Student internships have included positions with members of Congress, think tanks, legal services providers, federal agencies, consulting groups, social justice organizations and media outlets. There are federal agencies and organizations that focus on every type of issue and concern, such as international relations and foreign policy, national security, economics, health care, social services, law, entertainment, real estate, education, STEM and more.
Students are responsible for securing their own internship, though DePaul’s political science department and IIW program administrators will provide support to students in their search and provide assistance. in the form of offering resume and cover letter review, mock interviewing practice, and sharing online resources to help students connect with internship opportunities.
A list of Illinois Members of Congress are available here. Students should read the websites carefully to understand how to apply for an internship with a member of Congress. The DePaul Department of Political Science also has a resource page that can be accessed here. The PSC resource page includes links to the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate placement offices. Beyond Capitol Hill, there are thousands of internships available, especially at federal agencies and non-profit/advocacy organizations. Internship opportunities are often advertised on websites like indeed.com, idealist.org, daybook.com and usajobs.gov. A list of federal agencies is available here.
Students should expect to apply for internships early, starting around March or April and should apply for 5-10 internships. Students will work to arrange their schedules as internships must start no later than two weeks after the first day of class and must last at least 12 weeks in duration. Students can expect to work full time at their internship site at least 30 hours/week. Internships in D.C. are usually unpaid; however, students will be earning academic credit in conjunction with this professional experience via the internship seminar. There are also scholarship opportunities provided by DePaul University and the Department of Political Science. More on these opportunities can be found here.
Housing and Travel
Students will live together in shared apartments at the Washington Intern Housing Network(WIHN), located in the Woodley Park neighborhood and on I Street in the H-Street Corridor near Union Station. The H-Street Corridor has the perfect combination of shopping, dining, and entertainment options and is conveniently located near strategic Metro rails and buses. It is also walking distance to the U.S. Capitol. Fellow residents will include University of Illinois students as well as student interns from all over the United States. To learn more about program-provided accommodations, please consult the University of Illinois IIW.
Extracurricular Activities
Students can spend a semester getting to know Washington D.C. with it’s rich history and culture, you can use the District of Columbia as a learning lab. With a thriving arts scene, international diversity, plus numerous monuments and museums, it’s one of the best cities to explore.
- Recommended airport for arrival: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Airport Code: DCA)
- Students need to book their own flight as roundtrip airfare is not included in program fee
- Students participating in the program can arrive as early as one week prior to the start of the program
Passport and Visa
Students that are U.S. citizens DO NOT need a passport to participate in this program as it is based within the borders of the United States.