Internships offer you a chance to develop both technical and transferable skills while making vital professional contacts with others in the field. You can begin exploring internship opportunities, including overseas study programs with internships, as early as your freshman year.
Internships
Washington Leadership Program
Students can earn a full semester of credit through the School of Public and Environment Affairs (SPEA) while interning with an organization compatible with their specific interest. The SPEA credit received may count toward the degree if space is available in the curriculum for outside the College elective credit. Consult a Political Science advisor or check the SPEA website for more information.
Undergraduate teaching internships
Our interns participate in various areas of faculty-directed activities, such as directing simulations, grading, teaching discussion sections, and conducting research. Many of our interns work with Professor Dina Spechler in the fall and spring semesters in conjunction with her Y351 Model UN course.
Receive credit for an internship
Many internships require you to be off campus for a full semester. There are several alternatives for obtaining credit as a full-time student, while pursuing a semester or yearlong internship. Consult an academic advisor to see what works for you.

I had the opportunity to intern with the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs during the spring 2018 semester. My role involved assisting trial attorneys in providing specific and articulable facts to a magistrate judge in order to assist foreign governments abroad in investigative and prosecutorial work. The critical thinking skills I developed as a student in the IU Political Science department were directly applicable to this work and enabled me to succeed.
Reed McLeod, B.A. 2018, Political Science