Internships

UMass Women into Leadership (UWiL) introduces students to current leaders and providing opportunities for them to see first-hand the benefits of public service. UWiL provides models and pathways into leadership – all while helping to address the gender gap in politics and creating a pipeline from public education into public service. UWiL fellowship applications are accepted from all class years, yearly August 1 through October 15.

SBS in DC connects UMass Amherst College of Social & Behavioral Science majors with UMass alumni working in Washington DC. The program has proven to be a steppingstone for students interested in careers in fields like policy, non-profits, international development, strategy, marketing, PR, government, campaign work and more. Program participants complete a semester-long internship while taking a class related to their major and participating in professional development opportunities. Fall deadline - mid-January. Spring deadline - September 22

The Law and Policy Justice (LPJ) experiential cohort program provides UMass Amherst undergraduate students from any disciplines with the very valuable opportunity to combine their study of topics related to law, politics,  public policy, and social justice with internships and other experientially-based educational collaborations with the City of Boston and State of Massachusetts, as well as other (quasi-)governmental partners in and around City Hall.

Key program details

Semester: Spring 2025

Program capacity (cohort size): 25

Credits: Students may complete between 12 and 19 credits for the semester. The credits earned for the internship will vary based on the number of hours worked each week. The range is 12 credits (36 hours per week) to 3 credits (9 hours per week).

Suggested courses for the 'typical' Public Policy or Legal Studies major:

*Note: For the public policy major, a maximum of 4 credits of SPP 300+ elective coursework may be done through applied experiences -- internships or research.

Example Internships:

• MA Appeals Courts
• MA Commission Against Discrimination
• UMass Office of General Counsel
• MA Office of the Attorney General
• District Attorney’s Offices

Housing: Residence halls at the Mount Ida Campus in Newton, MA with the option to live off campus. Meal plan available. 

Financial Aid: Financial aid is available for this program as are SBS scholarship opportunities. Students may secure paid internships and work study options may be possible. 

Cost: The tuition is the same as a tradition semester at UMass Amherst. Room and board costs for Mount Ida can be found here.

Additional Advantages:  You will have support in finding your internship. Also, you'll get to experience Boston with a cohort of 15 - 25 of your UMass peers. Finally, you'll gain access to special events, resources, and networks offered at the Mount Ida campus.

Eligibility: Application to this program is open to all sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduates and 4+1 students in any year.

Questions: Contact Sindiso MnisiWeeks (SindisoMnisi@umass.edu). Applications are due in early fall semester.

The SBS in Boston program provides the opportunity for SBS majors to spend a semester living and interning in the greater Boston area while earning credit toward their degree. Internship opportunities, including mentorship by UMass Amherst alumni, provide experiences across a variety of fields. Students in the cohort live in the dorms on the Mount Ida Campus, participate in a professional development class every Friday, and receive a full semester's worth of credits (financial aid will apply).

SBS in Boston internships have included the Massachusetts State Appeals Court, the Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Office of the Governor of the State of Massachusetts, WGBH, State Street Corporation, and The Castle Group. 

For more information: 

The Community Scholars Program (CSP) is a two-year academic community engagement program that works in collaboration with community organizations and movements to advocate for a more just world. Working with groups throughout western Massachusetts and sometimes beyond, CSP students contribute to meaningful social change projects in response to critical challenges and explore possibilities for building a more equitable world. First year and second year students may apply. Applications open in February and close mid-March.

iCons holds a mission to inspire a diverse generation of innovators with the attitudes and skills needed to solve the problems facing our world. Building on the disciplinary strength of each student’s major, the 20-credit iCons curriculum consists of one course per year over four years, culminating in world-class research experiences. iCons projects involve student teamwork on case studies, laboratory experiments, and research – all fostering cross-disciplinary communication and integrative problem-solving skills.

The Student Legal Services Office (SLSO) is a student-funded law office providing legal assistance to fee-paying UMass Amherst students and student groups. For the internship, undergraduate legal assistants are selected from applicants each fall and spring semester. They work up to 34.5 hours per week and receive 12 academic credits for their work. Each legal assistant works under the direct supervision  of a professional staff member and the SLSO attorneys, and has a range of responsibilities.

For more information: https://www.umass.edu/slso/internship

The Judicial Internship Program is an opportunity to spend time observing and discussing court proceedings with Judge Judd Carhart and other Superior Court judges who hear cases in Springfield, Northampton, and Greenfield. The prerequisite is Judge Carhart’s course, Due Process in Criminal Trial (Legal 391U). After you have completed this course, you may apply for the internship. Judge Carhart makes the final selection of students; preference is given to Legal Studies majors.  

Instructions to student:

To be eligible for the Judicial Internship Program, you must be either currently enrolled in, or have completed, one of Judge Carhart’s courses, Legal 391U, Due Process in the Criminal Trial OR Legal 397 Conflict Resolution/Trial Court.  Preference is given to Legal Studies majors.  This internship is two full days per week for which you will get six credits of Legal 298. In addition to the work you do at the internship, you will have the option to participate in a one-credit Independent Study (to be arranged w/ Prof. Gaitenby).

Please include an unofficial copy of your transcript to this application.  Return this application to Prof. Gaitenby (@email) by the beginning of Registration.

• Name:
• Local address:
• Telephone:     
• E-mail:
• Expected date of graduation:
• When do you want to do this internship?
• When did you take Judge Carhart’s course?
• Write a short statement explaining what you hope to learn from this internship.     

This practicum course is a collaboration between the University of Massachusetts Police Department's Citizen's Police Academy and the Legal Studies program.  The Citizen's Police Academy is a combination of in-class lectures and hands-on experiences through which students learn how police officers are trained and how they do their jobs.  Among other things, students will learn about the constitutional limits on police power, how crime scenes are processed and how police deal with active threat situations.  Students will also meet with a faculty member and complete written assignments reflecting on their experiences in the course.  This course is intended for students who are curious about what the work of a police officer entails, regardless of whether they eventually intend to work in law enforcement.

To participate, students will enroll in LEGAL 298C  Citizen's Police Academy, which is offered in the fall semester. Instructor permission is required to enroll. Interested students should connect with Professor Lauren McCarthy.

Handshake is an online platform for college students to explore opportunities and apply to internships and jobs. Your Handshake profile lets you present a full picture of your background and experience to employers. It is never too early to explore Handshake.

1. Log in and set up profile.
2. Search for opportunities in Handshake. Be expansive and flexible with your search criteria to pull in as many hits as possible.
3. Regularly check: Legal Studies – Featured Jobs + Internships & Government/Public Policy/International Relations with the option to "Follow this Community."
4. Questions? Make an appointment with a peer intern or career advisor in the SBS Pathways Center.​

USAJobs is the United States government's free web-based job board for civil service job opportunities with federal agencies. 

PoliCorner provides job applicants with one of the most comprehensive jobs databases in public service. Applicants can apply directly to jobs, manage and track their applications, message employers, and receive free career advice through the PoliCareer Corner.

OPAJobs is a comprehensive source of jobs in public affairs, government affairs, policy, public relations and communications in the Washington, DC Area! (Login using: UMassSBS and SBScareers@)

Some organizations and agencies may have internships posted on their websites. Feel free to research online and apply directly. You may also approach an organization of interest and see if you can arrange an internship with them independently; it does not need to be an established program. It can also be useful to talk family members, neighbors, and friends. They may know of an opportunity in an organization. 

Connect UMass is a platform that connects current students with alumni for conversations about careers, mentoring, and professional development. Connect UMass makes it easy for students to log on, set up a profile, and network with alumni who are happy to help you out!

The Washington Center (TWC) provides opportunities for students to gain experience, skills, and networking connections, while living and interning in the nation’s capital, all while earning academic credit. Their Academic Internship program includes 3 components: a supervised internship, career readiness programming and an academic course. The program runs semester-long or during the summer. 

Some of this work will come in as LEGAL 298 and some UMASS 298.

For more information: Contact UMass Career Services (Barlett Hall, 3rd floor, 413-545-2224) to help you set up this program. https://twc.edu/find-program  

Spend a day at the office with an alum over winter break!  While shadowing is not an 'internship,' it's a wonderful way to network and to learn more about a target career field.

Learn about the work they do, their company or organization, and how they got from UMass to where they are now. This is a great opportunity to get exposure to the real world of work, to learn from alums who have been where you are, and to get insight into the different options and pathways that lie ahead for you. Click for more information.

·  Colorado State Government Job Board

·  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

·  Connecticut Office of Policy and Management Internships

·  Florida Attorney General’s Internship Program

·  Florida Department of Environmental Protection

·  Florida Department of Management Services

·  Florida Gubernatorial Fellows

·  Florida – James Madison Institute

·  Florida Legislative Fellows

·  Florida State Government Jobs

·  Illinois Office of the Attorney General Internships

·  Illinois Governor’s Internships and Post-Grad Fellowships

·  Illinois State Comptroller Internship

·  Maine Government Summer Internship Program

·  Maryland’s Public Service Scholars Programs

·  Maryland State Internship Program

·  Massachusetts Governor’s Office Internships

·  Massachusetts Government Human Resources

·  Massachusetts State Jobs

·  MASSterlist Job Board

·  Montana State Government

·  National Conference of State Legislators

·  New Hampshire Government Internships and Jobs

·  New Jersey Governor’s Internship Programs

·  New York State Internships

·  New York State Attorney General’s Office Internships

·  North Carolina State Internship Program

·  Kansas City Jobs and Internships

·  Rhode Island Attorney General Internships

·  Rhode Island State Internship Program

·  Vermont State Government Internships

·  Virginia Internship Programs

·  Virginia COVA Internship Connection

If you don’t know who your representative is, start by looking it up online. Then, search for that individual’s webpage. Most representatives and senators will explain on their websites how to apply for an internship in their office. If they do not, email the office using a professional tone to inquire how to apply for an internship.

Many students have their first internships with their Representative to the State House of Representatives. Since they positions tend to be a little less competitive.

Take a Look at the Senate Employment Bulletin if you want to work for the U.S. Senate.

Take a Look at the House of Reps Employment Openings if you want to work the the U.S. Congress.

Legal Studies students have done internships at local agencies which are part of the state criminal justice system. These include the Department of Youth Services, the District Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Program, the Hampshire County Jail, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Mayor’s Office on Consumer Protection, the YWCA SafePlan, Safe Passages, the Eastern Hampshire County District Court. Information about these internships, including the name of the contact person, contact Professor Alan Gaitenby, Legal Studies Internship Coordinator.

An internship is an opportunity to integrate relevant classroom knowledge with meaningful practical work. Internships help students gain work experience in a law-related organization, office, or government agency (national, state, or local; legislative, executive, or judicial) that provides a public service.

Internships provide opportunities to explore a possible career path, to develop and refine relevant skills in a professional environment and broaden your professional contacts. Successful internships can often lead to letters of recommendations or potential job offers and can be showcased on your resume. The ways in which you search, prepare, and apply for an internship is similar to a job search, so the information on this page will be helpful for both.

SBS Peer Interns & Career Advisors can support you in creating your resume and cover letter. Use Handshake to schedule a career advising appointment. The Pathways Center is located on the first floor of Thompson Hall. 

SBS Career Advising knows that professional development is more than just resumes and cover letters. Even (and especially) when you don't know what career you want after college, you should seek opportunities to develop skills that will serve you well in any career (like public speaking, writing, interpersonal, and analytic skills), explore what’s out there, connect with alumni, learn job search strategies, build experience by asking for more responsibility or new projects at work, seek leadership positions in clubs or volunteer organizations, and lay the groundwork for internships. The career advising team can support you in these endeavors.

Legal Studies Majors Are Strongly Encouraged to Take

SOCBEHAV 250 - SBS College to Careers class
This one-credit seminar is designed to help you develop career materials, practice professional skills, and prepare for internships, graduate schools, and jobs. Offered in fall & spring semesters.

Public Policy Majors Are Required to Take

SPP 302 Public Policy Practicum: Contemplating Your Career
This one-credit is designed for public policy majors to help them develop career materials, practice professional skills, and prepare for internships, graduate schools, and jobs. Offered in fall semester.

While some internship positions are unpaid, generally, you can earn choose to work part-time, pairing the experience with a paid job. There is also scholarship funding available to current SBS students to help cover unpaid internships. Apply in Academic Works. 

You may intern for course credit by finding a faculty sponsor and completing academic components alongside your internship. Earning course credit is not recommended in the summer, unless you need the credits for graduation, as you have to pay tuition for the credits you earn, which would likely be an unplanned expense. To be eligible for a credited internship, students must have completed 45 credits and have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. If you do not meet these standards, you may appeal to the SBS Academic Dean.

You will want to begin planning at least one semester in advance. It is important to take the following steps:

• Find a Faculty Sponsor - Reach out to a faculty member or permanent lecturer (adjunct professors and grad students are not included) and ask them to be a sponsor. With your faculty sponsor, you will arrange an academic project and enroll in LEGAL 298 (pass/fail) or SPP 398P (graded or pass/fail). The number of credits is determined by the number of hours committed to the internship (see chart below). Students may earn a maximum of 18 internship credits in their academic career. 
• Set Up the Internship in SPIRE - Submit an Experiential Learning Request in SPIRE. Please watch this video or follow these written instructions to learn how to submit the Experiential Learning Request.

Legal Studies Majors: If taken Fall 2023 or later, a combination of three Legal Studies internship credits may be applied to your major for the LRLA requirement. A credited internship that is outside the major will not be applied to your Legal Studies major. If you have questions about setting up a credited internship, please contact the Legal Studies Internship Coordinator, Professor Alan Gaitenby.

Public Policy Majors: A maximum of 4 applied credits - internship or research - may count toward the SPP 300-level elective requirement. If you have questions about setting up a credited internship, please contact Faith Nussbaum.

Internship credits: 40 hrs. = 1 credit. This is based on a 13- week semester.

School of Public Policy undergraduates have interned recently at the following locations and more:

• U.S. Senator Ed Markey
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• MA State Representatives Mindy Domb and Dylan Fernandes
• MA State Senators Jo Comerford and Barry Feingold
• Massachusetts Office of Business Development
• Office of the MA Secretary of Education
• Town of Middleboro, MA
• Department of Public Health, Cape Cod, MA
• Baystate Hospital conducting research
• Cooley Dickinson Hospital Emergency Room, Northampton, MA
• Legislative Division of the Department of Revenue for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Friends of the Jones Library Capital Development Campaign, Amherst, MA
• Law firms in Massachusetts and Virginia
• Hologic, innovator in women’s health
• Northampton MA Community Center
• Pine Street Inn (nonprofit homeless shelter)
• American Trucking Association
• UMass Amherst Student Legal Services
• Metropolitan Area Planning Council
• Massachusetts Department for Office of Grants & Research
• Strategy and Innovation Department, Raleigh City Government

The Legal Studies Internship Coordinator is Professor Alan Gaitenby.  Please contact Professor Gaitenby for administrative questions and to learn about typical opportunities available for Legal Studies students.

Finding an internship or job will take time and research. This page includes resources to help you with your search. 

All public policy majors are required to take SPP 302 Contemplating Your Career (or an equivalent course), which provides the information needed to create a resume, cover letter, network, and search for internships. Students who have questions, may contact Faith Nussbaum for support. Students who wish to do an internship for academic credit will need to reach out to a public policy faculty member to provide an academic component, needed for earning credit. 

Finding an internship or job will take time and research. This page includes resources to help you with your search.