Find an Internship

Internship Opportunities

Current and upcoming internship opportunities are regularly posted below.

• Government Internships
• Industry Internships
• International Internships
• Non-Profit Internships

Keep in mind that not all organizations advertise their internship opportunities. If there is an organization or person you are interested in working with but you can’t find a publicly available list of internships, reach out directly to ask.

Need assistance with your resume or cover letter?

• Resume and Cover Letter Overview
• Schedule a Career Coaching Appointment
• Attend a Resume Writing Workshop or Interview Skills Workshop
• ASC Career Success offers many other services to support students in their internship search.

Handshake 

Handshake is OSU’s internship and employment platform. You can scroll through political science related internship opportunities below and visit their website for additional opportunities. 

The American Political Science Association (APSA) 

APSA is an another place to search for opportunities. APSA supports political science students in their professional development by highlighting relevant internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

International Organization Careers

UN System Internships and other International Organization Internships.

Government Internships

State Government Internship Program

The State Government Internship Program is coordinated through a partnership of the Ohio State University Office of Government Affairs and Department of Political Science. It provides sophomores, juniors, and seniors a semester-long internship with the Ohio General Assembly. Students selected for the program will be placed in the office of a State Representative, State Senator, or caucus policy office in downtown Columbus and have the option of earning 3 hours of credit for their work. The program also offers 3 on-campus seminars focusing on different aspects of working in state government.

Students are expected to spend 10-15 hours per week at their internship in blocks of 4-5 hours. Availability on Tuesdays and Wednesdays is a plus but not required. Program requirements include attendance at a pre-internship orientation, attendance at 3 on-campus seminars that highlight different aspects of working in state government, completion of an internship agreement form, and completion of a one-on-one mid-semester meeting with the Office of Government Affairs internship coordinator.

Assignments vary from office to office, but students can expect to work on things like assisting with the resolution of constituent issues, identifying constituent and community achievements for recognition, conducting research, drafting letters and memos, and attending committee hearings and session.

In addition, the program provides the opportunity for exposure to policymaking in action and the chance to interact with public officials and government staff. Transportation is not provided; however, the Ohio Statehouse is a stop on several COTA bus lines, which requires only an active student BuckID.

Who Should Apply?

The State Government Internship Program is open to students of any major who have attained at least a 3.0 grade point average and have completed their first year of undergraduate study.

How to Apply

Applications for Spring semester are due in December. Applications for Fall semester are due in August. If you are interested in applying, please contact Troy Markham for the current application. You will need to submit the application along with a copy of the class schedule for the semester in which you will intern, a resume, and a 3-5 page writing sample on a topic of your choice. Your writing sample does not need to be related to government or politics. It can simply be a piece of writing that you are proud of that demonstrates your ability to write and think critically. Please submit the application and your accompanying documents via email to Troy Markham markham.4@osu.edu. 

Funding 

All students selected to participate in the internship program will be eligible for a one-time $500 Gluck-Asher Financial Award credited to their student account at the end of the semester if they successfully complete all internship program requirements and earn at least a grade of a B in the appropriate section of Political Science 4191. This award is made possible through the generous donation of Ohio State alumnus Barry Gluck. Mr. Gluck generously donated in honor of Professor Emeritus Herb Asher to support students interested in starting a career in public service.

Questions?

Contact OSU Internship Coordinator and Academic Advisor, Troy Markham.

Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center

The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC) is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety that operates in four locations across Ohio, in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo. The ONIC offices are comprised of criminal intelligence analysts and forensic computer specialists that assist law enforcement agencies and drug task forces by providing investigative and case support and information-sharing networks that bridge traditional law enforcement and criminal justice with stakeholders across industries.

The ONIC leverages cutting edge technologies and analytical techniques to detect, identify, and intercept dangerous drugs. The ONIC supports investigations including significant cases involving large drug seizures, organized crime and drug trafficking organizations, drug poisoning deaths, firearms trafficking, cryptocurrency seizures, drug-related violent crimes, and online illicit drug markets.

Job Description

• Responsible for assisting with the day-to-day office procedures.
• Greet & respond to in-person, telephone & written inquiries in a professional, courteous, friendly, respectful & timely manner to ensure positive internal/external customer service.
• Follow-up to ensure all of the customer's questions & concerns have been thoroughly answered.
• Provide information assistance to court officials, law enforcement agencies & to the general public.
• Utilize ONIC and other ODPS systems for updating data records.
• Create and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations utilizing Microsoft Excel, Word, & PowerPoint.
• Research information to determine solutions and provide information verbally or in written form.
• Gather and provide statistical data for weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports; maintain records & files as instructed.
• Attend meetings and training sessions including but not limited to: criminal intelligence, drug trends, investigations, data sharing, analytic processes, etc.
• Travel to locations with ONIC staff to assist with meetings, evidence, information gathering, and other related assignments.
• Relay equipment to/from regional offices as well as other assigned locations. This task will include operating a State vehicle. Driving record must be acceptable to operate State vehicle. Valid driver license required.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Who Should Apply?

Major/field of study should be in: Criminal Justice; Law Enforcement; Intelligence; Behavioral or Social Science (e.g., psychology, sociology, criminology); Political Science; Public Administration; Emergency Management; Homeland Security; Public Safety; or Digital Forensics.

To be eligible for an internship opportunity at the Ohio Department of Public Safety, an applicant must:

• Be currently enrolled in an accredited college/university.
• Be in good standing with the college/university.
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
• Be enrolled in at least one course.
• Be pursuing a degree or finishing a degree.

Schedule

Work Days and hours would vary between: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, based on student schedule. This is an internship for the Fall 2024 semester located in Columbus, OH. The selected candidate will ideally be able to work for an average of 20 hours per week or less (with flexibility given class schedule and course load).

Report in location:

Ohio Department of Public Safety – Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center

1970 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43223

Funding

The pay rate for a college intern is based upon the students' academic status:

Undergraduate student rate of pay - $16.93 per hour

Graduate student rate of pay - $20.59 per hour

More Information

Ohio Secretary of State 

The Ohio Secretary of State is currently seeking candidates for the Winter/Spring 2025 College Internship Program.

Looking for an internship that makes a difference? Interested in government? Learn from the best elections and business administration teams in the country! Our elections, legal, outreach, communications, information technology, and other teams that together work toward the same goal: to deliver a thriving democracy and a prosperous economy for all Ohioans.

The Ohio Secretary of State’s office is charged with ensuring Ohio’s voting process, recently called “the gold standard,” is secure, accurate and accessible. We also serve as the sole authority to receive and approve articles of incorporation for Ohio businesses. This duty provides a unique opportunity in government to make a difference statewide while impacting issues nationwide.

Students exploring careers in political science, law, communications, IT and public administration, to name a few, can gain valuable experience while earning course credits. Ready to make a difference by helping Ohioans make their voice heard or start and grow their own business? Join our team!

Who Should Apply?

We are looking for students to fill multiple roles as interns in the Secretary of State's Office who want to work twenty to forty hours a week. If selected, we will work with your schedule, so you get the most out of your time in our office!

Current college students interested in learning and growing in the following areas:

• Political science
• Law
• Communications
• Public Administration
• IT