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Are you interested in a hands-on internship experience in our nation's capital?  The College of Social & Behavioral Sciences invites SBS majors to apply for our SBS in DC Internship Program. SBS is offering a selected number of summer internship opportunities with alumni and other affiliated organizations in Washington DC. Our alumni are doing exciting work, and want to help you build your skills so even more UMass talent will be making a difference in our country's future in Washington DC!

Internships held by past SBS in DC interns include:

Capitol Hill:
  • Democrat and Republican Offices in the Senate and House
  • Committees and Caucuses on the Hill
Foreign Affairs and International Development
  • Sovereign Infrastructure Group
  • InterAction
  • Department of Defense, Office of the General Counsel
  • Refugee Policy Program, Church World Service
  • Center for Advanced Defense Studies
  • Chemonics
  • JStreet
  • The American Interest
Health & Environment
  • American Dental Assoc. Congressional Lobby
  • Mylan/Viatris Policy Research Unit
  • American Gastroenterological Assoc. Public Policy & Government Affairs
  • Health Resources and Services Administration/Bureau of Workforce Health
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • American Rivers
Data, Strategy & PR
  • Lincoln Park Strategies
  • kglobal
  • The Reis Group
  • No Labels
  • Targeted Victory
  • New Blue Interactive

MORE INTERNSHIP SITES TO COME SOON!

The dates of the program in Washington DC are Saturday, May 29th-Saturday, August 7th 2021, and you must be present for the entire 10 weeks of the internship. 

Interns in the SBS in DC program live together in DC as a cohort in housing paid for and provided by SBS. Throughout the summer there are opportunities for field trips, networking, and professional development activities.* Each person in the cohort is assigned an Alumni Mentor in DC who will provide advice and guidance throughout the summer. Participants are also enrolled in a summer course centered around their internship experience.
(*Please note that due to Covid 19, housing and internship logistics are subject to change. The program may be conducted remotely if in-person is not possible due to public health and safety.)

Some internships are paid, and for those that are unpaid, funding to cover travel to DC, food, metro cards, and other expenses may be available, depending on financial need. Students will apply for scholarships via Academic Works. In addition, academic credit may also be provided for internships.

This is a highly selective program and we are looking for applicants who are serious about representing SBS in DC with our alumni hosts. The first step is to apply to be accepted into the program cohort. If you are selected, we will work together to determine which organizations are optimal for the goals you have expressed. Since there are a limited number of internships, we want to make sure the placement makes sense for you. For example, if you are hoping for a career in progressive politics, we would not place you with a conservative representative, as this could negatively impact your future job applications. For this reason, we cannot guarantee placement. We will be accepting alternates as well.

As a member of the cohort, you will be required to participate in a semester-long professional development class that meets weekly at UMass throughout the spring. The class will explore topics such as professional etiquette & communication, networking, DC 101, internship expectations, policy & legislative prep 101, learning objectives and goal setting. The dates and times of the class will be provided to those selected into the cohort prior to Spring registration.

This is a terrific opportunity, and we encourage you to apply for this chance to be part of the cohort of SBS in DC interns!

Please submit the requested application documents through Handshake by Friday, October 16th by 5:00pm:
  • Resume
  • Statement of Interest/Personal Statement (outlining why you are interested in this program, and more importantly, what it would mean for you to be a part of the program. Be reflective, tell your story. Explain how being a part of this program fits in with your professional and personal goals and why it is an opportunity that appeals to you. What do you hope to get out of the experience). Please note: when uploading documents to apply this should be attached where it says "Cover Letter".
  • Transcript (Unofficial is acceptable)
  • Writing Sample (no more than 3 pages, can be an excerpt from a longer paper) from a relevant class.

If you are accepted to the program, we will ask you for a written statement of financial need at that time, outlining what your circumstances are that we should consider when determining your level of additional funding.