The Jesuit emphasis on building a solid intellectual foundation in students is the cornerstone of the Les Aspin program. Whether students enroll for a summer or a semester, they find the integration of classroom and internship experiences to be one of the most important components of their undergraduate careers. The curriculum includes:

• Courses in public policy, art and culture
• Interest group politics
• U.S. Congressional politics
• Foreign policy and international relations

Students visit government agencies such as the Pentagon, Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency and Embassies, as well as various museums, galleries, theaters, architectural and historical monuments. Students also engage in presentations by speakers such as Congressman Mark Greene and Congressman Paul Ryan.

Frequent group functions in the structured yet informal setting allow students the opportunity to share insight from their respective internship experiences.