POL 403 Internships - Experiences in Politics and Policy

Employers agree that the strongest candidates have both solid academic preparation and practical, on-the-job experience gleaned from internships.

Political Science Internships Are Flexible

Students can apply to enroll in either of two self-directed 3 credit internships available during the fall, spring, and summer semester:

POL40302 (standard)
POL40302CA (Capstone project)

In addition, students with full-time internships can receive up to 9 more credits by enrolling in POL 40300 (pass/no pass).

There are no course prerequisites for an internship; you need only be a student in good standing. These courses are available during the fall, spring, and summer semester. Internships must comprise a substantial academic component, and department approval is required before course registration will be allowed.

Students also have the opportunity to apply for an Indiana State Legislative Internship (POL40302ISL). Information about that program is found here. This is a spring semester program.

Accessible Summer Internships

Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts offers Job-Ready Internship Awards to make unpaid or low-paid internships a viable option. Students can apply for up to $2,000 in financial support to help cover basics costs incurred while interning. Eligible internship sites include not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, social enterprises, and for-profit companies.
Job-Ready Summer Internship Award

Spend summer 2025 in Washington, D.C., the epicenter of policy and innovation. Earn academic credit with an internship in government, non-profit, or private sector. Enjoy professional development training and eceive career readiness one-on-one mentoring with Purdue D.C. Alumni. Students selected for the program will enroll and participate in the Boilers Go to D.C. Summer Scholars Internship Program and fulfill the course requirements. Students will spend the summer semester interning in their area of political science study or career focus.
Summer Scholars Internship Program - Boilers Go to D.C.

The Yang Yaoyu C-SPAN Intern Scholarship will be awarded to one student who will intern at C-SPAN for the summer. Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at Purdue University in either the Brian Lamb School of Communication or the Department of Political Science to honor Yang's use of C-SPAN to further his communication skills and to learn about the American political system.
Yang Yaoyu C-SPAN Intern Scholarship

More information about summer internship opportunities is found here.

Engaging

Local, Regional and National InternshipsStudents majoring or minoring in political science have gained valuable experience interning in settings around the country. Many of these students received Job-Ready Awards.

Campaign for Hoosier Families, Lafayette, IN

Church World Service’s Advocacy and Policy Group, Washington, D.C.

Cook County State’s Attorney, Chicago, IL

C-SPAN, Washington, D.C.

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Guggenheim Museum, New York City

Indianapolis Children’s Museum

Indiana General Assembly

Indiana State Department of Health

Indianapolis Office of the Mayor

Illinois State Board of Education

Kheprw Institute, Indianapolis, IN

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL

National Public Radio, Washington, D.C.

Parkview Health Systems, Fort Wayne, IN

Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, Washington, D.C.

Republic of the Marshall Islands Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York City

U.S. Congressman Susan Brooks of Indiana

U.S. Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona

U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski of Indiana

U.S. Congressman Peter Visclosky of Indiana

U.S. Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D.C.

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, D.C.

USS Monitor Center at the Mariners’ Museum and Park, Virginia

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois

U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN

Get Started

First: Discuss an internship with your academic advisor to ensure you are eligible for credit. Make certain you understand how the credit will count toward your degree requirements.

Next: Obtain an internship through your own search efforts, or receive assistance from a Political Science undergraduate advisor or the CLA Career Development office.

You will arrange your exact duties with your internship provider. It is helpful to approach your internship with some ideas of your own. Your work may focus on a particular project, or you may do a variety of tasks. The only absolute requirement is that your internship must contain an academic component. You are there to gain education through your field experience; you are not free labor for the organization. Although the exact number of hours and schedule will be arranged between you and your internship provider, you should expect to work 4-8 hours per week.

Apply: Arrange academic credit with the department before the internship begins.

- First, complete the Political Science department's Internship Application
- The internship provider must complete an Internship Contract concerning your duties and responsibilities. It is your responsibility to share the contract link with your internship provider, and to ensure they have completed the form.
- No course credit will be awarded for internships without prior approval of the employer contract.

Register:

POL 40302 - Self-Initiated Internship (3 cr) Students who enroll in 40302 will submit regular journal entries and a 1,500-2,000-word statement at the end of their internship describing what they learned.

POL 40302CA - Self-Initiated Internship Capstone (3 cr) Students who enroll in 40302A will complete a Capstone project at the end of their internship.

POL 40300 - Field Experiences in Political Science (1-9 cr) Taken concurrently with 40302 or 40302CA to allow students additional credit using the pass/no pass option.

Purdue student interns explore career paths, network with professionals, apply classroom learning, expand their skills, and gain coveted real-life work experience.

If you have any questions, please contact the Political Science Department: PoliticalScience@purdue.edu.

Director of Undergraduate Studies Melissa Will

Internship guidance and advice from Assistant Professor of Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies Melissa Will, a former CIA intelligence analyst.

Guide to Washington D.C. Internships
2023 Political Science graduate Matt Stachler shares extensive resources and tips based on his successful internships.