Internships
General Information
An internship is a temporary supervised work experience designed to help you learn more about the field or industry and gain an introduction into skills utilized in this field. An Internship is an important way to gain job experience, earn college credit, and learn about different fields of interest.
For student interested in receiving college credit for their internships, they must consult the Guideline for Internships form and fill out the Political Science Application form. Be aware that not all internships meet the criteria for earning college credit.
Lastly, many internships are highly competitive and selective. To make yourself a better applicant, students should use career services to help with resumes and interview skills.
Tennessee Legislative Internship Program
The Tennessee Legislative Internship Program offers a breadth of experience to students in Political Science. For more than 50 years, the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program (TLIP) has provided students from across Tennessee the opportunity to experience Tennessee politics and contribute to the democratic process by serving as interns in the Tennessee General Assembly. Students completing the internship can receive up to 15 credit hours and a stipend of $8,000 for the semester.
Duties may include bill analysis, constituent work, computer and library research, and general office work.
Please read down for requirements, program details, and application windows.
The application for the 2026 Session of the Tennessee General Assembly is due September 26, 2025.
Application Process and Timeline
To apply for a legislative internship, students should do the following:
- Student Application
- Autobiography: Type and save as a separate pdf file a 2-3 page autobiography as described in the application that will enable the selection committee to learn more about you and your writing skills (i.e., Chris Doe Autobiography)
- Transcript: Scan a current copy of your transcript (not your academic history) and save this as a pdf file (i.e., Chris Doe Transcript)
- Resume: Save a pdf copy of your updated resume (i.e., Chris Doe Resume)
- Faculty Appraisals: Send the appraisal form to the 2 individuals identified on your application as faculty who will be completing appraisals for you. Please remind each appraiser to complete the survey submitted by Noon on Friday, September 26, 2025.
TLIP Application Form –> Please print application, complete, scan, and then email to Dr. Pat Freeland at pfreelan@utk.edu.
U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program
The U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program is a two-summer paid international affairs experiential learning program. The program exposes undergraduate students to diplomacy, the U.S. State Department, and international politics. In the first summer, training in Washington, DC is followed by 7 weeks working in a State Department policy office. In the second summer, students are assigned to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas.