Internships

The Department of Political Science helps facilitate internships with organizations in South Bend, including government offices and area nonprofits. These internships are available during the spring and fall semesters as well as the summer, and are open to students from any major. Students who pursue internships and other experiential learning opportunities can often build those experiences into senior thesis research projects.

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. 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 six weeks.

Getting started

Internship applications are reviewed on a rolling basis three times per calendar year:

• For the Fall 2025 Semester: Apply between March 1-31 for priority consideration

• For the Spring 2026 Semester: Apply between October 1-31 for priority consideration

• For Summer 2025: Apply between March 1-31 for priority consideration

• Apply early! The application process can take two to three weeks, and most local internship providers accept only one or two 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 terms are worth one elective credit and do not count for the Political Science major.

• Current internship partners include:

  • Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic

  • St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office

  • Juvenile Justice Center (Public Defender’s Office)

  • Alliance for Catholic Education Program for Educational Access

  • City of Elkhart

  • City of Goshen

  • City of Mishawaka

  • City of South Bend*

  • WNIT-TV

  • Notre Dame University Press 

* Students interested in this position must submit two separate applications: One via the City and one via the Department.)

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 future department internships or internship funding.

• Students who accept internship offers are expected to enroll in the Political Science Department’s 3-credit course, 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.

Summer internships

Summer is a great time to intern. Many government, law, and policy organizations 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 are encouraged to use resources available through Meruelo Family Center for Career Development. Political Science majors have access to an array of funding opportunities to help defray internship expenses.