Public Affairs Internship
Omar Kurdi interned at Amnesty International USA in Washington, D.C.
- Application Form
- Handshake
- Internship Requirements
- Resources for Finding an Internship
- What Do Interns Do?
- Internships for Graded Credit
- Internships for Credit Only
Make a Difference
Want a chance to make a difference and develop your professional skills?
Political Science interns have worked at all levels of public life, from the courthouse to the White House. Interns receive on-the-job training and practical experience in government, in non-profit organizations, or interest groups while earning academic credit.
The Political Science Department also oversees the Sara Katherine Ullman Memorial Internship, which awards one Ohio University student the opportunity to intern with Amnesty International each summer. The Ullman award also comes with a $2,500 stipend to cover living expenses.
What Do Interns Do?
Interns work with a wide range of organizations and people. They are asked to do everything from constituent services to assisting with drafting policies and research reports. Some students work just a few hours a week; others work full-time; still others spread their internships over more than one semester. The choice is the student's. The nature of an internship depends on the student's interests and goals.
The Political Science faculty are flexible in finding the right way to make an internship match a student's goals for school, career plans, and for the internship itself. Academic credit can be offered for both paid and unpaid internships; however, the experience must be a true internship, rather than a job. Internships also must be directly related to government or public affairs. For questions about whether an internship qualifies, please reach out to the Department of Political Science's Internship Director.
This web page has a variety of resources to help you find an internship, including Handshake, external sources, and an internal internship and jobs listing board hosted on Blackboard.
Students should take a moment to become familiar with the program and its requirements; then start looking for their perfect internship!
Questions should be directed to Dr. Kevin Spiker in the Political Science Department.