Contact Us

School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies

Arts & Sciences Building 208

Dept. 3197

1000 E. University Ave.

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-6484

Email: sppais@uwyo.edu

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Internships w/ SPPAIS

Students in The School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies (SPPAIS) are invited to explore a variety of internship opportunities in a myriad of areas in the public and private sector such as city governments, special interest groups, political parties, state or federal agencies, legislative offices, law firms and other private entities. Many students find that they meet people during their internships who can help them find a job or other opportunity after graduation.

SPPAIS Students may pursue opportunities outside of those recommend by SPPAIS, such as a semester in DC or sessions of the Cheyenne Legislature. Students wishing to complete an internship not specified by the department are required to complete the internship contract prior to starting their internship and must have it approved by the SPPAIS Internship Coordinator, Dr. Gabel Taggart (gtaggart@uwyo.edu).

Students, depending on the length and amount of time they wish to commit to the internship, can receive up to 6 hours of internship credit. Students must also complete coursework requirements that consist of some combination of daily/weekly journal entries, work samples when appropriate, and a reflection paper in order to receive course credit. Students will receive a grade of "Satisfactory" upon successful completion of all requirements.

 

Funding your internship

Some internships are paid; some internships are not. SPPAIS offers candidates an opportunity to apply for the SPPAIS Internship Award to help mitigate some of the costs of an unpaid internship. Here is some more information on how to apply for the SPPAIS Internship Award. Remember, both paid and unpaid internships provide valuable real-life experiences that enrich your academic studies--investigate all internships you think you will be a good fit for, and also remember, there may be financial support available if you need it!

 

SPPAIS Approved Internships

While most students come to the department with proposals for their internships already, here are some that we can point you towards--let us know if you represent an organization with internship opportunities and we will add you to our current list. Wisdom: please exercise caution and do thorough research when investigating your internship leads!



Look for more internships here:

You can also access two different search engines for global internships and job opportunities through Career Services: Going Global and The Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas.

 

 

Internship/Job Application Guidelines

Almost all internship or job applications require three basic things: resume, statement of interest (or cover letter), writing sample. We offer some guidelines about each of these components to help you in the application process. You're welcome to contact our advisers in the program at sppais@uwyo.edu, if you'd like advice about your application packet.

 

Statement of Interest

It's important to have a clear, concise statement of interest. The statement of interest should include the following information and usually should not be more than one page:

Who Are You? Give a summary of your academic background, work experience, and personal interests.

What Are You Interested In? What is your general area of interest academically and for a career path? What kinds of things are you interested in doing for an internship or a job?

Why Are Applying to a Particular Agency or Organization? You should know something about the history and mission of the organization, agency, or business to which you are applying and you should convey that knowledge in a concise way.

How Can You Help the Organization or Agency to Which You Are Applying? Give a brief summary of the skills and strengths you can bring to the internship.

Where Have You Been? Tell about your experiences and language skills and how they can relate to the internship or job.

 

Resume

A resume is a written snapshot of you and what you have to offer. There's lots of resources on campus to help you in writing a resume. You can start with the Career Services Center. All internship and job coordinators we've talked to agreed that the following qualifications were critical in considering a student's application:

  • Hard-working
  • Self-motivated
  • Can adapt to a variety of situations
  • Work experience while going to school, either paid or volunteer, i.e. part-time job, community service, on-campus activities

The last attribute was identified by a wide variety of coordinators as being important since it was a good indicator of a student's willingness and ability to take on a demanding internship or job.

 

Writing Sample

Most internship and job applications require a writing sample, something different than your statement of interest. Many prospective employers are looking for an applicant's ability to summarize issues into "talking points," that is to convey the most salient points of an issue or problem into clear, concise statements. Try to submit something that represents your ability to do this.

 

 
Contact Us

School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies

Arts & Sciences Building 208

Dept. 3197

1000 E. University Ave.

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-6484

Email: sppais@uwyo.edu

Find us on Instagram (Link opens a new window)Find us on Facebook (Link opens a new window)Find us on Twitter (Link opens a new window)Find us on LinkedIn (Link opens a new window)Find us on YouTube (Link opens a new window)