State and Local Public Service Internships

Opportunities include the following:

  • NJ Legislative Offices - Use the district map to find offices for Senators and Assemblypeople, and check their webpages for contact information. Note: summer internships are a separate program and applications should be sent in March. 
  • Political campaigns & elections - Often short-term opportunities for specific candidates or parties, offered by campaigns or party organizations.
  • Municipal, county, or state agencies - There are many oppprtunities including locally in Atlantic City, Atlantic County , Cape May Housing Authority , Cape Mapy Court House, and further away such as Newark's Division of Civil Rights.
  • Government relations/affairs offices - Corporations & non-profits hire these positions to represent their interests in government.
  • Non-profit or advocacy organizations - Usually issue-based, they have a clear political position and hire a variety of roles to support their mission.
  • Political communication - Print and broadcast journalism.

To encourage greater participation in public careers, we can help match students to legislative and internship opportunities. Please check back frequently as we continue to update and expand this list.

Some of these opportunities are unpaid, but you can earn college credit. Every academic school has different procedures and requirements for doing an internship for academic credit. Please refer to the information under “Interested in Getting College Credit?” here to find the appropriate contact for your school.

I would like to pursue a legislative or public policy-related internship. How do I start the process?

  1. I would like to pursue a legislative or public policy-related internship. How do I start the process?

    Great! The first step will be to set up a meeting with a member from the Hughes Public Policy Center, who will meet with you and provide an overview of the expectations and requirements of a legislative internship. You can set up a meeting using this link. You should also look out for events promoting internship opportunities with the Hughes Public Policy Center. Once you are interviewed and accepted for an internship, the Hughes Public Policy Center will work with the SOBL or other school's Internship Coordinator to secure an affiliation agreement with the site.

  2. Will I receive academic credit for this experience?

    Yes! Every academic school has different procedures and requirements for doing an internship for academic credit. Please refer to the information under “Interested in Getting College Credit?” here to find the appropriate contact for your school. If you would like to receive academic credit in Political Science (POLS 3900), the Hughes Public Policy Center will work with the POLS chair to  match you with an instructor who will work with you on an independent study. Most of that independent study will focus on workforce development skills, which will be great additions to your resume! Pleas note, you must work a minimum of 120 hrs total for the duration of the semester (for fall and spring, there are 15 weeks; for summer, there are only 10 weeks) to be eligible. If your internship falls below this requirement, unfortunately it is not eligible for academic credit. Other majors may have different work requirements to provide academic credit, please check with the appropriate faculty or staff supervising internships for your degree program to make sure.