Curriculum
The DC Start curriculum is designed to provide a jumpstart for first semester policy students who want to pursue careers in national and international public affairs. During their first semester as Cornell undergraduates, DC Start Scholars will take a signature immersive learning course in applied public policy that offers close-up exposure to policymaking and political process in the Nation’s Capital alongside first semester coursework required for the Brooks School public policy and health care policy majors. This curriculum will allow DC Start Scholars to seamlessly advance in their majors back in Ithaca, NY during their spring semester at Cornell.
DC Start Scholars will also have the opportunity to take elective courses on policy-related topics like Inside Government taught by former Congressman Steve Israel, Director of the Institute on Politics and Global Affairs at the Brooks School, Political Journalism with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Samuel Fulwood, and Constitutional Law with Ronald Christie, a veteran senior advisor in both the White House and the U.S. Congress, in addition to engaging with Cornell alumni and other policy leaders working in D.C. public policy-related fields.
Student Life
Housed in apartment-style single and double residences, DC Start Scholars will pursue their coursework in the Wolpe Center’s dedicated classrooms alongside a close-knit cohort of 40 of their Brooks School classmates. They will participate in a tailored slate of cultural activities– including small group conversations with policy leaders, behind-the-scenes visits to major D.C. landmarks and historic sites, and social events on Capitol Hill– designed to engage them in life in the city. And they will experience the same excellent support and guidance that our student services teams offer on our Ithaca campus, including live-in residential life and student support staff and access to Brooks School academic and career advisors.
Small classes, stellar faculty, apartment-style living, and an intimate community of learning make the DC Start experience an inspiring introduction to college life.
LOCATION
Located at the corner of 22nd and O Streets in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, the Wolpe Center sits in a tree-lined historic section of Washington D.C. within walking distance of nearly all of the main attractions of the city’s cultural and civic life. DC Start Scholars can stroll through Georgetown’s shopping district, experience the lively cultural landscape of Adams Morgan, visit the Phillips Collection art museum around the corner, run and bike on the Rock Creek Park trail system, or hop on the Metro to the White House or the museums on the National Mall. Wolpe Center’s location is truly extraordinary and offers Cornell first year students an unparalleled experience living and studying in the Nation’s Capital.
HOUSING
The Wolpe Center is equipped with single and double residence apartments that include their own bathroom and kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, stove, and microwave. Wolpe Center residence life staff and graduate resident fellows live side-by-side with DC Start Scholars to provide support and guidance. The building is equipped with 24-hour cameras and a monitored security system. Classrooms and a student commons provide ample space for studying. Both meal plan and cook-at-home options will be available. A student lounge offers a gathering place to hang out, plug-in, and socialize.
ACTIVITIES
Wolpe Center staff organize visits to important sites like the White House, the Capitol, and the museums of National Mall. The nearby Rock Creek Park trails system offers a venue for walking, biking, and running, and local gyms and studios offer plenty of other options for exercise. Wolpe Center staff also organize weekend and weeknight activities, like game and movie nights for students who want to stay in and enjoy the comforts of apartment life.
Why start in D.C.?
Expand your network
D.C. is a hub for policymakers, politicians, and leaders, giving you the chance to make valuable connections right away.
Real-world learning
Study in the heart of the Nation’s Capital where history, politics, and culture come to life outside the classroom.
Create a strong community
Build lasting relationships with students who share your interests and passions from day one.
Building on the decades of success of the Brooks School’s Cornell In Washington program, DC Start is a new, life-changing opportunity for first semester public policy undergraduates to jump-start their learning at Cornell.
– Colleen Barry, Dean
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