get an insider’s view of life on Capitol Hill. While daily tasks may start out small, students eventually gain access to mentors in the political world, attend hearings, handle correspondence, or even brief aides and elected officials on important issues. For more than 50 years, the Washington Intern Program has helped Exeter seniors see how the legislative branch works, while living and learning in the nation’s capital. Open to seniors.

Spring term: Early March through May.

South Africa
Three students looking out at a mountain range

South Africa is a destination that affords our students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of apartheid, the truth and reconciliation process, and the natural beauty and animal habitats of the country, and to learn about and engage with South Africa’s education and community leadership systems. Students engage in cross cultural exchanges with schools and organizations that develop understanding of collective memory and identity. We visit historical and cultural sites in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and along the Wild Coast. This program is offered in partnership with Envoys, a regular travel partner for Exeter’s off-campus experiences.

Spring break.

Alabama

Established after Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson’s inspirational assembly in 2015, Exeter’s trip to Montgomery, Alabama, provides an opportunity for our students to step into close proximity with instances of racial, judicial and economic injustice. The trip’s focus is on American history as it frames our current events and the social justice implications for our future. Attendees soak up Southern culture while exploring the history of Alabama, visiting sites associated with slave trade and the Civil Rights movement, examining the theory that slavery still exists today in the form of mass incarceration, thinking critically about the justice system, and collaborating on ways in which they can be involved in the sharing of knowledge and ideas.

Thanksgiving break.