Internships
If you are interested in interning...
You should talk to a faculty member as soon as possible, as it can be a time-consuming process, and deadlines are generally early. Give yourself plenty of time to complete the application materials and begin talking with faculty well before the deadlines. In general, to apply for most internships. you will need an up-to-date resume and cover letter, as well as names of references if not letters of recommendation from faculty. Give faculty at least two weeks to complete their letter. It should be noted we do not control these internships or choose who receives them, but we can assist you in finding an opportunity.
Approximate application deadlines
(you will need to look up the individual opportunity deadlines):
- For Fall Internships – Summer (July 1)
- For Spring Internships – Early Fall (September 15)
- For Summer Internships – Early Spring (February 1)
Recently, we have placed interns in the following offices/internships (not all students sought/received credit for these internships): Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper, Congressman Lamborn, Congressman Crow, Colorado State Assembly (both House and Senate), Colorado Democratic Party, Colorado Republican Party, Defense Intelligence Agency, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, Jared Polis for Governor, El Paso County Attorney’s Office, and independent and private law offices.
Our faculty also has contacts within other offices in the US House and Senate, numerous think tanks, foundations, and institutes, and numerous state and national governmental offices and departments.
In addition to internships, our students have done several fellowships, in such places as the Fund for American Studies American Institute on Political and Economic Systems in Prague, the Independence Institute, and the Hudson Institute. Please contact Prof. Pittz or Prof. Vandiver for more information on these.
The department gives credit for doing an approved internship
PSC 9480, the Political Science Internship, can be taken for up to 3 credit hours and can be repeated for a total of 9 credits throughout your university tenure. These internships must be approved by the faculty. Make an appointment with a faculty member soon to discuss your options.
Please take note, that these are not classes per se. Our department gives credit for completing certain internships, which you apply for and complete yourself. The credit requirements include a minimum 10-hour per week (120 hours total) requirement, weekly journal responses, and a final reflection paper. We do not give credit for working or volunteering on political campaigns, but strongly support students seeking out those opportunities and gaining that experience.
If you are interested in interning, have an idea when (which year/semester) and where (Denver, Colorado Springs, Washington, DC, etc.) you might want to complete your internship and contact one of our faculty today!