Internship Search

Finding a good internship is like finding a good job - you need to start early and work at it. The Maxwell School will provide you with the guidance you need to make the most of your time in Washington. There are literally thousands of organizations and that offer exciting internships in the Washington area. For assistance, contact the Maxwell in Washington Assistant Director, whether you're interested in general internship guidelines, or in the requirements for an internship for the Maxwell in Washington program. In addition, the Assistant Director offers students resume and cover letter advice, and can help connect you to the many SU alumni who work in the Washington area. From Washington, The DC Assistant Dean and Assistant Director pursue leads, offer assistance, and describe what various organizations do and where they are located.

To help you start exploring your career interests, and learn what to expect as you embark on the internship search, please take a look at our:

For US citizens interested in federal opportunities, please be aware that application deadlines for positions that require a security clearance can be up to one year before the semester of participation! This includes opportunities in the intelligence community as well as federal agencies like the State Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, etc. Sign up for alerts at agencies of interest on USAjobs.gov.

State Department application deadlines are typically nine months out. Check out this great overview of student opportunities with State for more details and sign up for alerts to stay on top of upcoming deadlines.

State Department Application Tips

All students who have secured an internship position for this program are required to complete the Washington Semester Program Job Description Form.

International students are required to apply for Curricular Practical Training in order to complete an internship in the US.

Maxwell-in-Washington students have interned at over 200 different offices in Washington DC including:

Alliance for Peacebuilding
American Council of Young Political Leaders
American Enterprise Institute
ASHOKA
Asia Society
Atlantic Council
Brookings Institution
Cato Institute
Center for American Progress
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Children's National Health System
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Justice
Department of State
Department of the Treasury
EMILY's List
Global Ties US
Heritage Foundation
Human Rights Watch
Institute for the Study of War
Inter-American Development Bank
International Rescue Committee's
Middle East Institute
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Defense University
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
Republican National Committee
Squire Patton Boggs, LLP
Susan Davis International
Team Red White and Blue
USAID
U.S House of Representatives
U.S. Senate
Voice of America
White House Office of Management and Budget
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
World Wildlife Fund

For more information contact saclemen@syr.edu.