Students often find that internships enhance their practical knowledge of politics and provide them with valuable work experience as well as useful contacts. Students are strongly encouraged to seek out these opportunities. Internships might be combined with academic work in independent studies for course credit.

Many students have found many rewarding opportunities in Washington D.C. through the Orthodox Union - Institute for Public Affairs program.

Below you will find a listing of a small sample of the many internship options. Look them over carefully. You should also consult some of the many internship search engines anddatabases available online.

TheEverett Public Service Internships Program places students into internships and provides them with a small stipend (presently $230 weekly). Summer housing is available in Washington, D.C. at Catholic University,Georgetown, and American University.

For numerous listings, see the Politix websites directly below.

Washington D.C. Internships
Think Tanks and Advocacy Organizations 
Foreign Affairs Careers in the United States
Other United States Government Opportunities

Journalism

ABC News
The Associated Press(November deadline)
NBC News
New York Times Summer Internship(November deadline)
The Nation Internship Program(small stipend, New York)

International and Domestic Politics and Policy

ADL Summer Internship(Anti-Defamation League) - New York
AIPAC(American Israel Public Affairs Committee; pro-Israel lobby)
American Foreign Policy Council
American Jewish World Service(international aid and justice)
Brookings Institutions(Washington, DC)
Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs(New York)
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace(Junior Research Fellows)
The Carter Center Internship Program
Century Foundation(a progressive research foundation; New York and DC).
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities(numerous internships; paid and part-paid in media, health policy, housing, income security, etc.)
Children's Defense Fund(Washington, DC)
Common Cause(liberal activist organization)
Council on Foreign Relations(Paid; New York and DC)
Henry L. Stimson Center
Hillel
Human Rights Watch
International Careers and Internships in US Government Foreign Affairs
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Manhattan Institute(conservative think tank)
Middle East Institute, School of International and Public Affairs (Columbia University). Multiple listings.
Moving Ideas Network(a listing of 20 policy internships)
National Center for Children in Poverty(Columbia University)
NOW Legal Momentum (paid and unpaid, New York and D.C.)
NYPIRG(New York Public Interest Group)
Virtual Israel Experience- (dozens of listings) Political Internships: New York, US, InternationalWorld Policy Institute(New York; paid and unpaid)
Women in International Security
White House Project(an organization dedicated to advancing women's leadership)

Additional listings can be found at the websites of national advocacy organizations and think tanks. For a listing of many such organizations, see Think Tanks and Public Interest Organizations.  


Government Internships

City

New York City Mayor’s Office and City Council
New York City- Multiple listings in city government.

Everett Public Service Internships Database– Internships with organizations involved in poverty, health care, the environment, and more.

NYC Summer Internships - Recent participating agencies include: Department of Transporation, Economic Development, Youth and Community Development, Homeless Services, and Environmental Protection.

New York City Urban Fellows Program ($25,000). For recent graduates; applications due between September through mid-January.

State

New York State Assembly & Senate Internships (paid)

Federal

American Foreign Service Association
StudentJobs.gov
Senator Hillary Clinton Internships
Senator Charles Schumer Internships
White House Internships
Department of State
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Department of Education
Americorps
Securities and Exchange Commission(under Internships)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

International Government

United Nations (UNICEF, International Money Fund, Democracy Watch, Human Rights, and others).

Department Internship Guidelines

Students may also take one internship to count towards satisfaction of the elective requirement. Before students register for internship credit, they need to consult with the department and with the advising center to learn of specific requirements and restrictions of these two options.

Further DC internship advice from PolitixGroup: “One of the best ways to find employment in the Washington DC area is to intern. Whether it is for the United States Congress, the White House, a think tank, political parties, or another branch of the government, DC internships offer you an experience that is a unique perspective and an excellent complement to your education and/or your political aspirations

While summer is the most convenient time for many young people to intern in DC, spring and fall is the best time to apply for internships. Competition is fierce for internship slots in the summer, while during the other parts of the year, it is easier to get selected.

Washington, DC is an expensive city in which to live. The fact that most internships are unpaid does not help. It is important to have either some money saved, family financial backing, or to consider even a part-time job while you are up here. While it is expensive, don't let that deter you from pursuing an internship. The long-term political experience that you will gain will definitely outweigh the short-term financial strain.

Whether you go on to a career in politics or not, an internship in Washington, DC will provide you with a valuable learning experience which will serve you well in whatever career you choose to pursue. Interns, especially interns in DC, run the city and are regarded as a precious commodity, whether they are opening mail or helping to draft policy. Besides learning a great deal, they also have a lot of fun. We cannot recommend internships enough to students, and hope that everyone will have the chance to have the experience.”http://www.politixgroup.com/dcintern.htm

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