Internships

            Be a Legislative Intern – Work in the District Offices of State Senators, State Representatives, and U.S. Representatives. (3 credit hours- POLS 3393)

            Be a Government Intern – Assist city, county and state elected officials and staff in administrative offices, in the state court system, in event organization, and in tasks at public events. (3 credit hours – POLS 3393)

            Be a Research Intern – Team with a Political Science professor engaged in research in U.S. Government and Politics, World Politics, Political Economy, Public Policy and Political Theory. (3 credit hours – POLS 3393)

            Be a Legal Intern – Gain hands-on experience in the offices of lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals in a field of law that interests you. (1 – 4 credit hours-POLS 3190)

            Be a State Capitol Intern during the regular session of the Texas Legislature in spring 2027 - Apply for one of 11 positions in the Valley Legislative Internship Program (VLIP) for the spring semester of odd-numbered years. This a collaboration of the UTRGV Office of Governmental Relations and Political Science. Graduate students receive credit as provided by their academic departments. (6 credit hours – POLS 3690 and POLS 6393)

            Be an Archer Fellow – Apply for an Archer Center Fellowship to work in Washington, D.C., during the fall or spring semester as an undergraduate while earning 15 hours of upper-level academic credit. Graduate student fellowships are for the summer, and students earn nine hours of academic credit. This is a University of Texas System program available to students in UT System universities throughout the state. (Undergraduates: 15 credit hours - 9 POLS hours and 4 Honors College hours. Graduates: 9 PAFF credit hours)

Additional information about all these exciting opportunities is available through the School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies (PPLSS).

            Contact:

            Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland, Internship Coordinator, ruth.ragland@utrgv.edu

            Dr. Douglas Brattebo, Legal Studies, douglas.brattebo@utrgv.edu

            Dr. Dongkyu Kim, Director, School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies (PPLSS), dongkyu.kim@utrgv.edu

(Qualifications: Junior/Senior; minimum 12 hours POLS/GOV with 3.0 GPA in all POLS courses; 2.5 overall GPA)

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez – Brownsville, Weslaco

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz – McAllen

State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa – McAllen

State Sen. Adam Hinojosa – Brownsville, Weslaco

State Rep. Terry Canales – Edinburg

State Rep. Erin Gamez – Brownsville

State Rep. Bobby Guerra – McAllen

State Rep. Ryan Guillen – Rio Grande City

State Rep. Oscar Longoria – Penitas 

State Rep. Janie Lopez – San Benito

State Rep.  Armando “Mando” Martinez – Weslaco

State Rep. Sergio Munoz – Mission

(Qualifications: junior/Senior; minimum 12 hours POLS/GOV with 3.0 GPA in all POLS courses; 2.5 overall GPA)

Cameron County District Attorney’s Office - Brownsville

Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office - Edinburg

Texas 13th Court of Appeals - McAllen

Hidalgo County Bar Association - Edinburg

City of Edinburg

City of Brownsville

City of Harlingen

Cameron County - Brownsville

Cameron County Elections Department – Brownsville

(Qualifications: Junior/Senior; minimum 12 hours POLS/GOV with 3.0 GPA in all POLS courses; 2.5 overall GPA)

UTRGV Political Science Faculty – Edinburg and Brownsville

UTRGV Center for Survey Research and Policy Analysis (CSRPA) – Edinburg

(Qualifications: POLS 2305 and POLS 2306; Overall 2.75 GPA)

Approved private law firms in the RGV and other sites.

(Qualifications: Junior/Senior; minimum 12 hours POLS/GOV with 3.0 GPA in all POLS courses; 2.5 overall GPA)

State Capitol Offices of the 11 state Legislators from the Rio Grande Valley during regular sessions of the Texas Legislature. 90th Texas Legislature in 2027. Application process.

State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa – McAllen

State Sen. Adam Hinojosa – Brownsville, Weslaco

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini - Laredo

State Rep. Terry Canales – Edinburg

State Rep. Erin Gamez – Brownsville

State Rep. Bobby Guerra – McAllen

State Rep. Ryan Guillen – Rio Grande City

State Rep. Oscar Longoria – Penitas 

State Rep. Janie Lopez – San Benito

State Rep.  Armando “Mando” Martinez – Weslaco

State Rep. Sergio Munoz – Mission

(Qualifications: Minimum GPA of 3.0 at UTRGV; previous work or internship experience; campus leadership and/or community involvement; be pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UTRGV. If selected, must meet the following by beginning of semester of participation: junior or senior status by years and hours; 24 hours of in-residence credit completed at UTRGV; and completion of political science core-curriculum requirements – POLS 2305 and POLS 2306 or equivalents.)

Be an Intern in government, nonprofit, media, research and other institutions throughout our nation’s capital. Application process. Annual undergraduate deadline:  February 15. https://www.archercenter.org

*Contingent upon availability per semester.