C-FARE’s Summer 2008
Internship Information
Deadline is February 28, 2008
Washington, DC Internships For Students with an Interest in Agricultural, Natural Resources, Food and Applied Economics
General Government Resources
FirstGov: The federal government’s official Web portal provides an A-Z list of all federal agencies and departments.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Career Opportunities Page: This gateway to federal career information in the United States and abroad is a useful resource for finding student jobs, summer work, internships and fellowships.
Student Jobs/e-Scholar Page: The e-Scholar website, a joint project of OPM and of the Student Financial Assistance office of the U.S. Department of Education, provides students with information on various educational opportunities available within the federal government, including internships, fellowships, apprenticeships, and cooperative programs.
USA Jobs: Although this official U.S. federal government website is a portal for finding permanent positions within the federal government, it also provides students with links to federal internships, student programs, and volunteer opportunities.
Resources for Housing
CRS Report - Coming to Washington, DC? Sources of Information on Temporary Housing
Office of Personnel Management Programs
Federal Career Intern Program: This program’s goal is to aid agencies in attracting and recruiting top individuals into various occupations at grade levels GS-5, GS-7, and GS-9. Normally, individuals are appointed to two-year internships. Upon successfully completing their internships, interns may be eligible for permanent positions in an agency. Those interested in this program contact specific agencies directly.
Student Educational Employment Program: The program offers federal job opportunities to students who are enrolled or have been accepted for enrollment as degree candidates taking at least half-time academic, technical, or vocational course of study in accredited high schools, technical or vocational schools, two or four-year colleges or universities, or graduate or professional schools. The program has two components: the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) and the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). In the STEP component, the work does not have to be related to the student’s academic or career goals. However, the SCEP component is designed to be directly related to the student’s career goals. SCEP students may be converted noncompetitively to term, career, or career-conditional positions after finishing their academic and work experience requirements.
Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program: The Presidential Management Fellows Program was created to attract outstanding persons from many academic disciplines to the federal government who are interested in, and committed to careers in, the analysis and management of public policies and programs. Students who want to be considered for the PMF Program have to be nominated by their school’s nomination official (dean, chairperson, program director, or their designate) of their graduate program. Students must finish a graduate degree (master’s or doctorate) from a school accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
Executive Branch Opportunities
White House Internship Program: This program provides opportunities to learn more about the daily processes of the White House. The competitive program selects about 100 interns every spring, summer, and fall to take part in it. Each applicant must be a U.S. citizen, enrolled in a college or university, and at least 18 years old on or by the first day of the internship.
Department of Agriculture (USDA): USDA provides undergraduate and graduate students with paid internships in several departmental offices, such as the Food and Nutrition Service, the Farm Service Agency, and the Office of the Inspector General. Students work as assistants to scientific, professional, administrative, and technical employees.
Environmental Protection Agency: Numerous opportunities are available within the EPA for students to gain vital career experience while contributing to the mission of protecting human health and safeguarding the environment. Internships, fellowships and other opportunities are available in Washington, DC, laboratories, and at regional EPA locations nationwide.
Judicial Branch Opportunities
Judicial Intern Program: This program is geared toward advanced undergraduates and graduating college seniors who are interested in law, management, or social sciences. Interns work in the Office of Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice. Internships are offered in the fall, spring, and summer and are unpaid.
Legislative Branch Opportunities
U.S. Congress: Internships are available in many Members’ offices in Washington DC, and in their district offices, as well as in congressional committee offices. Internships are generally unpaid and offered year-round. Applications are often found at each individual Member’s or committee’s website, or candidates may contact the desired office directly. For lists of member of committee websites and office contact information, see the following Senate and House of Representatives Home Pages.
House of Representatives Home Page
Congressional Budget Office: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provides Congress with budget-related information and explains possible budget ramifications of proposed bills reported by congressional committees. College students and recent college graduates can apply for paid 10-week summer internships, in which they would work on analyses in CBO’s various divisions.
Congressional Research Service: The Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides research and analysis in all areas upon request to Members and committees. Internship opportunities are available year-round. In partnership with seven organizations CRS offers a limited number of paid internships to outstanding minority students. Volunteer internships are available primarily to graduate students, postgraduate students, faculty, and other professionals. In addition, CRS offers special hiring and recruitment programs under the Presidential Management Fellows Program, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Cooperative Education program, and the Law Recruit Program.
Government Accountability Office: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is a congressional auditing and investigative agency that makes recommendations for more effective government operations. College students may be chosen to serve as paid or volunteer interns, generally for 10-12 weeks.
Library of Congress: The Library of Congress offers unpaid and paid internship, fellowship, and volunteer opportunities in several departments such as the American Folklife Center, the Conservation Division, and the Hispanic Division.
Possible Locations for Opportunities*
* The internship sites listed below are a sampling of available opportunities which have been forwarded to C-FARE. Other opportunities are also available. C-FARE does not promote any of these opportunities over others. *
Smithsonian Fellowship & Internship Programs: The Smithsonian Institution provides various fellowship and internship programs and academic appointments within its museums and research institutes. Program descriptions are available online and in the annual print publication, Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study.
The Washington Center for Internship and Academic Seminars: The center’s internship program provides opportunities in the Washington, DC, area to college students and postgraduates. Students are placed within the public (including the federal government), private, and nonprofit sectors. Several internship programs are available for minority applicants.
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Farm Bureau Federation
Americans for Democratic Action
American Legislative Exchange Council
Bread for the WorldInterAction
The Centre for Development and Population Activities
Center for Economic and Policy Research
Center for International Environmental Law
Center for International Policy
Centre for Science and Environment
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program - Public Policy
Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program – State Policy
Committee for Economic Development
Consumer Energy Council of America
The Council for Excellence in Government
The Environmental Careers Organization
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
International Environment & Development
National Council for Science and the Environment
National Center for Public Policy Research
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Parks Conservation Association
National Rural Health Association
Organization of American States
Pinchot Institute for Conservation
Student Conservation Association
United Nations Information Centre
Washington International Trade Association
Current Issues
June - July 2008
