Internships and Internship Search Resources

Internships

Illinois in Washington students complete internships in Washington, D.C. as part of the program. Students are responsible for applying for and securing their own internships, but the Illinois in Washington staff can help students identify opportunities, think through their search strategy, review résumés and cover letters, and prepare for interviews.

Students may pursue internships in a wide range of fields, including government, public policy, law, advocacy, media, international affairs, research, education, health care, business, and STEM.

Internship Requirements

To qualify for Illinois in Washington participation, an internship must provide meaningful professional experience, align with the student’s academic or career interests, and meet the program’s scheduling requirements.

Students generally work full-time at their internship site, typically at least 30 hours per week. Exact hours, workplace expectations, and other conditions are arranged directly between the student and the internship provider. Internships must begin no later than two weeks after the first day of classes.

  • Fall and Spring Semesters: Students generally intern Monday through Thursday and attend Illinois in Washington courses on Fridays. Internships must last at least 12 weeks and require at least 30 hours per week. Students taking PS 321 may also have an additional evening class meeting during the week.
  • Summer Session: Students generally intern Monday through Friday and attend PS 491 separately from their regular internship hours. Internships must last at least 10 weeks and require at least 30 hours per week.

Most students complete internships in person in Washington, D.C. Hybrid internships may be acceptable when they include a substantial in-person component and can be accommodated alongside IIW coursework. Students considering a fully virtual internship or a position with an unusual schedule should speak with the Illinois in Washington staff before accepting an offer. If an internship’s proposed schedule does not appear to meet these requirements, students should contact IIW staff as soon as possible so that the program can determine whether an accommodation or adjustment is possible.

Paid and Unpaid Internships

Some internships are paid and some are unpaid. Compensation varies widely by organization, field, and term. Students should carefully review internship postings and consider their financial needs when evaluating opportunities.

Illinois in Washington students should not have to choose between receiving academic credit and being paid for their work. Because the program does not require an employer to provide academic credit or complete related paperwork, students are encouraged to accept monetary compensation whenever it is offered.

Need Help?

Illinois in Washington staff are available to help students identify organizations that fit their interests, review application materials, and think through their internship-search strategy. Students can contact us at IllinoisInWashington@illinois.edu or schedule an advising appointment.

Internship Search Resources

The resources below can help students identify internship opportunities across a wide range of fields. Students should begin with the general internship boards and then explore organizations and opportunities that align with their interests.

General Internship Boards

These sites regularly post internship opportunities across government, public policy, nonprofits, international affairs, media, STEM, and other fields.

  • Google Jobs⁠
    Our recommended starting point for most students. Search by field, location, and term to see internship postings from a wide range of employers and job boards.
  • USAJOBS⁠
    Federal internships and employment opportunities.
  • U.S. House of Representatives Employment Bulletin⁠
    Internship and employment postings for House offices.
  • U.S. Senate Employment Bulletin⁠
    Internship and employment postings for Senate offices.
  • Idealist⁠
    Internships and jobs with nonprofit and social-impact organizations.
  • Daybook⁠
    Public policy, government, political, and advocacy opportunities.
  • APSIA Internship Listings⁠
    Opportunities in international affairs, public policy, and related fields.
  • InterAction NGO Job Board⁠
    Internships and careers in international development, humanitarian assistance, and nonprofit work.
  • Pathways to Science⁠
    STEM, research, and science-policy opportunities.
  • Virtual Student Federal Service⁠
    Virtual projects and internship opportunities with federal agencies.
  • Go Government⁠
    Resources for exploring federal careers and understanding the federal hiring process.
  • Indeed⁠
    A broad internship and employment search platform.
  • LinkedIn Jobs⁠
    Internship postings, employer research, and professional networking opportunities.

Explore Opportunities by Field

The following resources may help students identify organizations that regularly offer internships. Students should review each organization’s website for current opportunities, deadlines, and application requirements.

Congress, Campaigns, and Political Organizations

Students interested in congressional internships should also consider applying to House and Senate committees, not only to individual member offices. Committees work on nearly every major policy area, including agriculture, education, health care, the budget, foreign affairs, the judiciary, intelligence, science, and transportation. Because committee offices are focused on a particular policy area, they can be a particularly good option for students who already have a strong substantive interest or want more exposure to policy research, hearings, oversight, communications, or stakeholder outreach.

Students are encouraged to review the official House committee directory⁠ and Senate committee directory⁠ to identify committees related to their interests. They should also consider applying to the personal offices of members who serve on those committees, since those offices may work closely on the same policy areas.

Federal Government and Public Service
Nonprofits, Advocacy Organizations, and International Affairs
Think Tanks and Policy Research Organizations
Media, Communications, and Public Affairs
  • C-SPAN Careers⁠
    Opportunities in journalism, production, communications, digital media, and public affairs.
  • NPR Careers⁠
    Journalism, audio production, communications, digital media, and public-radio opportunities.
  • PBS Careers⁠
    Opportunities in public media, production, communications, education, and digital strategy.
  • NBCUniversal Careers⁠
    Internships and positions across news, entertainment, communications, and production.
  • The Washington Post Careers⁠
    Journalism, product, technology, communications, and business opportunities.
  • ABC News / Disney Careers⁠
    Opportunities across news, media, communications, production, and entertainment.
  • CBS News / Paramount Careers⁠
    Opportunities across journalism, production, communications, and media.
  • FOX Careers⁠
    Internships and employment in news, sports, entertainment, and media.
STEM, Environment, and Science Policy
Illinois in Washington
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
420 David Kinley Hall
MC-713 | 1407 W. Gregory Dr.
Urbana, IL 61801

217-333-3881

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