Interested in Interning in Washington DC for a Semester? Apply Now for the UF Washington Internship Program!
UF Washington Internship Program (UF WIP)
The University of Florida offers undergraduate students a semester-long internship opportunity each Fall, Spring, and Summer semester in the nation’s capital.
Qualified students are placed in a semester-long internship either in the Washington, DC office of a Florida member of Congress or the UF Federal Relations Office. Job duties include assisting congressional offices with congressional responsibilities that may include constituent meetings, tours, attending hearings, drafting reports and legislative updates, as well as supporting special projects and events. Individuals who fill these positions will have the opportunity to observe Congress and acquire broad exposure to federal policy in the areas of education, research, health, defense, foreign policy, agriculture, and the federal budget.
Qualifications
This position is open to any currently enrolled University of Florida undergraduate student in good standing, with an interest in public service, public policy, law, or government affairs. All academic majors are encouraged to apply. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to apply. Preference is given to upper division students.
It is essential that applicants to this position have excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills. Successful candidates will be energetic team players, as well as self-starters, and able to juggle multiple responsibilities.
Applications
Applications are due in March for the upcoming Summer and Fall semesters, and due October 1 for the upcoming Spring semester.
A review committee will be created to select the candidates that will include a member of the Federal Relations team.
Key Internship Details
Internships are full-time (40 hours/week) with specific working hours determined by your placement office.
This is an in-person program and students are expected to relocate to Washington, D.C. for the semester.
To ensure students can participate in the internship without financial barriers, students are provided free student housing in Washington, D.C. (estimated housing value of $4,500 per semester) and a cost-of-living scholarship up to $2,000.
Academic Details
Students must enroll in an internship course for the semester. This could be folded into the internship course offered by the Bob Graham Center (IDS4940) or an equivalent course in their own department.
The amount of credit hours and registration will be discussed with their advisor. Currently students are able to register for 0 credits of IDS4940 in order to avoid the tuition cost of 3 semester hours.
At the conclusion of the internship, students are required to create a “Gator Byte” advocacy presentation on a topic of their choice. This can serve as a capstone project that is useful as a writing sample for jobs or graduate school applications. The purpose of the 5-minute Gator Byte presentation is to demonstrate their ability to:
- Communicate with a target audience by conducting background research on a University of Florida federally funded program or issue of interest.
- Summarize key issues or up-to-date developments in that area.
- Recommend next steps for the policy area.
Throughout the semester interns will meet regularly with the UF Federal Relations team and their academic adviser. In addition, interns will be provided opportunities for professional development and networking throughout their time in Washington, D.C.
For more information, please reach out to Shelby Beck, in the UF Federal Relations Office, sbeck1@ufl.edu
See application requirements below:
Posted: September 20, 2023
Category: Student News
