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.

• Visit the department’s Facebook page.
• 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 include, but are 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. You must have an internship before you can register for the credit. Fill out the application and drop it by Dr. Bekafigo’s office (SBS Castro 212) or leave it with someone in the Politics & International Affairs office. 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.

What are the requirements for earning credit?

In addition to their intern duties and required hours (see application), students are required to keep a journal of their experiences which will help them write an 8-10 page paper in which the student reflects his or her experiences upon relevant academic studies. The paper may be on a topic of the student’s choosing, but it must be related to the internship and it must be pre-approved by the Politics & International Affairs Internship Coordinator, Dr. Bekafigo. The journal, paper, and hours worked will be submitted to BBLearn.

Where can I find more information?

The internship application has other information about credits, hours you need to work, how you will be evaluated and more….please download the application and read it before making an appointment with Dr. Bekafigo.

If you need more information please email Dr. Bekafigo or stop by during her office hours that are listed on her door each semester in SBS Castro, 212.

If you have an internship position or other opportunities that you would like to advertise to our students, please provide Dr. Bekafigo with a short (paragraph) description of your organization, your expectations and duties for the internship, and contact information so that we may post it on our Facebook page.

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.