Current students

The Jesuit emphasis on building a solid intellectual foundation in students is the cornerstone of the Les Aspin program. Whether you're enrolled for a summer or a semester, you'll find the integration of classroom and internship experiences to be one of the most important components of your undergraduate career. The curriculum includes:

• courses in public policy, the arts and culture
• interest group politics
• U.S. Congressional politics
• foreign policy and international relations

You'll visit government agencies such as the Pentagon, the Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency, embassies, and museums, galleries, theaters, and architectural and historical monuments. You'll also engage in presentations by speakers such as Congressmen James Sensenbrenner and Paul Ryan.

Take advantage of the frequent group functions. They give you the opportunity to share insight from your internship experiences and learn from your peers about the opportunities they've enjoyed. You're gaining invaluable experience and networks that will help form your future career.

Current students

• Program academics
• Internship programs
• Study abroad
• Explore Washington, D.C.

• Marquette's program in Washington, now the Les Aspin Center, was a substantial part of my decision to engage in politics for the betterment of society.
  • Honorable Pedro Colón
    First Hispanic elected to Wisconsin state legislature
    Milwaukee County circuit court judge
• Marquette's Washington program provided me with a solid academic understanding of Capitol Hill, in addition to the exposure of daily life and work here.
  • Tim Yehl
    Former chief of staff
    U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (N.J.)
• Interning at the Les Aspin Center in Washington played a big role in advancing my career on Capitol Hill.
  • Steve Radke
    Vice president of government relations
    Northwestern Mutual
• My internship in the mayor's office has been an amazing experience. I have learned so much about how city government works.
  • Sheena Adams
    Kleczka Internship: Milwaukee mayor's office
    Major: Marketing

Quick fact:

• 2,200 students have graduated from Les Aspin Center programs.
• More than 50 alumni work as professional staff members in the U.S. Congress.
• We've trained more than 400 African leaders on democracy.
• Students intern at nearly 100 congressional offices, the White House, the FDA, the Department of Defense and more.
• Students live only four blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
• We welcome students majoring in biomedical science, business, communication, engineering, nursing and political science.
• We've been taking students to Africa for nearly 20 years.
• Our biomedical engineering students have interned at the FDA for 15 years.