Internships
To gain a deeper understanding of the political and policymaking process, students spend 200 hours over the two semesters as interns with
- United States Congress
- State and local government
- Non-profit or advocacy organizations
- Prestigious think tanks and research institutes, law firms and lobbyist groups
Internship Requirements
Throughout the Program, faculty guide students in matching their interests to an appropriate placement and then integrating theoretical knowledge with the practical skills learned in their internships. All internships provide substantive experiences and opportunities for learning and developing connections. A number of students find that they can parlay their internships into jobs after they complete the program. Others use the experience to strengthen their resumes in applying to graduate or law school.
Students spend about 10-15 hours per week in the placement, keeping a record of work activities and skills development, and making connections between the academic courses and experiences at the internship. Students also meet regularly with the instructor to discuss the progress of their internship placement and write a paper each semester.
Prior internship placements include:
Congressional Internships
- Aides to US Senator John Kerry, former Senator Edward Kennedy, and US Representatives Marty Meehan, John Tierney, James McGovern
- Aides in the Office of the Governor
- Researchers in the Massachusetts Caucus of Women State Legislators
- Policy analysts and legislative aides to State Representatives Kay Khan, Elizabeth Malia, Jay Kaufman, David Magnani, Alice Wolf; and in the office of Senator Therese Murray
State and Local Government Internships
- Attorney General's Office
- Division of Health Care Finance and Policy
- Boston , Cambridge and Somerville Women's Commissions
- Boston Redevelopment Authority
- Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services
- Gubernatorial election campaigns of Deval Patrick, Kerry Healey, Shannon O'Brien
- City election campaign of Susan Passoni, and others
- Massachusetts Executive Offices of Administration of Finance; Elder Affairs; Labor; Public Safety; and Transportation
- Governor's Commission on Domestic Violence
- Jane Doe, Inc.
- Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
- Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
- Massachusetts Municipal Association
- Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care
- Massachusetts Cultural Council
- Massachusetts Office for Refugees & Immigrants
- Quincy City Hall
Non-Profit and Advocacy Organization Internships
- Boston N.O.W.
- Child Care Resource Center
- Egleston Square Neighborhood Association
- Girls' Pipeline to Power
- Gray Panthers of Rhode Island
- Health Care For All
- League of Women Voters
- Massachusetts Eating Disorders Association, Inc.
- Mass NARAL
- Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus
- New England Aquarium
- Our Bodies, Ourselves
- Peace Watch Ireland
- Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
- Rosie's Place
- The Boston Foundation Indicators Project
- We Learn (Women Expanding/Literacy Education Action Resource Network)
- Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts
Other Internship Opportunities
The Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy also matches students to internships at law firms, with lobbyist organizations, and at research "think tanks" such as
- Conservation Law Foundation
- Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
- New England Council
Finally, a number of internships are offered at the McCormack Graduate School's research centers, including the
- Center for Democracy and Development
- Center for Social Policy
- Gerontology Institute
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...and our own Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy.
