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Purdue student interns explore career paths, network with professionals, apply classroom learning, expand their skills, and gain coveted real-life work experience. Follow the steps below to earn academic credit during your internship.

Students can earn credit while interning part-or full-time during the fall, spring, and/or summer semester.  There are no course prerequisites for a political science internship; you need only be a political science student in good standing.  Internships must comprise a substantial academic component, and department approval is required before course registration will be allowed.

Ensure you are eligible and ask about opportunities. Make certain you understand how the credit will count toward your degree requirements.

 CLA undergraduate advisors

Cla Career services

Purdue Center for Careers and Opportunities

Cla job-ready Initiative

  

Melissa Will in a helicopterProfessor Melissa Will offers advice on

resumes, cover letters, internships, and

careers in Intelligence and National Security

 

 

 

 

 

2023 Political Science graduate Matt Stachler shares extensive resources and tips based on his successful internships. 

 

  

 

Identify potential internship providers and learn about them to develop ideas for your internship.  Your work may focus on a particular project, or you may do a variety of tasks. The only absolute requirement is that your internship must contain an academic component.


You will arrange your exact duties with your internship provider. Keep in mind that you are there to gain education through your field experience; you are not free labor for the organization. Although the exact number of hours and schedule will be arranged between you and your internship provider, you should expect to work ​4-8 hours per week.

Consult the party websites for more information, deadlines, and how to apply: 

In order to register, students must receive approval from the Department before the internship begins.

First, complete the Political Science department's Internship Application.

And, the internship provider must also complete an Internship Contract concerning your duties and responsibilities. It is your responsibility to share the contract link with your internship provider, and to ensure they have completed the form. No course credit will be awarded for internships without prior approval of the employer contract.

All Indiana State Legislature interns are expected to register for POL 40302ISL for 3 credits (regular grade) and also the on-site Sub-National Government course taught in Indianapolis by a rotating group of universities (POL59000ISL, 3 credits, regular grade). 

Students who would like to earn Capstone credit should also enroll in POL49500ISL for 3 credits (regular grade). 

Students also have the option of adding POL 40300ISL for up to 6 credits (pass/no pass) to allow for full-time enrollment, if needed.

Students have several options to suit their needs:

POL 40302 - Self-Initiated Internship (3 cr)  Students who enroll in 40302 will submit regular journal entries and a 1,500-2,000-word statement at the end of their internship describing what they learned. 

Or, students who want to earn Capstone credit can enroll in 

POL 40302CA - Self-Initiated Internship Capstone (3 cr) Students who enroll in 40302A will complete a Capstone project at the end of their internship.

And, students with a full-time internship can also enroll in

POL 40300- Field Experiences in Political Science (1-9 cr) Taken concurrently with 40302 or 40302CA to allow students additional credit using the pass/no pass option.