Internships
For employers: The Department of Political Science is happy to publicize relevant internship opportunities with established organizations of a political nature. To have your organization’s internship added to our listing, please send a full description to Professor Richard Powell at rpowell@maine.edu.
For students: We encourage you to download the POS Internship Informational Sheet for full information about our internship programs and offerings. Also, we will post notices of internships to Facebook and Twitter so please be sure to “Like” and “Follow” us if you haven’t already done so by clicking on the buttons at the top right of this page.
UMaine Washington Semester & Congressional Internship Program, founded in 1958, is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors on a competitive basis. Each spring, up to ten UMaine students are provided the opportunity to live in Washington DC while working full-time in places such as Congress, executive branch departments/agencies, lobbying and public policy firms, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. The program also features bi-weekly seminars with high-level political leaders in Washington D.C., readings that bridge political science and practical politics, and professional development opportunities. Students are able to participate in the program for about the same cost as a typical semester on campus due to the generous financial support of Clement ’64 and Linda McGillicuddy, Peter Madigan ’81, and numerous alumni of the program. Applications are typically available on the Political Science website starting in early September. For further information, contact Professor Richard Powell, 243 Boudreau Hall.
The Kenneth Palmer Maine State Legislative Internship Program is open to juniors and seniors on a competitive basis. It involves working two days per week in Augusta for approximately 14 weeks, from early January until early May. Students are assigned to the office of a member of the legislative leadership. Readings and reports are required in addition to performing staff work in a legislative office. Applications are announced and interviews are conducted each fall to fill the spring internship positions. For further information, contact Professor Richard Powell, 243 Boudreau Hall.
The Maine Public Policy Scholars Program is competitive, and is available to all students who will be University of Maine juniors or seniors in the next academic year. The Maine Community Foundation funds the program, which has students from across the University of Maine System investigate a state public policy issue. The policy scholar selected at the University of Maine will undertake a major research project involving some aspect of Maine public policy during the academic year. The scholar will work both with an outside mentor and a UMaine faculty member in the development of a research project and paper. Scholars from the University of Maine System campuses will meet together to discuss their research in progress several times over the course of the year and convene in the spring to present the results of their research. Six hours of academic credit are awarded under the program. The program offers a $5,000 student scholarship, along with up to $1,000 for travel and other expenses related to the research project. For further information, contact Professor Brian Pitman in the Sociology Department.