Political Science and International Relations

Internships

About our internship program

Through internships, students gain valuable experience and skills, develop a professional network, apply classroom learning to real-world situations, and define career interests. Many students end up with an offer of employment or internship extension from their internship agency. 

Political Science and International Relations students may take 3-9 internship credits, however, only 3 will count toward degree requirements. The other 6 credits may count toward general University electives. 

Internship Coordinator: Dr. Linda Butenhoff
Email: ljbutenhoff@stcloudstate.edu

Internship requirements

Interns will work in entry-level professional positions and, prior to starting, have a written learning agreement, outlining work assignments, with the site supervisor and internship director. An ideal internship includes orientation, assigned activities that let you use and develop research, analytical, writing, and public speaking skills. Assignments of varying levels of difficulty and opportunities for public and staff meetings to learn first-hand how decisions are made are ideal.

Students completing an internship need to be at least a junior (60+ credits). 

POL 444 - INTERNSHIP: UNDERGRADUATE

The Numbers

3 credits = 112 hours
6 credits = 224 hours
9 credits = 336 hours

  1. Meet with your major advisor to ensure an internship meets your program's requirements.
  2. Meet with your department's Internship Coordinator regarding internship requirements. 
  3. Departments do not assign or locate internships for students. Apply and secure an internship.
  4. Ensure that your internship meets University internship guidelines and requirements.
  5. Ensure that your internship meets Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Unpaid internships not meeting the FLSA test for unpaid interns will not be approved. Know Your Rights is a great resource. 
  6. Once you have secured an internship, meet again with your Internship Coordinator for approval of the internship; complete paperwork.
  7. Once paperwork is approved, register for the internship course.
  8. Complete internship assignments/requirements.

Note: Students must be enrolled in an internship course while actively interning to earn academic internship credit. Internship credit cannot be retroactively applied to a non-credit internship experience.