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Cornerstone DC is part of the AU University College living-learning community that combines the best elements of college life—meeting new people, residence hall living, studying with top-notch professors—with a Spring internship experience. Joining the Cornerstone DC community helps you make the most of your first year, which focuses on professional growth and development.

AU Cornerstone accepts up to 190 students. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Cornerstone program is reserved for full time, first year degree-seeking students at AU; therefore, financial aid is available for those who qualify and may be applied to this program. The Cornerstone DC program does not have any additional costs for students to join. For information about financing options, consult with your university financial aid counselor.

Students of AU Cornerstone are also University College (UC) students. AU Cornerstone students are a part of a UC cohort and will be housed with that cohort. Cohort placement is determined by your chosen Complex Problems seminar. Housing & Residence Life at AU will assign students to their cohort floor. Not all members of your UC cohort will be in AU Cornerstone. If you'd like to be with another AU Cornerstone student in your cohort, you can match with them during the roommate matching process.

University College housing is mandatory for Cornerstone students. 

AU Cornerstone students will move in August 2025 on a specified date. More information will come later.

Here is a breakdown of program costs for AU. 

There are no additional costs for the Cornerstone D.C. program.

International students in F-1 immigration status are eligible for on-campus professional learning placements for 20 hours/week as part of Cornerstone’s Practicum class. Note that international students in F-1 immigration status are NOT eligible for off-campus placements and therefore receive special support to confirm an on-campus internship placement. After one academic year of full-time AU enrollment, students are eligible for off campus employment and/or internships through Curricular Practical Training.

There are usually no prerequisites to getting an internship, though some internships may be seeking certain fields of study. You will intern two or three days each week. The required Cornerstone Practicum course does not have an prerequistites either, all you need to take that required course is to have confirmed an internship. The Practicum is graded – comprised of the practicum supervisor evaluation (one at mid-term and one at the end of semester; 40% of the final grade) and the Practicum professor's course grade (60% of the final grade).

You are given the tools to secure placement on your own, with guidance from your Cornerstone staff and professors. 

You will work with program staff to create and finalize your resume and cover letter. Then, you are given access to the AU Intern and Learn Internship Database, which has hundreds of leads exclusively available for our students. You will also have access to the Handshake platform, which also has hundreds of internship opportunities. Cornerstone staff will work with you the entire fall semester to help you find internships to apply to. 

You will also have the opportunity to attend a virtual and in-person internship fair, where you can meet with dozens of organizations to discuss the possibility of securing an internship. In addition, you also attend events hosted by AU Cornerstone and Career Center staff focused on helping you learn how to be a working professional.

You can obtain a placement in a variety of fields. In the past, students have had placements with Congressional Offices, lobbyists, nonprofits, veterinarian offices, art companies, research institutions, and businesses. The job responsibilities vary from position to position. Students in the Cornerstone program are required to do 150 hours in their internship during the Spring semester, which averages to about 10 hours per week.

After securing an internship, you and your supervisor will create and sign an Experiential Learning Form (ELF), which guarantees that 85% of job responsibilities will be substantial (meaning it should not only be coffee runs or making copies). While these tasks may sometimes occur, your overall experience should provide insight into a particular field.

The Experiential Learning Form is reviewed and signed by your supervisor and Practicum professor.

The AU Cornerstone Practicum is led by an AU professor who has been teaching internship courses for several years. The course provides students the opportunity for active learning, collaboration, teamwork, and interactive discussions. 

The class covers different topics on working as a professional in DC, including how to communicate effectively in the workplace, how to start intentionally building your professional skills, how to build a good relationship with your supervisor, how to advocate for DEI in the workplace, how to leverage your current internship to get another experience, and more. Each year, we also host a Cornerstone and AU alumni panel during the spring so students can learn from past students' experiences in Cornerstone, at AU, and after graduating.

You are able to add your name to a waitlist by selecting the waitlist option on the UC and Cornerstone Reservation Form. There are no guarantees a spot will open, though you can still be included in University College. 

You have access to the Academic Support and Access Center (ASAC) on AU's campus. ASAC can be reached by phone at 202-885-3360. More information about ASAC accommodations and services is available online.

New requests for accommodation should follow the Three-Step process.

You have full access to all AU facilities and activities. These include computer labs, library, fitness centers, resource centers, clubs, campus events including noteworthy guest speakers.