Internships

Internships are central to the development of many International Studies students. They offer meaningful exposure to a wide variety of professional contexts, from business and finance to education and human rights. Student internships are of two types: academic, and non-academic.

An academic internship carries regular course credit, and is registered through and structured by Career Exploration. Academic internships are typically done in fall or spring semesters, though they can be done in January, and, with more limitations, during the summer.

Non-academic internships can also be done during the semester, but more frequently feature in a student’s summer program – either here in the Twin Cities, in one’s hometown, or in some other U.S. or world location. Non-academic internships do not carry course credit, and can certainly be arranged independently of the College at your own initiative. Still, our Internship Program office maintains a rich database of such opportunities, available at the same website noted above.

Internships also often play a role in a student’s study away program. Check with the Center for Study Away for more guidance on that.

But what are the specifics of an International Studies internship?

• First, midway through your internship, 1500 words (roughly 4-5 pages) describing your work, what is going well, what is going less well, and what you are learning
• Then, shortly before the end of semester, 3000 words (about 8-9 pages) of serious reflection, describing your activities and discussing connections to your broader coursework, your insights into this specific professional sector, and/or your future career path

Substantial internationalist aspect to the internship work
I.S. faculty supervisor/sponsor
Registration as INTL 621-624. The last digit specifies the number of credits
Pass/fail grading only
Two reflective essays to submit

Finally, we remind you that you may have up to one four-credit internship on your I.S. major plan, typically in the “I.S. midlevel” sector of that plan.

Questions? Go to the Internship Program website first, and then contact the I.S. professor you know best for more.

Recent Internships

Amanda Nogueira Moreira de Souza ‘25, Instituto Marielle Franco, Foreign Communications Intern

Anna Sene ‘24, World Without Genocide

Dipaksi Sarma ‘24, Coalition of Asian American Leaders, Civic Engagement Fellow

Hannah Scharrer ‘23, The Advocates for Human Rights, Refugee and Immigrant Intake Program

Csanad Hegyi ‘23, Center for Victims of Torture, International Country Profile Builder

Antonio Barreras Lozano ‘22, Council on Foreign Relations, Digital Editorial Internship

Merete Witkovsky ‘22, International Institute of Minnesota, Refugee Resettlement and Placement Intern

Maya Sobchuk ‘22, U.S Department of State U.S Mission to the International Organizations, Public Affairs Intern

Lena Stern ‘22, Hennepin County Public Health Department, Public Health Intern

Diana Paz Garcia ‘21, Atlas Corps, Programs Intern

Donia Khraishi ‘21, Human Rights Watch, Spring Intern, Middle East and North Africa

Varee Setang ‘21, UNICEF USA, Community Engagement Intern

Anna Lewis-Workman ‘20, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Justice Research Intern

Autumn DeLong ‘20, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Detention Project Assistant

Alexander Young-Williams ‘20, US Embassy, Cotonou, Benin, Intern at Regional Security Office