Internships are the core of the CMC Washington Program. Internships give students excellent opportunities to apply their knowledge outside the classroom and learn professional skills that improve their employment prospects. Once accepted to the program, Claremont college students are free to pursue internships ranging from legislative opportunities on Capitol Hill to non-profit and private sector positions. There are hundreds of possibilities.
Click here for a list of previous CMC Washington Program internships and here for a resource guide to begin your search. Because the opportunities are vast, students are encouraged to begin searching for internships that match their interests early on, giving themselves plenty of time to apply.
Finding an Internship
Most Claremont interns work a full-time, 40-hour week, distinguishing themselves from other interns in DC. Full-time internships allow students to be treated as regular junior staff and help them integrate quickly into office routines as trusted employees. In cases where full-time internships are not available, 30-hour professional internships may be approved as per the Washington Program policies.
Intern duties vary by organization and assignment. Responsibilities may include drafting legislation, working on foreign policy issues, planning activities for organizations, interacting with visitors and advocacy groups, supporting administrative processes, writing press releases, or conducting research.
Internship Search
Students are responsible for securing their own internships, however, there are plenty of resources available to support students in the process. Students are encouraged to reach out to the following offices and websites for support:
- CMC Government Department
- Soll Center for Student Opportunity
- Professor John J. (Jack) Pitney Jr.'s Website
- Washington Program Staff
Students are also encouraged to explore the CMC internship database and review the document titled “Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government,” by Congressional Research Service.
Some internships, such as those in the U.S. State Department, require Department of State Security Clearance which tends to take months to receive; CMC recommended deadlines to apply for security clearance for an accepted internship placement (even before being accepted to the program) are:
- February 1st or earlier of prior spring for fall semester internships
- June 1st or earlier of prior summer for spring semester internships
Internship Sponsors
A commitment to full-time internships combined with a prestigious liberal arts background at the Claremont Colleges makes CMC Washington Program students among the most professional and sought-after interns in Washington, D.C. According to a recent study, CMC is one of the top private colleges in the nation to provide a strong pipeline to congressional employment. Claremont college students arrive well-prepared with in-depth knowledge of U.S. government, politics, economics, and advocacy. This thorough preparation helps ensure that students will quickly become valuable members of a professional team during their time in Washington, D.C.
If you have an internship opening or if you are interested in listing your organization as a prospective internship site on our website, please email WashingtonProgram@cmc.edu
Recent Internships
- United States House of Representatives
- United States Senate
- The White House
- Departments and Agencies of the U.S. Federal Government
- Law firms and Political Consulting / Lobbying companies
- Independent Agencies of the U.S. Federal Government
- Nonprofit / Advocacy Organizations
- Think Tanks
- Political Organizations
- Foreign Embassies
- The Smithsonian Institution
- National News Media Organizations
For more information about internship placements over the years and current opportunities, please visit Professor John Pitney’s website.
Supervisor Comments
The director of the program overseas GOVT 30: Washington Internship and grades the internships in part based on supervisors’ evaluations. The assessment form includes a list of tasks the student has performed and an evaluation of his/her skills, capabilities and overall professionalism. At the end of the form, supervisors are asked to make additional comments.
Claremont students have distinguished themselves for their excellent work performance. Here are some of the comments their supervisors have made:
Chad McElroy
The Office of Space Commerce, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
“Chad was an incredible asset to me and my team. He came into the internship loaded with relevant knowledge and experience in commercial space policy and governance, so he required almost no training or “hand-holding” before diving into substantive work that made a real difference in our operations.”
Madeline Nesbitt
Office of Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA)
“Madeline truly excelled as an intern in our office. She was confident and took the initiative to participate in projects aligned with her interests. Our team was impressed with Madeline’s inquisitive nature and willingness to learn.”
Hannah Adams
Office of Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23)
“Hannah was a stellar intern who consistently demonstrated strong professionalism, work ethic, and reading/writing skills. Throughout her internship, we gave her more substantive tasks, including drafting memos, legislative analysis, and constituent correspondence. Our entire office was impressed with her abilities to multitask and function in our fast-paced environment.”
Scott Sloop
Committee on the Budget, U.S. House of Representatives
“Scott performed his duties for the Chairman and the Staff of the House Budget Committee with great skill, humility, and attention to detail. He is always welcome back here, maybe as a staffer himself one day!”
Daniel Penaloza
U.S. Department of Justice, The Consumer Protection Branch
“Throughout his internship, Mr. Penaloza demonstrated many impressive strengths with his ability to review, synthesize, and evaluate complex material. He showed initiative, thoroughness, and reliability. He used excellent time management and communication skills and demonstrated a commitment to doing his best work on his case projects. He approached his work with patience and determination.”
Jada Cook
Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
“Jada was a tremendous asset to our team and organization. She performed her work well and was willing to pitch in wherever needed. Jada was especially helpful in working the various events that our organization hosted for Congressional staff. We greatly appreciated Jada’s strong work ethic and will miss having her on our team.
We are confident she will be successful wherever she lands!”
Sawyer Bock
The Brennan Center for Justice
“Sawyer was the best undergraduate intern both of us have had in our 2+ years here at the Brennan Center. He was incredibly detailed-ordered, responsive, timely, comprehensive in his research, and, in general, a collegial person to have in the office. He made it a point to reach out to other team members to learn about their experiences and offer his help on projects. Sawyer has become an invaluable member of the team.”
Sophie Mars
Conservation International
“Sophie’s contributions to Conservation International were highly valuable and far above expectations. Sophie is particularly skilled in research and analysis. During her internship, she produced several research documents profiling members of Congress and their political views. This type of work and analysis would be expected from a seasoned, veteran lobbyist or congressional staffer.”