Objectives

• To enable students to develop skills and competencies for government and public policy professions, explore career interests and form networks.
• To provide opportunities for students to evaluate and apply knowledge and methods of inquiry attained from their course study and academic discipline.
• To provide opportunities for students to develop intellectual and professional partnerships.
• To provide students expanded opportunities for self-directed learning.

Purpose

Internships are about gaining experience, contributing and building a professional network. They are about adjusting to a new environment – one that may seem unnatural after many years of school. Internships are a valuable commodity. Most students will discover they are competing for placements that select the best and brightest students from all across the country. The competition is fierce and your commitment should reflect the competitive nature of these opportunities. An internship may be your first chance to test academic or classroom theories in a fast-paced professional work environment. The ability to translate academic theory to professional practice is essential to a successful internship experience. The NTDC Internship was created to give students the opportunity to gain real experience in a professional work setting. Students can measure, in a supervised setting, how well they are prepared for a career path while sampling what a specific profession has to offer.

Internships are not for everyone. You must meet or exceed certain requirements. Of equal importance, you must demonstrate a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, good communication skills and creativity. Life on “the Hill” can be extremely rewarding, but it can also mean late nights, lunch at your desk and a vigorous work regimen. Extra hours spent today can mean a job tomorrow. Successful Capitol-area interns also have a passion for policy-making, excellent public speaking skills and a commitment to the program.

Benefits

Interns from around the country go to Washington to pursue university-organized opportunities, and to gain experience and access through placement in congressional offices, federal agencies, research and advocacy organizations, and national news and media outlets. Such programs allow students to work in their areas of interest and represent their institutions on a national platform. A semester-long immersion into a Washington DC work environment cannot be reproduced in the classroom or recreated in any other setting.