Congressional Internship

Spend your summer interning in Washington, D.C. on the Hill!

In 2009, Northern Illinois University established an annual summer congressional internship program in Washington, D.C. This highly competitive program provides students with the opportunity to live, learn and work in the heart of our nation's capital. Several students will intern on the Hill for a member of the Illinois congressional delegation. You will receive a scholarship to cover the cost of housing and some living expenses. Additionally, you will be eligible to receive a tuition waiver for six (6) upper division POLS credit hours courses if interested in pursuing the experience for academic credit.

Interested students can apply for the NIU Washington, D.C. Summer Congressional Internship Program here: https://www.niu.edu/engaged-learning/civic-engagement/congressional-internship/index.shtml 

For assistance with the application process or answers to general questions regarding the program, POLS students may contact the department’s internship coordinator, April K. Clark at aclark9@niu.edu 

Frequently Asked Questions

The program runs from late May through early August.

The NIU interns will live in Washington DC, just a short walk from the Capitol.

Your work schedules will be determined by the individual congressional office. However, you can expect to work 40-plus hours per week. The internship will be a demanding but rewarding experience.

You will have the option to enroll in POLS 490: Internship in Political Science and POLS 496: Independent Study in Political Science. Tuition will be waived for these courses. For more information on the academic requirements of the program, contact April Clark, Ph.D., at aclark9@niu.edu.

Contact Us

Department of Political Science
Zulauf Hall 415
815-753-1011
815-753-6302 (fax)

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday
8 a.m. - noon
1 - 4:30 p.m.

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