Who is eligible to apply?

The Harrisburg Semester program is open to all eligible Penn State students of any major, although most students have come from majors like Political Science, Public Policy, Communications, History, Sociology, Business, and IST. The program operates in the spring and summer.  The program matches Penn State's academic calendar for spring semester and covers both summer sessions.  For more information see Program Costs. We also will accept and work with students applying from other universities (outside the Penn State system) to ensure that the Penn State credits will transfer to their institution of higher education.

Note: This is an academic program, akin to education abroad, only we aim at total immersion in the world of politics and policy making in Harrisburg. We are NOT a placement service for students looking for internships. We seek students committed to full participation in the Harrisburg Semester program. That means registering for the required three credit seminar class (PUBPL 490) and other credits as described on the homepage. In addition, there typically are a number of extracurricular activities, some that are recommended, some required.

We prefer that students have earned 60 credits prior to participating in the Harrisburg Semester. A minimum 3.0 grade-point average is required. We have, however, accepted some younger students and students who do not meet the minimum GPA. In these cases, we expect to see strong letters of recommendation and evidence of high motivation and commitment. For example, some students already have successfully completed career related work/volunteer experiences, or have high grades within their major.

Why I Should Apply Early?

We will be accepting applications starting late in fall semester. The earlier the better. For example, some internship sites begin interviewing students for summer slots in late February and extend offers by mid-March. The later you apply, the narrower the range of your options. We will accept applications on a rolling basis, though we cannot guarantee acceptance and placement for students who apply late. Apply Now!