Why do an internship? It's better to ask yourself why not. Employers look for experience when reading the resume of a potential employee. A recent college grad with one or two internships will be more attractive than one without that work experience. Employers know that internships give students hands-on experience with workplace skills, challenges, and environments – experiences that make those students valuable employees.
Internships give you the chance to try out a profession and collect references and professional contacts. You can also get course credit. If there's a downside to interning, we haven't heard about it.
Our Students' Experiences
Political science majors may complete an internship for course credit. Internships involve a combination of work with an organization or agency and coursework relevant to the internship, including readings and essays about the internship experience. Internships can be with nonprofit organizations, campaigns, government agencies, or other organizations that provide experience for students seeking careers in political science.
Students have earned academic credit for public service internships with Senator Richard Shelby, Senator Jeff Sessions, and Representative Spencer Bachus in their Washington, DC, offices; Representative Terri Sewell in her Birmingham office; the Alabama Law Institute Legislative Intern to State Senate Majority Leader Jabo Waggoner; the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform; the United Way; the Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham; the Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council; and the YWCA of Central Alabama.