Internship Sites

Agencies and Sample Internship Sites

The Washington Center works with several government agencies to provide internships for undergraduate and graduate students. Positions are available at a number of agencies each term, which have included (but are not limited to):

 

• Federal Aviation Administration
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• National Archives and Records Administration
• and more!

Sample Internship Descriptions

 

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library

Internship Description: The internship offers real world museum experience to students interested in pursuing a career within the field. We assign a variety of collections and exhibits related projects to our interns.  The intern's project would be assisting with inventory through storage organization and reconfiguration. The intern will learn about the proper procedures for inventory and storage conditions; condition reporting, how to handle objects, museum terminology, storage techniques, micro-environments, object material sensitivity, and museum database skills (through data entry and object photography).

Specific expectations:

 

• Interest in working with museum collections
• Intern should be detail oriented, organized, and able to work independently
• Intern must be able to work as a team and accept constructive criticism
• Average or above average level of computer literacy (skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, Word, Excel, Access, and a collection database would be an advantage)

 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Washington-Dulles International Airport

Internship Description: The internship offers a hands-on experience to students who are interested in the aviation management career field. Students will have the opportunity to witness airport operations, including those from a flight tower and air-traffic control operations, while lending support where required.

Specific expectations:

 

• Provide administrative support for the air traffic control operation at the FAA Control Tower at Washington-Dulles International Airport
• Assist in the preparation of audio visual presentations
• Receive visitors and conduct facility tours
• Prepare data for analysis
• Compile reports

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

VA Medical Center

Internship Description: The internship offers a practical healthcare-related experience to students who are interested in both long-term rehabilitative care and support to veterans who have been wounded in the line of duty. Specifically, the intern will speak to veterans groups and clinicians educating on prosthetic programs; write standard of operations for clothing allowance and auto adaptive; update position descriptions for prosthetic positions; and work with and attend meetings of prosthetic committees (Major Medical, Home Oxygen, HISA).

Specific expectations:

 

• Average or above average level of computer literacy
• Some knowledge of prosthetics
• Experienced in communications

Locations

Federal agency internship sites are in D.C. and several regional locations throughout the United States. Regional locations vary by term, but past students have interned in the following states: California, Ohio, Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, Michigan, Washington, Georgia, and Missouri. Students will be contacted if they are being considered for a regional placement.

 

Scholarships/Stipends

Students who are selected for a placement will receive a stipend from The Washington Center twice each month. There are no program and housing fees associated with the Competitive Government Program. Housing is available to all students who would like to take advantage of The Washington Center's fully furnished, conveniently located apartments. If a student wishes to find alternative accommodations, his or her stipend will be increased.