The International Studies Program encourages its students to participate in major-relevant internships to learn about different occupations, test possible career paths, and identify contacts in a specific career field. Students interested in interning for credit should meet with the International Studies Program Director by the deadline dates below to discuss their internship and to provide an offer letter and job description. Students should then enroll in AS.192.501 Internship-International Studies by submitting the electronic Independent Academic Work form located in SIS under the Registration tab and On-Line Forms. Students who enroll in this course must submit a three-page reflection paper at the end of the internship experience that describes their main achievements in the job and the relevance of the internship to their international studies education.
Please Note: The International Studies Program allows majors a maximum of 3 credits total of internship over their four years of study.
Internship Registration Deadlines
- Spring 2023 – March 5
- Summer 2023 – July 14
- Fall 2023 – TBD
For international students only: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus work permission available to certain eligible F-1 visa students. CPT is employment which is “an integral part of an established curriculum.” CPT is not to be used merely to facilitate employment for the international student and will only be authorized if the job is related to the student’s course of study and the student will receive course credit for the practical training. CPT is not guaranteed for international students; it must meet both the academic requirements of the department and immigration requirements. For more information, visit the website of the Office of International Services.
Resources
Internships in International Affairs: The U.S. Government and Beyond
The following agencies and organizations offer internship and career opportunities that may be of interest to International Studies majors.
State Department
Intelligence
Military
Congress (House and Senate)
- Foreign Affairs Committees
- Homeland Security Committees
- Commerce Committees
- Judiciary Committees
Law Enforcement
Support/Contractors (Think Tanks/Beltway Bandits)
- Security/Strategy
- Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Science Applications International Corporation
- Mitre
- Booz-Allen Hamilton
- Public Interest/Academic/Research
- Public Interest/Advocacy
NGO’s and International Organizations
- Oxfam
- American Friends Service Committee
- Red Cross
- United Nations Agencies
- International Financial Institutions