A National Security Studies education provides students with valuable internship opportunities with public and private sector employers in Utah, Washington, D.C., and across the United States. Our students have interned on Capitol Hill, at the Pentagon, and with the intelligence Community and the State Department, among other national security entities. Internships are a great opportunity for students to develop knowledge, skills, and relationships in a real-world setting. An internship can help put career goals into perspective, give students the resources to accomplish their career goals, and bridge the gap between the college and the professional world. In the competitive national security world, internships are becoming almost a requirement to land a full time job. The majority of internships in this field require comprehensive background checks for security clearances which can take over a year to complete. Early planning is therefore critical.
Browse below for information on internships in the national security sector.
Congressional internships incorporate interning for a Senator, Congressman/woman, or Committee/Subcommittee. We welcome applicants from all areas of study and any level in school, but prefer students who are juniors or seniors in college have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Intern duties generally consist of writing letters, conducting research, participating in briefings and hearings, answering phones, giving tours of the Capitol, social media and constituent correspondence.
Required application materials include, cover letter, resume, writing sample (3-5 pages), unofficial/official transcript and two letters of recommendation. If you are interested in any of the Internships found below, please contact Mallory Oliverson, [email protected],801-863-7436. **All applicants must go through UVU Internship Services to be considered for a congressional internship.
Click or tap on a Representative to visit their website.
Department of Defense
Website: http://godefense.cpms.osd.mil/internships.aspx
http://www.whs.mil/our-services/people-services/volunteer-student-internship-program
State Department
Website: https://careers.state.gov/intern
U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program (unpaid)
Department of Homeland Security
Website: https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/students
Secretary's Honors Program (SHP) profession Internship Program
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) College Intern Program
https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/office-intelligence-and-analysis-internship-program
United States Agency For International Development
Website: http://www.usaid.gov/
United States Institute of Peace
Website: http://www.usip.org/
Intelligence Community
Website: https://www.intelligencecareers.gov/icstudents.html
Central Intelligence Agency
Website: https://www.cia.gov/careers/student-opportunities/undergraduate-students.html
Directorate of Operations Undergraduate Internship Program
National Security Agency
National Security Agency (NSA) Graduate Training Program
Defense Intelligence Agency
Website:
https://www.dia.mil/Careers-and-Internships/Students/
National Security Education Program.
Operation Warfighter Initiative.
Undergraduate Training Assistance Program.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Website: https://www.fbijobs.gov/students/honors-internship-program
Office of The Director Of National Intelligence
Website: https://www.dni.gov/index.php/careers/student-opportunities
American Enterprise Institute – Foreign and Defense Policy Area
The Atlantic Council
Website: http://www.atlanticcouncil.org
The Brookings Institute
Website: http://www.brookings.edu
The Center for Global Development
Website: http://www.cgdev.org
Council on Foreign Relations
Website: http://www.cfr.org
Fund for Peace
Website: http://www.fundforpeace.org/
The German Marshall Fund
Website: http://www.gmfus.org
Institute for Policy Studies
Website: http://www.ips-dc.org/
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START)
Website: http://www.start.umd.edu/start/
The Stimson Center
Website: http://www.stimson.org/
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Website: http://www.wilsoncenter.org
International Committee of the Red Cross
Website: https://www.icrc.org/en/traineeships
The World Bank
Website: http://www.worldbank.org/
Millennium Challenge Corporation
For more information about national security internships, contact us at 801.863.6891 or [email protected] or contact our Internship Coordinators:
Erik Nystul
Government & High Impact Manager
[email protected]
801.863.7436
LC 410K
Catherine "Cathy" Chartrand
Internship Coordinator
College of Health and Public Service
[email protected]
801.863-5368
Office: LC 410M
Noelle Halasima
Internship Coordinator
College of Humanities and Social Services
[email protected]
801.863.5689
CB 506A
Careers related to national security are among the fastest growing professions in the country, with opportunities in both the public and private sectors. There is a wide range of national security career paths for NSS students. Students should consult with their advisors, professors, and the CNSS to identify the best path for their unique interests and qualifications. Be advised that national security jobs are extremely competitive and require security clearances which can take over a year to complete, so early planning is critical.
For specific job postings in federal national security departments and agencies, see USAjobs.gov
For more information, contact the CNSS at [email protected] or 801.863.5849
For internship credit: https://www.uvu.edu/career-internship/