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Internship Opportunities
Active Learning at Its Best
Internships enable students to gain real-world skills while also enhancing their educational journey.
California has a large and complex state government that deals with public policy on virtually all the issues that confront the nation.
The Panetta Institute Congressional Internship
The Panetta Congressional Internship: Application Information
- Applications are closed for the 2024 Internship. Please check back spring 2025.
Each year, the Panetta Institute invites CSU presidents to nominate an outstanding undergraduate (junior or senior) student leader from each campus to participate in the fall semester Congressional Internship in Washington D.C.
The fall semester program runs from August through November. The program is fully funded to allow participation by any qualified student. Student benefits for the semester include: a two-week orientation at the Panetta Institute in Monterey Bay; an 11- week congressional internship in Washington D.C.; academic program and unit accrual; the cost of academic fees and tuition; food and housing; a living stipend; academic materials; and air and ground transportation.
If you have questions regarding the Panetta Congressional Internship Program, please email Leonor Ehling (leonor.ehling@csus.edu). To read more on the Panetta Institute, please visit the Panetta Institute website.
Minimum Requirements
- Matriculated student in upper-division undergraduate status (juniors or seniors during the time of the internship – and have not applied for graduation and do not have more than 120 credit semester units)
- U.S. citizen
- State of California resident
- Students must have health insurance that is compliant with the Affordable Care Act
Application Process
To apply, students must submit a completed application with the following materials:
- Two-page essay of interest.
- A current resume
- Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
- A copy of a recently graded paper (at least three pages long) with the professor's comments and grade accompanying or written on the paper
- Application materials are due in March 2025 (date to be determined).
Sacramento Semester Program
The Sacramento Semester Program, through the Department of Political Science, provides a CSU wide opportunity for fully immersive experimental learning. Only offered spring semester, program participants enroll in 12 units comprised of the internship and two seminars. Intern placements include legislatives offices, departments in the executive branch, political associations and lobbyists.