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: POL40302 (standard) or POL40302CA (Capstone project).  These courses are available during the fall, spring, and summer semester.

Students with full-time internships can receive up to 9 additional credits of POL 40300 (pass/no pass) (CRN30968). 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.

Students also have the opportunity to apply for an Indiana State Legislative Internship (POL403A).  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 Internships
Students majoring or minoring in political science have gained valuable experience interning in settings around the country. Many of these students received Job-Ready Awards.

Get Started

1. • CLA undergraduate advisors

   • College of Liberal Arts Career Development

   • Purdue Center for Careers and Opportunities

   • College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Internship Initiative

Duties:     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. The internship provider must complete an Internship Contract concerning your duties and responsibilities. It is your responsibility to obtain this contract from your internship provider and submit the contract to your faculty supervisor for approval.

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.

Register:  Arrange academic credit before the internship begins.

1. • Complete the Internship Application .

   • Internships must comprise a substantial academic component.

   • No credit will be awarded for internships without prior faculty approval of the contract.

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