Political Science & Geography Department

Internships

Academic credit can be received for political science internships by enrolling in POL 4940 Political Internships. What follows are only a few of the internship opportunities available to SPU students. See any political science professor for more information.

Internships: Pacific Northwest

Read the etc article about four SPU students who did the State Legislative Internship.

Washington State Legislative Internship.
Selected interns work for a quarter in Olympia in the Washington State Legislature. This is a fascinating program; the SPU students who have been involved with it give it rave reviews. An application form can be found online with more information.

Federal Government Jobs. The U.S. government offers summer jobs and internships for college students. Check out the Office of Personnel Management’s job website for more about these opportunities, as well as information about full-time jobs after graduation.

Bryant Christie Inc. This firm offers internships in international trade. Students interested in this internship should semd a cover letter, résumé, and a three- to five-page writing sample to Matt Lantz , Bryant Christie Inc., 1425 Fourth Avenue, Suite 808, Seattle, WA 98101; phone: 206 292 6340; Fax: 206 292 6341; email: bci@bryantchristie.com.

Discovery Institute. Discovery Institute is a national public policy think tank based in Seattle. It has a wide variety of programs in the areas of science and culture, defense policy, technology policy, faith and public life, environment, and regional development. It offers a number of internships both paid and unpaid. For more information, contact Doug Bilderback at 206-292-0401, ext. 104 or dhb@discovery.org.

Washington Institute Foundation. This Seattle-based public-policy organization focuses on state and local politics from a free-market and limited government perspective. It offers regular internships each quarter.

Internships: Washington, D.C

Witherspoon Fellowship Program. Sponsored by the Family Research Council, this program combines an internship with academic study. A number of SPU students have participated in this program during the Autumn Quarter of their junior years. Academic credit can be arranged for the program through POL 4900 Independent Study and POL 4940 Political Internships. See to any of the professors for more information.

Heritage Foundation. One of the largest public policy organizations in Washington, D.C., the Heritage Foundation has an extensive internship program during the summer, as well as during the rest of the year.

Presidential Classroom Internship Program. Presidential Classroom interns help lead educational programs in the nation's capital for high school students from around the country.