Internships

NAU Political Sciences & International Affairs internship opportunities

Employers look beyond academic credentials and seek candidates with workplace experience and success. Internships while earning your degree at NAU will give you experience in a variety of settings and open doors to many career opportunities. Add an internship to your résumé and make yourself more marketable after graduation. An Internship also satisfies the Experience of Difference requirement for our degree programs. Please contact our internship coordinator for details.

Internships are a great way to:

• Open doors
• Develop job and life skills
• Explore possible career directions
• Add to your networking
• Build your resume

They occur in many different settings – you will likely find one to match your interests. Northern Arizona University students earning degrees in political science and/or global studies have learned in a variety of settings and environments, including:

• State legislature
• Non-profit organizations
• Private law practices
• Environmental groups
• Political campaigns at national, state, and local levels
• Lobbying organizations
• International governments and organizations

All formalized intern experiences are eligible for academic credit. In addition, some internships include a stipend.

FAQs for POS 408

How do I get started? 

• It is the student’s responsibility to arrange their own internship, but below are some suggestions.

How can I find an internship?

There are a few ways to find internships.

• Find internships on Handshake.
• Contact NAU’s Internship Office at Career Development.
• Cold call an office or person that you want to work with. Ask them if they have an internship program. If they do not have one, you can offer to be their first intern! They may have never thought about having an intern and would likely welcome your help. Tell them you are an NAU student who would like their mentorship and course credit. I suggest dropping off your resume and a cover letter telling them why you want to work with them and how they can make a difference in your education. You can also tell them briefly about how you will earn course credit (working for them 10 hours a week).
• The Washington Center is a program that places interns in government offices in and around Washington, D.C. Because the program is well publicized, the most prestigious placements offered can be very competitive. The Center also provides an academic program and optional convenient housing for a fee.

What counts as a political science internship? 

Political science internships must be related to your degree. This includes, but is not limited to, working in law firms, various court systems, nonprofit social welfare organizations, government offices, political party organizations, or political campaigns. If you have questions about a specific internship possibility, please contact the Internship Program Coordinator, Dr. Bekafigo.

What class will give me credit for my internship and when can I register? 

You may receive credit for POS408 (Fieldwork Experience) which will satisfy your Experience of Difference requirement.. You must have an internship before you can register for the credit. Fill out the application and email it to Dr. Bekafigo at marija.bekafigo@nau.edu or drop by her office (SBS Castro 212). You must sign up for the credit BEFORE you start your internship. Credit may be earned for the summer, fall, and spring semesters. Credit will not be earned retroactively. Internships are graded Pass/Fail.

How many credit hours do I need to register for?

You need 3 credits of POS 408 to fulfill your Experience of Difference requirement though you may earn up to 12 credits for POS 408.

How many hours do I need to work/intern to earn the 3 credits required? 

You need to work 135 hours to earn 3 credits and can earn up to 12 credits if you complete the additional hours (135 hours worked for every 3 credits). Talk to your advisor about whether you need more than 3 credits to complete your degree.

What are the requirements for earning credit? 

In addition to their intern duties and required hours, students are required to write an 8-10 page research paper in which the student reflects his or her experiences upon relevant academic studies. Students will also have their internship supervisor evaluate their work.

Do you have an internship that you want me to advertise to our students?

Email Dr.Bekafigo with a short (paragraph) description of your organization, your expectations and duties for the internship, and contact information.

Internship Opportunities by Location

• Flagstaff
• Sedona
• Phoenix and Arizona (statewide)
• Arizona Deliberates
• Washington, D.C.
• Nationwide
• International
• Office of Sustainability

Available university-wide internships and resources

Additional internship opportunities may be available to NAU students in Political Sciences & International Affairs at other locations on campus. Please consult NAU’s Internship Resources for more information.