Why do an internship? Because internships lead to jobs! More than half of Political Science majors at Radford University complete an internship during their time at Radford. A quarter of students who complete internships received a full-time job offer as a direct result of their experience. Three-quarters of students who completed an internship credit it for getting them their graduate school acceptance or career. In other words, even if you don’t get that job, doing an internship serves as an initiation into the world of work, giving you contacts, incredible assistance in networking, career-ready skills, and professional demeanor.
Internships in Political Science and Public Administration engage students with local, state, and national political institutions; campaigns; law firms; business associations; lobbyists; and non-profits. Internships may be completed either for academic credit or without credit.
Prerequisites to complete an internship for academic credit: Political Science major, junior or senior standing; 2.5 GPA in political science; 2.0 cumulative university GPA; and departmental approval.
In order to earn course credit for your internship, you must successfully complete the academic component related to your experience. This is designed by the student along with Paige Tan, Ph.D. the internship coordinator for the department, and is intended to enhance the student’s work placement experience. So, a student working in a county social services office will read a book about eviction, do research on affordable housing issues, keep a journal of her experiences in her work placement, and develop job search documents like a resume and cover letter.
The major goals of the academic internship are for students to:
If students choose to complete an internship for academic credit, they will communicate with Paige Tan, Ph.D., Internship Coordinator for the Department.
To receive credit, students submit the internship application with the University to sign up for: POSC 485 - Internships in Political Science and Public Administration. Credits: (3-15). They pay Radford University tuition for the number of hours they plan to earn with the internship. Roughly, 120 hours of on-site work along with the completion of related academic assignments will put you in a position to earn three hours of academic credit.
Internships for academic credit may be either paid or unpaid.
To apply to receive academic credit for your internship, student should review the Internship Manual and talk to Paige Tan, Ph.D.
Radford University’s Government Relations office will be hosting a Government Relations Internship Program in which selected interns work closely with southwest Virginia state legislators and their staffs in Richmond, Virginia during the General Assembly session (January-March), and then return to campus and participate in a virtual internship with Radford University’s Government Relations office for the remainder of the semester (March-April). During the internship, students develop professional skills, strengthen political knowledge and gain a unique understanding of the Virginia General Assembly process. Selected students will receive 12 academic credits and Radford University will provide housing for student interns while they are in Richmond and a stipend to offset internship expenses. The application deadline in September each year. Apply through Handshake.
Radford University Government Relations Internship Overview [PDF]
Students may find work experiences that can serve as internships, though these will have no affiliation with Radford University. Without academic credit, the experience will also not have the academic components of the experience: the book, research, journaling, etc.
These experiences can still be listed on your resume as internships done while you were a student at Radford University.
At this time, we do not have the capacity to place students in specific internships. However, opportunities are diverse and numerous. Some students start with general searching on internships. Others start with organizations they are interested in and explore opportunities through their websites (look for "Careers," "Work with Us," or "Join Us"). Many organizations now offer remote opportunities, so, even if you're not able to spend a semester in Washington, DC, you might be able to have an important, enriching internship experience from your home or right here in Radford.
Students are responsible for making contact with potential internship hosts. Paige Tan, Ph.D., the internship coordinator; other professors; and the Career Center may serve as sources of guidance.
See this sample letter [PDF] as a way to make contact with a potential internship host organization.