Legislative Internship Program
The Legislative Internship Program offers the opportunity for distinguished undergraduate and graduate students to represent Georgia Southern University in Atlanta or on Capitol Hill. Students will showcase their excellent leadership and academic prowess to make a difference by working with public servants.
Program Opportunities
The Eagles in D.C. Internship Program is an exciting and intensive opportunity that provides outstanding students with the ability to work for congressional representatives, senators, governmental agencies, or lobbyist groups in Washington, D.C. Students are selected based on a number of criteria including previous leadership and civic experiences. To be considered, students must fill out the Georgia Southern Interest Application and submit their resume. Students will likely need to provide other documents including but not limited to a cover letter, writing sample, and letters of reference based on the opportunity they target.
The Georgia Legislative Internship Program places students in the Georgia State House, Senate, or one of the legislative offices in Atlanta. These internships are only offered during the spring semester. Interns are selected based on their academic standing and the potential they have to be a leader in politics based on their work experience, extracurricular activities, and interests. The internships are open to students of all majors, provided they are a Georgia resident during their junior or senior year. Learn more about the Georgia Legislative Internship Program.
The Governor’s Internship Program offers students the opportunity to gain experience in numerous state agencies throughout Georgia. Emphasis is placed on merging classroom learning with practical application and junior and senior standing students from all majors are encouraged to apply. Interns will be placed in one of many offices including Communications, Policy, Children and Families, and more. Learn more about the Governor’s Internship Program.
Please note: The internship process is competitive. There are two possible interview rounds for each applicant; the first is on campus with the Georgia Southern committee and the second is with the potential internship office staff. Printed deadlines must be adhered to in order to complete the internship cycle.
185+
Legislative Internship Program Alumni
92%
Interns Receive Scholarships
1,364+
Alumni Working in the D.C. Area
Frequently Asked Questions
Each program and office is different, but basic requirements are typically the following:
- Currently enrolled in an academic program at Georgia Southern and completed at least 48 hours OR graduated within the past 6 months
- A 3.0 GPA or higher OR special approval from the Program Coordinator
- Strong writing and communication skills
- Interest in current events, government, politics, law, or policy
Not at all! This program is open to all majors who are interested in current events, government, politics, law, or policy. Here are some examples of students outside of Political Science who have participated in the program:
- A Civil Engineering student interested in legislation written and passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- A Psychology major and veteran wanting to go into Veteran Affairs advocacy and support
- A prospective high school History teacher who wanted to have real-life experience related to the concepts they would be teaching
- A Criminal Justice major curious about judicial process and laws related to recidivism
- A Public Health student wanting to go into Health Policy
- A Master of Accounting student wanting a better understanding of tax law to become a better CPA
Internships in Atlanta and D.C. are mostly available every semester. Certain programs, such as the Georgia Legislative Internship Program (GLIP), are only available certain semesters. Complete the Interest Form above to receive more information about specific deadlines.
This depends on your major and the type of experience you are completing, but possibly! This is something we can discuss as you move forward with your application.
The first step after expressing interest in the opportunity is meeting with the Legislative Internship Program Coordinator. In this meeting, we will discuss your timeline for applying, your resume, and if you would be a good fit for the program.
After confirming you are ready and a great candidate for the program, you will work with the Program Coordinator to ensure you have all the correct materials for the programs, committees, or offices to which you are applying. During this time, we will put together a “Target List” of potential opportunities that align with your interests as well as your personal and professional qualities.
Once you apply to your targets, the Program Coordinator will beginning helping you prepare for interviews. They will also work with you to ensure you have housing and funding lined up, and that you have everything you need for your experience.
Yes and no! Some programs provide full housing assistance, but most do not. In those cases, the Program Coordinator will work with you to secure housing in Atlanta through a partner university or in D.C. through Washington Intern Student House (WISH). Students also are permitted to seek their own housing or live at home/with a family member or friend if that is available to them.
Yes!! The Internship Scholarship Program is available every semester and Legislative Internship Program students are prioritized, especially those participating in Eagles in D.C.
It depends, but most of the time they are. However, pay varies and often is not enough to cover the total cost of living in Atlanta and D.C. See above for more information on scholarships. Be sure to speak with the Program Coordinator as honestly as possible about funding needs!
Yes! Students are eligible to participate in the Legislative Internship Program up to one year after they graduate. This includes eligibility for student housing in D.C. and internship scholarships. We recommend targeting the first semester following graduation so that we can ensure you are on track through that process.