Internships
Welcome to the Political Science Department’s internships page! We’re excited you are interested in pursuing internship opportunities. Please look over this page to find out more about the Department’s internship courses and how to earn course credit by working at an internship.
The Political Science Department has two internship courses: POSC 447 (Fall) and POSC 448 (Spring). By working 90 hours at an internship and completing coursework associated with POSC 447 or POSC 448, you can earn 3.0 units of credit towards the major in Political Science. Students can enroll in both POSC 447 and POSC 448 and earn a total of 6.0 units by completing both courses and 180 hours of work. Additionally, POSC 447 and POSC 448 satisfy the practicum requirement for the Political Science major.
To enroll in POSC 447 or POSC 448, your internship must meet several Department requirements. First, the internship must be with an organization that has a political aspect to its mission. Many types of organization fit this description including law offices, political campaigns, local/federal government, and many non-profits. Second, the internship must involve meaningful work—volunteer positions with non-specific duties do not qualify. Third, the internship must be tracked by a supervisor that will monitor your progress at the internship site.
When you are ready to enroll in the course—or if you have any questions or concerns about finding an internship—please contact the Department’s internship director, Dr. Charles Mahoney.
Current Internship Opportunities
The following organizations have contacted the POSC Department and are actively seeking to provide internship opportunities to CSULB POSC students. Please note, you may work at an internship that is not listed below and still earn course credit as long as the internship meets Department criteria. Additionally, the POSC Department does not endorse any of the office holders or politicians listed below.
Offices of Elected Officials
The White House / Executive Office of the President
- White House Internship Program (Paid Internship)
US House of Representatives
- US Representative Linda Sánchez
- US Representative Mark Takano
- US Representative Raul Ruiz
- US Representative Judy Chu (Paid Internship)
- US Representative Jimmy Gomez
- US Representative Jim Costa
- US Representative Eric Swalwell
- US Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán
US Senate
California State Senate and State Assembly
- California State Senate Member Lena Gonzalez (Paid Internship)
- California Assemblymember Tri Ta
- California Assemblymember Lisa Calderon
- California Assembly majority leader Ian Calderon
Long Beach City Council
- Long Beach City Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie
- Long Beach City Councilmember Al Austin
- Long Beach City Councilmember Mary Zendejas
- Long Beach City Councilmember Suely Saro
Programs in Washington DC and Sacramento
- Washington Center Internships
- Cal State D.C. Scholars Internship Program (via CSU Fullerton)
- The Sacramento Semester Program
- CSU Capital Fellows Program (Post-Graduate)
- George Washington University Semester in Washington D.C.
Political Campaigns
- N/A
Federal Government Internships
State and Local Government Internships
- Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Internship in Sacramento (Paid Internship)
- City of Seal Beach City Manager’s Office
- City of Long Beach Public Service Corps (Paid Internship)
Non-Profits and Advocacy Organizations
- Common Cause – Student Organizing Series
- #CaliforniansForAll College Corps
- California LBGTQ Health and Human Services Network
- Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (Paid Internship)
- Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance
- Progressive Pipeline
- California Walks
- Project Resilience
- Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) Outreach and Social Media intern
- Peter G. Peterson Foundation – Washington D.C. Internship (Paid Internship)
- JusticeCorps – Los Angeles Superior Court
- Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy Meltzer Internship (Paid Internship)
- Long Beach Mayor’s Fund for Education
- Liberty in North Korea (LiNK)
- Environment California
- Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
- Strada Education Network – Future Leaders Fellowship
- Student Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs)
- Project Super Bloom PAC
- Fund for the Public Interest (Paid Internship)
Think Tanks
- Atlantic Council Young Global Professionals Program (Paid Internship)
