Internship Opportunities for “Real World” Experience and Academic Credit
What Is the Relationship between Employment and Internships?
- 67.7% of 2007-08 interns were offered full-time positions.
- 83.6% of these offers were accepted.
- 35.3% of employers' full-time, entry-level college hires came from their internship programs.
These statistics are from the webpage "10 Benefits of Starting an Intern Program." For more information, see "5 Reasons an Internship Rocks."
Research Intern Erika Gonzalez presented a paper, “Globalization, Deindustrialization, and Social Capital,” co-authored with Dr. Mi-son Kim and Dr. Dongkyu Kim, at the Southern Political Science Association Conference Jan. 17-19, 2019, in Austin. The paper also has been accepted for presentation at the Midwest Political Science Association in Chicago April 4-7. Cesar Villegas, 2017 Research Intern, also presented a paper with Dr. Dongkyu Kim on “FDI and Labor Rights in the Developing Countries: The Role of Business Environment.”
Internships in the Department of Political Science
Political Science Internships offer students in all majors opportunities to gain “real-world” experience while earning upper-level academic credit.
See Political Science Internships Fast Facts Fall 2015 – Spring 2021
Legislative Internships at the Texas Capitol. Internships are available in the offices of State Legislators at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas. Earn six credit hours in political science. Gain “real-world” experience. Receive an $8,000 stipend. Click flyer for more details. For more on the benefits of these Austin internships and the success of past interns, click on “Eleven UTRGV Students Spend 85th Texas Legislative Session as Interns” or see Quotes from Austin Legislative Interns below.
The Senate passed SR 490 “Recognizing the 2021 class of participants in the Rio Grande Valley Legislative Internship Program,” and the House passed HR 1772 “Commending the participants in the Rio Grande Valley Legislative Internship Program during the 87th Session.” Congratulations VLIP Interns!
See UTRGV Profiles In Excellence for an article on Erick Longoria, an Austin legislative intern for Senator Lucio's office.
Legislative Internships in the Rio Grande Valley. Available in the offices of state legislators and U.S. representatives throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Students must have 12 semester credit hours in political science, a 3.0 GPA in their political science courses, and a 2.5 cumulative GPA. For additional information, see “Be a UTRGV Legislative Intern” or contact Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland at ruth.ragland@utrgv.edu.
UTRGV Political Science Intern Participates in 2020 Census Event. Yamileth Uribe, a POLS Legislative Intern in U.S. Rep. Henry Cueller’s District Office in Mission, participated with her On-site Supervisor, Outreach Coordinator Nichole Hernandez, and others in the Census Grand Opening Ceremony in Edinburg on Oct. 10 to encourage residents to be counted in the 2020 nationwide Census.
(Left to right): Moise Arjona Jr., MHP Salud; Nichole Hernandez, Congressman Cuellar’s Outreach Coordinator; Laura Trevino, Texas A&M Colonias Program Associate Regional Director; and Yamileth Uribe, Congressman Cuellar’s UTRGV Political Science Intern.
Legal Internships. Available in the court system and offices of attorneys in the Rio Grande Valley for students considering a career in law. Students may earn one to four semester credit hours in political science. For additional information, contact Dr. James Wenzel at james.wenzel@utrgv.edu.
Bill Archer Fellowship Program. Washington, D.C., internships offered by the UT System for experience and academic credit. Students are selected through a competitive application process administered by the UTRGV Honors College. For additional information, go to http://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/academics/colleges/honors/index.htm.
Read “Paid Internships Are a Reality Again in Congress after Public Shaming.” This article shares insight from Beatriz Reynoso, a UTRGV Political Science major who is working as an Intern in Washington, D.C., for the spring 2019 semester as a participant in the Archer Center’s Fellowship program. She and Samantha Acuna, also a UTRGV Political Science major, were selected as Archer Fellows for the spring semester. The Archer Center awards its Fellowships each year in a competitive program for both undergraduate and graduate students in the UT System.
Over Garcia-Lopez, a Political Science major and an Archer Intern for fall 2019, has received a Washington Media Scholarship and has accepted an offer for an Internship at STG Results, a political and public affairs advocacy firm in Washington, D.C.: https://www.stgresults.com. His long-term goal is to work on a presidential campaign. In spring 2019, Over was a Legislative Intern for U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela in Brownsville, participated in the Model United Nations Program, and was a Supplemental Instructor for POLS 2306 – Texas Government and Politics.
Research Internships. Available with political science professors engaged in research in U.S. Government and Politics, World Politics, Political Economy and Public Policy, and Political Theory. Students must have a minimum of 12 semester credit hours in political science, a 3.0 GPA in their political science courses, and a 2.5 cumulative GPA. For additional information, see “Be a UTRGV Research Intern” or contact Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland at ruth.ragland@utrgv.edu.
UTRGV Political Science Research Intern Selected for Ralph Bunche Summer Institute at Duke University. Erika Gonzalez, a UTRGV Political Science major and Research Intern, has been selected for the American Political Science Association’s Ralph Bunche Summer Institute at Duke University in Durham, N.C., for summer 2019.
She is one of 15 undergraduate students selected nationwide to participate in the five-week Institute, which is a minority-specific program designed to encourage undergraduate interest in pursuing academic careers in political science. The Institute will be from May 26 – June 27.
Erika has been a Political Science Research Intern working with UTRGV Political Science faculty Dr. Dongkyu Kim and Dr. Mi-son Kim focusing on globalization, deindustrialization and social capital.
The Institute’s namesake is Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize winner, former APSA President, and the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in political science. For more, click “2019 APSA Ralph Bunche Summer Institute Scholars.”
POLS 3190 (1 credit) and POLS 3390 (3 credits) Internship. These courses are designed for students seeking academic credit hours through an Internship placement. Click POLS Internship Guidelines for details.
(From Left) POLS Research Interns Cesar Villegas (2017) and Erika Gonzalez (2018-19), and Faculty Dr. Natasha Altema-McNeely and Dr. Mi-son Kim, get together with Austin Legislative Interns Jacquelynn Hernandez and Ylana Robles during the Southern Political Science Association Conference Jan. 17-19, 2019, in Austin. Cesar and Erika both presented papers. Jacquelynn is a state Capitol Intern for Rep. Ryan Guillen, and Ylana is an Intern in the Capitol office of Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez.
Still have questions? Contact Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland at ruth.ragland@utrgv.edu.
Quotes from Austin Legislative Interns. Below are selected comments from final reports and essays.
On the 88th Texas Legislature January 10 – May 29, 2023
- “My legislative experience has taught me the importance of compromise and collaboration.”
- “If we truly would like to see change in the state and nation, it is up to us to make the change.”
- “Our democratic system works, but if we don’t choose the proper people, we must accept the consequences of our actions.”
- “I saw firsthand how many people exercise their first constitutional amendment and speak to legislative offices to advocate and discuss their concerns.”
- “This internship gave me the opportunity to create many new connections in a way that I never thought I would.”
- “I have had the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge I gained in my political science courses to understand the workings of the legislative branch of government.”
- “It was interesting to weigh and compare what holds more significance in the Texas Legislature - the power of politics or the power of democracy.”
- “I now have no problem talking to people I do not know, whether that be in the elevator, hallways, or in offices. I am definitely comfortable putting myself out there.”
- “One can take dozens of political science courses, have a passion for government, and become involved with government, but it will never compare to seeing how everything works inside the Capitol.”
- “Communication, as I have come to discover, is the key to success in the Capitol.”
- “I have been able to see how members of the House and the Senate within the Texas Capitol work to build coalitions and negotiate compromises in order to advance their policy priorities.”
- “Interning at the Capitol has been a unique experience . . . It made me realize that I want to center my career around public policy.”
- “The opportunities are there for interns in this program. It is just a matter of are you willing to put yourself out there and learn from people who have established their position in the field.”
- “Seeing people participate in the political process by engaging in peaceful protests and giving their testimony on specific bills, and how they would impact them was incredible.”
- “Whether it is living in a new city by yourself or with a roommate, or learning first-hand how everything works inside the Capitol, this internship is something any student should want to apply to.”
- “Kindness and respect go a long way.”
On the 87th Texas Legislature January 12 – May 31, 2021
- “The joy, connections, and overall experience serves as a dream come true for any young student hoping to make a change in their worlds!”
- “Tasks related to actual lawmaking made me feel like I was contributing to the wider world . . . It felt relevant and pertinent to the community and making a difference.”
- “I have learned that if no one takes action against unjust legislation, no change will ever come.”
- “It has been amazing to see people of color and people that look like me in the State Capitol. . . There is hope in diversifying the Texas House and Senate.”
- “This experience helped me realize the impact that bills passed here have. There is really no small change - just change.”
- “My time in the legislature felt like I was walking through an educational lab because everything I would do was something I read in classes.”
- “The reason we are here at the Texas Capitol is to help and protect the people that live in Texas. I want to help people and be an impact on their lives.”
- “This internship showed me what it takes to be an elected official, and it just motivated me to further pursue my goal.”
- “What I liked most about this internship was physically being at the Capitol and meeting so many important political figures . . . Being in their presence just brought me to realize that their present could be my future.”
- “I was stunned about how much work goes on to make a law.”
- “I realized that I do not want to go to law school. . . I want to continue exploring political theories and, hopefully sometime in the future, even teach.”
- “I hope to get young Texans more involved with the political process of the Texas Legislature since our future depends on it. Our concerns, struggles, and grievances deserved to be addressed.”
- “Doing my fair share in the legislative process really boosted my confidence for the future I one day hope to achieve.”
- “There has never been a time in my life where I have gone from feeling like I am unqualified then transitioning to this being a form of work that I see myself in.”
- “My experience at the Capitol only filled me with fresh ideas for organizations, legislation, and movements for the betterment of not only the state but the country.”
- “Without a doubt, I want to work with government in any sense of the word due to that being the best way to invoke change.”
On the 86th Texas Legislature January 8 – May 27, 2019
- “My experience in the Legislature has taught me the overall legislative process while revealing to me that great legislation is created through compromise and meaningful discussions.”
- “Listening to people tell their story . . . really helped me see the hundreds of people who are affected, positively or negatively, by something we do in the Legislature.”
- “Many of my assumptions and beliefs were challenged, and I ended up having a change of ideology as it pertains to certain issues.”
- “I was able to learn about the political process with a completely new and different perspective. This is something I would not have been able to achieve by listening to lectures or reading a book.”
- “This internship has taught me more than how to answer a phone or read statutes. It has taught me that I am capable of doing anything I work hard at.”
- “I would never have expected to be in a capacity that allows me to handle legislation at such a young age.”
- “The thing I have liked most about my Internship has been the ability to meet a large diverse group of people from all over the state and country. . . giving me perspective about different issues all over the country.”
- “In walking through the halls of the state Capitol and hearing so many tourists speaking in their native language sparks great interest and inspires me to pursue a third language to learn.”
- “I now notice myself approaching life with more confidence that I never would have thought I would.”
- “The Internship allowed me to improve my critical thinking skills and has taught me to think with a broader perspective.”
- “Being able to help the constituents of my district has been the greatest feeling that I have ever felt.”
- “I learned that I do not have to always have the mindset where I must do everything on my own…I realized that better things come from a team effort.”
- “I learned the importance of bipartisanship when a legislator is trying to pass legislation - the theme being a ‘give and take’ situation.”
- “I got a sneak peek into the world of politics and what it takes to be here. I know that I want to be here.”
On the 85th Texas Legislature January 10 – May 29, 2017
- “Now more than ever, I know that I want to work for human rights, to work for those minority voices, to work for an equal government.”
- “This Internship has completely changed my life! I have gained knowledge that will help me in my future career goals, and it will help me become a leader in society.”
- “I cannot wait to come back to the Texas Legislature as a law student and then as a full-time employee.”
- “Every day that I have been in the Capitol has essentially allowed me to not only learn but to be living what I have been studying.”
- “You can tell someone the rules of the game, but they cannot truly understand the game until they play.”
- “It is like watching a basketball game . . . being in the arena, smelling the sweat and hearing the extra noises that occur through the crowds. That is exactly how it feels to have come to the Austin Capitol and see all the action in the first seat.”
- “I have seen many in the Capitol being passionate about what they believe in and being passionate about their constituents. This has inspired me to run for a state office and to be that passionate about not just my life but also the lives of the people around me.”
- “I began to make connections I did not realize I needed. I began completing tasks that once seemed impossible . . . .I started to create goals that exceeded even my own expectations. I realized even my most unattainable goals were possible.”
- “I wish Hispanics would be more active because the current political climate is a cry for us to become more active.”. . . .“I hope that people realize the power they have over legislators and showing up at the polls.”
- “This internship has helped shape and direct my life. I am certain that this will lead to a pathway of success. I understand that this was a wonderful and unique experience that will open many doors.”
- “From vetting bills to analyzing policy and sitting in actual committee hearings where legislation is passed (or killed) was truly a once in a life-time opportunity.”
- “This Internship is truly a life-changing experience, and it will get you hooked on politics.”
- Suggested by one Intern as an appropriate mission for a state legislator’s office: “Happy to do the people’s work - No matter where it takes me.”