Internships
Political science major Sydney DeVoe as an intern on the set of Fox 5 News in New York City.
Internships give students hands-on experience in an occupational field through monitored work or service. Along with volunteer work, summer service projects, research, summer jobs, and study abroad, they provide invaluable experiential learning and tools for career development.
Internships may be paid or unpaid, for the summer or a semester, part of a large established program or crafted by or for an individual.
Students who pursue internships and other experiential learning opportunities can often build those experiences into senior thesis research projects.
Political Science Internship Program
The Political Science department helps facilitate internships with organizations in South Bend, including government offices and area non-profits. These internships are available during the spring and fall semesters as well as the summer, and are open to students from any major.
To intern during the academic year, students must be able to work on two different days of the week for a minimum of 6 hours per week, typically between 8:00 to 5:00. It is essential to factor in commute times when reviewing your availability schedule. During the summer, students must intern for a minimum of 120 hours over 6 weeks. For questions contact slandis@nd.edu.
Getting Started
- We are now accepting applications for the Summer 2024!
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply early! The application process can take 2-3 weeks, and most local internship providers accept only 1 or 2 interns per semester.
- You will need to submit the application along with your resume and a statement of interest.
- All internships during the fall, spring, or summer are worth 1 elective credit and do not count for the Political Science major.
Expectations and Responsibilities
- Apply to only one internship at a time and only if you intend to accept.
- Students who accept an offer and then renege will no longer be eligible to apply for any future department internships or internship funding.
- Students who accept internship offers are expected to enroll in the Political Science Department's Internship course POLS 35901/35902.
- Students who accept an offer but instead work as a volunteer or who register for another internship course without prior approval from the Political Science Department will no longer be eligible to apply for future department internships or internship funding.
- POLS 35901/POLS 35902 is a 1-credit/2-credit course. There are brief assignments to encourage students to get the most out of their experience. The course is graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory and does not count towards the Political Science major.
Summer Internships
Summer is a great time to intern. Many organizations in government, law, and policy have internship opportunities, and students gain an immersive career development experience. Finding an internship can take several weeks, and students are encouraged to begin their search early, and use resources available through Career Development. Political Science majors have access to a wide array of funding opportunities to help defray internship expenses.