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Internship Search

Internship Search

Owned by Jessica Smith (Deactivated)
Last updated: Jul 11, 2025 by Melissa Morton

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. 

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.