Federal (Washington, D.C.) & State (Austin) Internship Programs

Important Dates 

Application deadline dates vary each calendar year. Approximate application deadlines for each semester are:

• Fall Internships - April 15
• Spring Internships - October 15
• Summer Internships - March 15

To apply for the program, please complete the appropriate internship application on the representative's website AND submit your resume and cover letter through Handshake. Let the Career and Professional Development Office know if you don't see a posting on Handshake for the representative you are interested in.

Once applications are submitted in Handshake, the top applicants are scheduled for an interview with Career and Professional Development staff. Applicants are instructed to bring a budget that outlines expenses required to participate in the internship to this meeting.

This process may take several weeks. Contact the Career and Professional Development Office with questions - 806-651-2345 or wtcareer@wtamu.edu. 

Funding Your Internship

WTAMU students selected for a federal or state representative internship can be considered for financial assistance through the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, as well as their existing financial aid.

Candidates are interviewed by Career and Professional Development staff and top candidates are recommended to the Office of the Provost.

Qualifications for Consideration

Students from all disciplines are encouraged to consider taking advantage of this opportunity. A strong application should exhibit:

• Sound academic credentials
• Solid written and verbal communication skills
• A history of community involvement
• Strong character
• Leadership skills

Applicants Must Be:

• At least 18 years of age on or before the first day of the internship
• Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university
• A United States citizen

Intern Student Housing

Interns are responsible for finding their own housing while on Capitol Hill or in Austin.  Past Washington, D.C. interns have used Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH). Information concerning housing opportunities through WISH can be found at www.internsdc.com.

The representative's staff and/or the Career and Professional Development Office may have additional housing ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What happens after I submit an application through Handshake?
  • Applications are reviewed and candidates are initially interviewed by the Career and Professional Development staff. Top applicants are forwarded to the Office of the Provost for another interview. The Office of the Provost lets the representative know if you qualify for funding.
    
    
• How long before I receive notification?
  • We understand you'll need to make many plans to transition from Canyon to Washington, D.C. or Austin. Applicants receive notification as quickly as possible after the application deadlines, so please be patient.
    
    
• How much will I spend in out-of-pocket expenses?
  • Expenses will vary according to your personal needs. However, the majority of your living and transportation expenses are generally covered through financial assistance from Office of the Provost. Your expenses for course enrollment will need to be covered in the same manner as if you were not interning.
    
    
• Will I lose my existing scholarships?
  • Because scholarship requirements vary greatly, we recommend you carefully review the criteria for maintaining any scholarships you've been awarded. In the past, most scholarship programs will work with students participating in this experience to ensure renewable scholarships are not canceled as a result of participation.
    
    
• Do I still take classes toward my degree while completing the internship?
  • The amount of internship credit available depends on your major and the internship credit policies within your academic department.
    
    Students receiving financial aid must enroll in at least 12 credit hours through WTAMU to qualify. For example, if your internship qualifies for 6 hours of academic credit, you could take an additional 6 hours online or through independent study. Work with your academic advisor to personalize your plan and ensure it works with course offerings that semester.
    
    Will the internship credit hours count toward my degree?This depends on your degree plan. The hours generally count as electives or a required experience (ex. senior capstone). Some programs may not have a place to plug in the internship credit hours. Work with your academic advisor to determine the specifics for your situation.
    
    
• What happens if my degree requires a class that is only offered on a 2-year rotation and occurs the semester I would spend as an intern? 
  • We recommend you work with your academic adviser and the faculty member instructing the course to determine if a viable solution can be found allowing you to enroll in the course while completing the internship program. Any approved alternatives for course completion would be at the discretion of the faculty member instructing the course.