Why work as an intern? | Credit for Internships
–Photo by Claire Cooper
Internships are an important option for professional development at most schools in the U.S., and increasingly throughout the world. Each year majors in Political Science work as interns in a variety of places including governments (legislatures, executive agencies, courts), politics (political parties, campaigns, political advocacy organizations), interest groups, nonprofits, law firms, research organizations, k-12 schools and universities, and museums and historical sites.
By definition, internships are a way to learn by doing. This is important as today’s employers rank ‘workplace skills and experiences’ very high on their list of preferable college grads who are applying for jobs [1]. But how can you develop your workplace skills and experiences as a college student? Internships are one, major tool for you to do so. There are many sources in Political Science, and at UW-Madison in general, that can help you explore the value of internships, research possible workplaces, effectively apply to internships, and make the most of the internship experience once you start work.
Here are some important considerations as you decide whether or not to seek an internship, and to help you determine what type of internship might be right for you.
Why should you work as an intern during your college years?
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Gains Skills and Experience
Internships offer a relatively quick way to gain relevant workplace skills and experiences
Try this exercise. Scan one or more of your preferred job search sites, such as Handshake, Indeed, Idealist, UW Student Jobs, or even the Sunday want ads of a major metropolitan news source. Choose a range of very interesting positions that you would consider taking. Even include positions on your someday ‘wish list’ that you know are currently out of reach. Make a list of the desired or required skills and experiences specified in the ads. How many of these skills and experiences do you currently possess?
You are now facing a dilemma confronted by literally millions of students before you. Although you are prepared to start at the bottom of your preferred career field, you likely don’t meet all the prerequisites to compete for jobs at the entry level. The growing reality is that even entry-level professional positions often requires skills and experiences that colleges and part-time jobs don’t provide. An internship may offer a way out of this common dilemma by providing you relevant training and accumulated hours in your prospective career field while you are still in school.
Explore a Career
Internships offer a relatively risk-free way to explore a possible career path.
Believe it or not, the best internship may be the one that tells you want you don’t want to do for the next ten or twenty years. Think about it. If you put all your eggs in one basket, what
happens if your dream job turns out to be the exact opposite of what you want, or who you are? You may have invested several years in a career field that turns out to be wrong for you. No career guide or diagnostic test can substitute for first-hand experiences gained in your prospective career field.
Get Hired
Internships offer real opportunities to do career networking and can increase your chances of gaining a full-time position upon graduation.
You likely have heard the saying: ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know.’ For good or ill, the reality is who you know (and, equally important, who knows you) can make a big difference in you getting the job you want. Put yourself in the place of a busy supervisor who must hire for a vacant position. You can advertise the position, which requires a formal job announcement, review of resumes, and formal interviews. Or, you can rely on colleagues and subordinates to identify interesting and qualified applicant prospects. Often, supervisors and hiring managers will prefer candidates who are referred by someone they know and trust, or even those candidates who they already know as they are working in the organization. Even employers that do advertise a position don’t always conduct a thorough, full-blown job search. Instead, they employ shortcuts or coping mechanisms to streamline the process. The internship selection and hiring process, and the weeks you actually spend on the job can provide excellent opportunities to talk to professionals about careers and what you hope to do, your skills and traits, and ways to achieve your goals.
Credit for Internships
- Wisconsin in Washington
- PS 315: Political Internships
- Inter-LS 260: Internship in the Liberal Arts & Sciences
Offered in partnership with UW-Madison office of International Academic Programs, the Wisconsin in Washington DC Internship Program provides an academic framework for you to to intern in Washington D.C. with various hosts including U.S. Congress, the White House, executive departments and agencies, public policy advocacy and lobbying firms, think tanks, non-profits, law firms and legal institutions, print and broadcast media outlets, marketing and public relations firms, historical sites, and political organizations among many other possibilities. Internships provide effective ways for you to build necessary skills and work experiences in your prospective career fields. Research shows that students who intern through academic internship programs gain more from the experience than students who intern on their own. Through this academic internship program, you will gain first-hand experience in the workings of Washington, D.C and connect with UW alumni and other DC professionals while benefiting from an academic program that allows you to critically reflect on your intern experience and the political and cultural nuances of Washington D.C
Poli Sci 315 is a 3-credit course with weekly readings, as well as written assignments. The material covered in the course is designed to be relevant to students who are concurrently serving in legislative or agency internships.
- This is a fully online class.
- It is necessary to have secured an internship before applying for the course.
- Internships do not necessarily have to be in a legislative setting, but do need to be politically related and pertain to legislative issues to be eligible, specifically in one of the following:
- the governor’s office
- the lieutenant governor’s office
- the state legislature
- state agencies
- federal legislative offices
Contact Amy Gangl (agangl@wisc.edu) for questions about the course and appropriate internships.
Admission to this course is by application only. Please email Prof. Amy Gangl (agangl@wisc.edu) with the following information: 1.Name of internship 2.Hours you will work per week during the term and 3.Name and email contact of internship supervisor.
The Internship in the Liberal Arts & Sciences (Inter-LS 260) online course provides UW students who have found internships an opportunity to earn academic credit in connection with their work experience. Students will analyze their professional training experiences in the context of the goals of a liberal arts and science university education, by practicing critical reading, writing, and observation skills.
- This UW online internship course (Inter-LS 260) includes weekly readings, weekly online writing assignments, and a final reflection paper.
- It is worth 1 credit, and students may repeat the course up to three times.
- Grading is on the standard A-F system
Visit SuccessWorks’ website for more information and how to apply: Inter-LS 260
List of Current Internship Postings
wdt_ID | Position title | Host | Location | Time frame | Industry/Focus | Deadline | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25 | Intern | State Senator Jeff Smith | Madison, WI | Rolling | Government | Unspecified | Internship: Unpaid |
99 | Intern | WISH | Washington D.C | Rolling | Various (Visit Website) | Rolling | Internship |
105 | Intern | Berlin Global | Berlin | 3 Month Commitment Required | Multiple (look at website) | Rolling | Internship |
173 | Paid Federal Training Programs | VIP NCCC FEMA | Milwaukee, WI | Unspecified | Government, Advocacy, Research | Rolling | Internship: Paid |
176 | NSA Student Programs | National Security Agency | Washington D.C., Texas, Colorada, various cities | Rolling | Government, Research, Varies | Apply 1 year in advance | Internship: Unpaid |
356 | Intern | Illinois Opportunity Project | Remote | Unspecified | Public Policy, Research, Government | Unspecified | Internship: Credit Available |
366 | Intern | Progressive Dane (ProDane) | Dane County, WI | 6 Month Commitment | Elections, Policy, Outreach | Rolling | Internship: Unpaid |
400 | Intern | WE International | Madison, WI | Rolling | Nonprofit | Rolling | Internship: Unpaid |
416 | Senate Messenger | Wisconsin State Legislature | Madison, WI | Part-Time or Full-Time | Government, Legislation | Rolling | Full-Time: Paid |
452 | Course Module | Successworks at the College of Letters & Sciences | Online | Unspecified | Various | Unspecified | Internship Opportunities |
470 | Intern | The Borgen Project | Remote | 12 Week Program | Public Affairs, Government | Rolling | Internship: Unpaid |
489 | Intern | National Association of Social Workers, Wisconsin Chapter | Madison, WI | Unspecified | Legislative Affairs | Rolling | Internship |
516 | Training Program | Green Corps | Various | One-Year | Environmental, Legislation, Advocacy | Unspecified | Paid |
519 | Tutor | Achievement Connections | Madison, WI | Rolling | Education, Advising | Rolling | Volunteer Position |
529 | Various Positions | For Our Future Action Fund | Philadelphia, PA, Las Vegas, NV, Washington, DC, Madison, WI | Part-Time or Full-Time | Lobbying | Unspecified | Paid Positions |
550 | Campus Organizer | Student PIRGs | Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington | Full-Time | Administration, Environment, Organization | Unspecified | Full-Time: Paid |
573 | Intern | Wisconsin OnAir | Remote | Unspecified | Elections, Communications | Rolling | Internship: Unpaid |
590 | Intern for the Assembly Democratic Caucus | Wisconsin Assembly Democrats | Unspecified (Wisconsin) | Spring, Summer, or Fall | Politics | Unspecified | Internship: Unpaid (can receive course credit) |
591 | Legislative Intern | Wisconsin Assembly GOP | Madison, WI | Unspecified | Politics | Unspecified | Internship: Unpaid (limited # of paid positions) |
709 | Constituent Services Internship Coordinator (LTE) | Office of the Governor | Madison, WI | 6 months | Government | Unspecified | Internship: Paid (hourly) |
819 | Intern | Representative Tom Tiffany | Washington, D.C. or Wisconsin | Unspecified | Government | Unspecified | Internship |
820 | Intern | Representative Mike Gallagher | Washington, D.C. or Wisconsin | Unspecified | Government | Unspecified | Internship |
821 | Intern | Representative Brian Steil | Washington, D.C. or Wisconsin | Unspecified | Government | Unspecified | Internship |
822 | Intern | Representative Scott Fitzgerald | Washington, D.C. or Wisconsin | Unspecified | Government | Unspecified | Internship |
823 | Intern | Representative Derrick Van Orden | Washington, D.C. or Wisconsin | Unspecified | Government | Unspecified | Internship |
824 | Intern | Representative Glenn Grothman | Washington, D.C. or Wisconsin | Unspecified | Government | Unspecified | Internship |
825 | Intern | Representative Gwen Moore | Washington, D.C. or Wisconsin | Unspecified | Government | Unspecified | Internship |
850 | Intern | Joseph S. Nye, Jr. National Security Program | Washington, D.C. | 6-month term | Policy | Unspecified | Internship: Paid (stipend) |
971 | Campus Intern | Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG) | Madison, WI | Unspecified | Activism | Unspecified | Internship: Unpaid |
989 | Legislative Intern | State Representative Katrina Shankland | Madison, WI | Unspecified | Government | Unspecified | Internship |
1114 | Casework Assistant (LTE) | Office of the Governor | Madison, WI | Unspecified | Constituent Services and Proclamations Department | Unspecified | Internship: Paid (hourly) |
1115 | Proclamations Assistant (LTE) | Office of the Governor | Madison, WI | Unspecified | Constituent Services and Proclamations Department | Unspecified | Internship: Paid (hourly) |
1116 | Corresponding Assistant (Telecommunications Captain) | Office of the Governor | Madison, WI | Unspecified | Constituent Services and Proclamations Department | Unspecified | Internship: Paid (hourly) |
1215 | Internship (various positions) | Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation | Madison, WI | Rolling | Government | Unspecified | Internship |
1217 | Intern | Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies | Honolulu, HI | Various | Research, Security, Policy | Various | Internship: Credit Available |
1223 | Intern | U.S. Department of State | Washington, D.C. or abroad | Spring 2024 | Government | Unspecified | Internship: Paid |
1229 | Intern | American Enterprise Institute | Washington, D.C. but some remote options | 12 week program | Research, Policy, Foreign Affairs | Unspecified | Internship |
1243 | Political & Campaigns Internship | National Democratic Redistricting Commission | Washington, D.C. or Remote | Semester length | Advocacy, Policy | Rolling | Internship |
1246 | Intern | The City of Chicago | Chicago, IL | Semester length | Government, Policy, Legislation | Unspecified | Intern |
1247 | Youth Activism Intern | Turn Up | Remote | Part-time | Advocacy, Policy, Research | Rolling | Internship: Unpaid but credit available |
1248 | Intern | Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) | Washington, D.C. or Remote | Unspecified | Foreign Affairs, Policy, Research | Unspecified | Internship |
1251 | Intern | Non Violence International New York | Remote | 12 Week Program | Research, Advocacy, Policy | Unspecified | Internship: Unpaid |
1253 | International Relations and Policy Intern | World Endeavor | Remote | Unspecified | Foreign Affairs, Research, Policy | Unspecified | Internship |
1281 | Intern | Dane County Human Services Department | Madison, WI | Unspecified | Government | Unspecified | Internship: Paid (Hourly) |
1283 | Public Policy and Regulation Intern | Holland & Knight | Washington, D.C. | Spring 2024 | Government Relations, Public Policy, Research | March 2024 | Internship: Paid |
1284 | Diversity in Conversation Intern | Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin | Madison, WI | Summer 2024 | Environment, Advocacy, Outreach | Opens early January | Internship: Unspecified (Credit available) |
1286 | Public Policy Intern | National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota (NAMI MN) | St Paul, MN | Spring 2024 or Summer 2024 | Research, Public Policy, Legislation, Advocacy | November 15, 2023 (Spring 2024), May 1st (Summer 2024) | Internship: Unpaid |
1287 | Intern | National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) | Chantilly, VA, Fort Belvoir, VA, White Sands Missile Range, NM, or Buckley Air Force Base, CO | Summer 2024 | Government | Unspecified | Internship: Paid |
1289 | Intern | The Council of State Governments (CSG) | Remote | Unspecified | Research, Public Policy, Legislative Affairs | None | Internship: Paid |
1293 | Intern | The Carter Center | Atlanta, GA | Summer 2024 | Public Affairs, Advocacy, International Relations | March 1, 2024 | Internship: Paid (Stipend) |
1294 | Intern | The Hill | Washington, D.C. | Summer 2024 | Journalism, Political Communications | March 15, 2024 | Internship: Paid |
1297 | Intern | Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party (MN DFL) | St. Paul, MN | Summer 2024 | Elections, Political Communications, Fundraising | March 19, 2024 | Internship: Paid |
1310 | Intern | Office of the Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski | Madison, WI | Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 | Government | Rolling | Internship: Unpaid (credit available) |
1312 | AmeriCorps Member Opportunity | Big Sky Watershed Corps | Montana | January 2024 to November 2024 | Environment, Conservation | Rolling | Full-Time: Paid |
1313 | Science Research Office Undergraduate | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Los Alamos, NM | 2024 | Government, Science, Research | Unspecified | Full-Time: Paid |
1314 | Intern | TC Energy | Washington D.C. | Summer 2024 | Energy, Policy, Research | November 30, 2023 | Internship: Unspecified |
1315 | Social Science Communications Intern | Sage | Washington D.C., Thousand Oaks, CA, or Remote | Fall 2023 | Communications, Social Media, Publications | Unspecified | Internship: Paid |
1316 | Student PIRG intern | Student PIRGs | Madison, WI | Rolling | Nonprofit | Rolling | Internship |
1317 | Director's Financial Analyst Fellowship | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | Washington, D.C. | June 2024 (Two year rotational fellowship) | Federal Government | Unspecified | Fellowship: paid |
1319 | Student Vote Intern | Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG) | Madison, WI | Fall 2023 | Non-profit | Rolling | Internship |
1320 | Environmental Organizing Fellowship | Green Corps | Various Locations | August 2024-2025 | Nonprofit | Unspecified | Fellowship: Paid |
1324 | Multiple Positions | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | Washington, DC | Spring 2024 | Think Tank | Unspecified | Internship: Paid |
1326 | Conservative Young Leader Internship | Conservative Partnership Institute | Washington DC | Spring 2024 | Government | Internship | |
1327 | Student Organizer | UN PAC | Madison WI | Rolling | Organizing | Paid | |
1331 | Wisconsin Assembly Democrats Internship Program | Wisconsin Assembly Democratic Caucus | Madison, WI | January to May | State Government | 12/31/2023 | Internship: Unpaid |
1332 | Her Bold Move Fellowship | Her Bold Move | Remote | February-May 2024 | Politics, Campaigns | December 1, 2023 | Fellowship: Unpaid |
1334 | Domestic Climate Intern | Center for American Progress | Washington, D.C. | Spring 2024 | Climate, Advocacy | Unspecified | Internship: Paid |
1335 | US Policy Intern | Future of Privacy Forum | Washington, D.C. | Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 available | Privacy, Advocacy | Various | Internship: Paid (Hourly) |
1336 | Government Relations Intern | Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield | Various locations across New York State | Summer 2024 | Public Policy, Healthcare, Government Relations | Unspecified | Internship: Paid (Hourly) |
1337 | Intern | Brookings Institution | Washington, D.C. | Spring 2024 | Research, Advocacy, Public Policy | Various | Internship: Paid (Hourly) |
1339 | Senator Tammy Baldwin Internship Program | Office of Senator Tammy Baldwin | Madison, Milwaukee, and Washington, D.C. | Spring 2024 | Congressional work | November 27, 2023 | Internship: Paid (hourly) |
1341 | Intern | Ballotpedia | Remote | Spring 2024 | Research, Elections | Unspecified (apply asap!) | Internship: Paid (Hourly) |
1342 | Intern | U.S. Department of Commerce | Washington, D.C. | Spring 2024 | Government | Rolling | Internship |
1343 | Public Policy Intern | The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) | Washington, D.C. | Summer 2024 | Advocacy, Public Policy | Unspecified | Internship |
1344 | Tammy Baldwin For Senate Internship | Tammy Baldwin For Senate | Madison, WI | Spring 2024 | Campaigns | December 1, 2023 | Internship: Paid (hourly) |
1345 | Various Internships | Democratic National Committee (DNC) | Remote or Washington, D.C. (Hybrid) | Spring 2024 | National Politics | December 20, 2023 | Internship: Paid (stipend) |
1346 | 2024 Summer Associate Program | Institute for Defense Analyses | Alexandria, Virginia | Summer 2024 | Defense, Research | January 26, 2024 | Internship: Paid |
1347 | Spring 2024 Internships | Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL) | Remote | Spring 2024 | Reproductive Health, Advocacy, Nonprofit | Unspecified | Internship: Paid (hourly) |
1348 | Big Sky Watershed Corps | Montana Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps | Montana | January 8, 2024-11/15/2024 | Conservation, Natural Resources | Unspecified | Fellowship: Paid (Stipend + Completion Award) |
1349 | District Office Internship | Office of Mark Pocan | Madison, WI | Spring 2024 | Legislative, Constituent Services | December 15, 2023 | Internship: Unpaid |
Position title | Host | Location | Time frame | Industry/Focus | Deadline | Type |