Political Science
Internships
The Department of Political Science places a premium on experiential learning, especially through student internships. Political Science majors are required to complete at least one internship that relates to their course of study during their time at Linfield. In this more pragmatic setting, students are able to apply their coursework to the “real world,” develop further their professional skills in an area of potential career interest, and begin developing a network for after they graduate. Students are able to conduct internships in a range of areas, including:
- Political campaigns
- Local, state, and national political offices
- State and federal government
- Think tanks and nongovernmental organizations
- Law and law enforcement offices
- Relevant businesses and corporations
- Media outlets
- Education
- Health care
Political science majors also have the opportunity to participate in the American University Semester in Washington DC program. For more information, please click here.
Recent examples of Political Science internships:
“During the summer of 2008 I worked as a Public Policies & Procedures Intern for the Parks & Recreation Department of Redmond, Washington. I worked primarily on research and development of a public park policy which included exploring policies of neighboring cities and producing a policy for the City of Redmond. My finished product was sent to the mayor for approval and subsequently implemented within the park system.”
-Carly Kummerlowe, Class of 2009
“I interned with the Planned Parenthood Action Council (PPAC) in Salt Lake City, UT. I was able to engage in activities that spanned the entire public policy sphere. It was amazing to write editorials for the state newspapers, coordinate fundraising efforts, help at various college and university awareness events, design publications, prepare for PPAC Utah's largest annual fundraiser ball, and create the office's first formal intern training packet.”
-Hanna Bogen, Class of 2009
General Tips on Getting and Making the Most of an Internship
| 10 Tips for Successful Business Networking |
| Becoming Indispensible - How to resist firing or replacement |
| College Student Internship Tips - Real-life examples of good intern qualities |
| How to make yourself indispensable - 30 tips for being indispensable to others |
| Job Networking Tips |
| The Riley Guide: Networking Advice - Database of networking tips and pointers |
| Tips for a Successful Internship |
| Tips for Getting an Internship |
Internship Ideas
| Regon Bus Project (Portland) & PolitiCorps (Summer fellowship program through Bus Project) - Dani Bernstein, Associate Director, dani.bernstein@politicorps.org |
| Oregon AFL-CIO - Graham M. Trainor, Political Organizer (Salem) 503.585.6320,Graham@oraflcio.org |
| Yamhill County Democrats - Liz Marlia-Stein,lizmarliastein@frontier.com |
| Waste Not of Yamhill County (local grassroots campaign) - John McGhehey, JMcGhehey@stimsonlumber.com |
| Washington Semester Program (Summer Intern program in DC) - Karen Bortvedt, bortvedt09@gmail.com |
| The Carter Center- http://www.cartercenter.org/index.html |
| Oregon League of Women Voters- http://www.lwvor.org/ |
| 1000 Friends of Oregon- http://www.friends.org/about/jobs_internships |
| Oregon Government Ethics Commission- http://www.oregon.gov/OGEC/ |
| Oregon Center for Public Policy- http://www.ocpp.org/ |
Internship Ideas for International Relations Majors
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Student Work Program - Apply to participate in one of the outstanding student work programs at the CIA, including undergraduate student internships or undergraduate co-ops, and graduate studies programs.
El Pomar Program - The El Pomar Internship is a unique summer program that provides continuing undergraduate students an introduction to the nonprofit sector and an opportunity to develop professional interests and skills.
National Council on U.S. Arab Relations - The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations' Washington, DC Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students a ten-week professional, academic, and career opportunity internship in the Nation's Capital.
U.S. State Department - The U.S. Department of State offers a number of life-changing internships, fellowships and programs in Washington, D.C. and abroad.
USTR internships - The student intern program at USTR is a year-round, volunteer program in which undergraduate and graduate students gain knowledge and experience on U.S. trade policy.
Mountbatten Institute London Internship Program - The Institute provides recent graduates and young professionals with the choice of two unique opportunities: 12- and 16-month programs to live, work and study in London, New York and Bangkok.
To report errors or problems with these pages, please e-mail dnowacki@linfield.edu
For enrollment or other program questions, please e-mail admission@linfield.edu