Navigating the State Department Student Internship Program: A Comprehensive Guide

The U.S. Department of State offers various internship opportunities for students seeking to gain valuable experience in foreign policy and public service. These programs provide a unique inside look at diplomacy in action, exposing students to a range of careers and responsibilities within the Foreign Service and Civil Service. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the State Department's student internship programs, eligibility requirements, application processes, and available opportunities.

Introduction to State Department Student Internships

The Department of State's internship programs are designed to connect U.S. citizen college students with the needs of federal agencies. These internships offer real-world experience that can be applied to various endeavors, whether in government or the private sector. The programs are open to students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate school and professional academic levels.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the State Department Student Internship Program, applicants must meet specific criteria:

Student Status: An applicant must be an individual enrolled in a degree-seeking program in an accredited college or university. An individual is still considered a student if he/she has been out of school, between semesters or school years, for not more than five (5) months and has plans to return to school within five (5) months or less.
Educational Level: You are eligible to apply for this program if you have not yet completed your registration at a college or university for graduate or post-graduate studies (including law school) or are awaiting an admissions determination for graduate or post-graduate studies (including law school). However, if selected for an internship, you must provide proof that you have registered, or have been accepted for enrollment for studies in the semester or quarter immediately following the internship before you can begin your internship.
Citizenship: Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
GPA: While GPA requirements may vary, some programs, such as the OAS Internship, require a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Returning to School: Students must be returning to school immediately following the internship to qualify for the program.

Note: Some eligibility questions are exclusionary. Applicants will only be notified after the closing of the announcement if their application is disqualified based upon responses to these questions. Please carefully read the program eligibility requirements before applying.

Types of Internship Programs

The Department of State offers several internship programs, including the Pathways Internship Program, which encompasses the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) and the Internship Experience Program (IEP).

Internship Experience Program (IEP)

Interns in this program are appointed to non-temporary, excepted service appointments, expected to last the length of the academic program for which the intern is enrolled. IEP participants, while in the program, are eligible for noncompetitive promotions if they meet the developed qualification standards for the position. IEP interns are also eligible for federal employee benefits (e.g. life, health, and retirement).

Internship Temporary Program (ITEP)

The temporary nature of the ITEP allows for interns to work during seasonal and holiday breaks in academic programs as well as year-round. Interns in this program are appointed to temporary appointments, not to exceed one year or their projected graduation date (whichever is shorter) and extensions may be made in one year increments. The positions to which the interns are appointed have no promotion potential, therefore, students must apply through USAJOBS to be considered for higher-graded positions. ITEP participants who are expected to work 130 hours per month or more for at least 90 days will be eligible to enroll in a health benefits plan. ITEP participants are not eligible for any other benefits until after conversion into the competitive service.

Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS)

The Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) program offers remote internship opportunities with various federal agencies, including the State Department. Since 2009, more than 10,000 remote interns have advanced the work of the federal government through VSFS. The time commitment is about 10 hours per week during the school year. Any federal employee or government contractor may submit a part-time, remote internship project for the Virtual Student Federal Service. As you draft your internship project description in Open Opps, keep in mind that the time commitment for students is up to an average of 10 hours per week during the academic year, typically from September through May.

How to Apply

Prospective candidates may apply for a Pathways position only when one is announced in a position Vacancy Announcement on the USAJOBS online application site. The application process involves several steps:

Create a USAJOBS Account: New USAJOBS users must create a USAJOBS account and build a resume using the USAJOBS Resume Builder. Applicants must create (not upload) a USAJOBS resume in order to move forward to the actual application.

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Apply Online: Once a profile has been created and a resume built, they can click the "Apply Online" button on the right-hand side of the vacancy announcement. After this, applicants will be taken to another screen to identify and highlight their resume to certify that the information submitted is true and made in good faith.
Submit Required Documents: The following documents must be submitted for your application package to be considered complete. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents are received within the required time frames.
- Transcripts: Current transcripts: an unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however if selected, an official college transcript will be required. Transcripts MUST include the students name, name of the school, current GPA/academic standing, past and current coursework, and degree program. If your school does not issue Grade Point Averages (GPAs), please work with your registrar office to understand the markings associated with each course on your transcript to use the GPA Calculation Table.
- Proof of Enrollment: Proof of Enrollment may include a screen shot of the semester class schedule, an official letter of enrollment, or listed on official transcripts.
- Veterans' Preference Documents (if applicable):
  - For 5-point veteran's preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 is preferable) which must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If you are currently on active duty, you must provide a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service date, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be within 120 days of the date the certification is submitted for consideration for this vacancy announcement.
  - For 10-point veteran's preference, you must submit a current version of the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), dated October 2013, and any documentation required by this form to support your claim. Previous editions of the SF-15 will not be accepted.
Statement of Interest: A statement of interest for each internship pursued. The statement of interest is the most important part of the application package and describes your objectives and motivation in seeking each internship. Discuss how participation would help achieve your academic and professional goals.
Application Deadline: Candidates have until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on the closing date on the announcement to complete the application process, or when the specified application limit has been reached, whichever comes first*. This includes submitting the online application as well as any required documents as defined in the Required Documents section in the listed announcement. Candidates are encouraged to complete their applications well before the application deadline to ensure they receive consideration. Please note if a candidate modifies their application before the announcement closes, a new time stamp will be assigned to their submission, potentially pushing them past the application cut-off limits. *There is a maximum number of applications for each vacancy announcement. The vacancy will close on the closing date listed in the announcement or the day the maximum number of applications is received. The vacancy will close when the first of these conditions are met.
Security Clearance: Students tentatively selected for the internship program must undergo a background investigation and receive either a Public Trust, Secret or Top Secret security clearance. The clearance process can take up to 150 days to complete from the time the forms are received by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS). Investigations may take substantially longer if students have had extensive travel, education, residence and/or employment overseas. These issues could include a current or past history of drugs or alcohol abuse, as well as a recent history of credit problems. Further information regarding issues of dual citizenship and foreign influence is available. Although these problems will not necessarily preclude students from receiving a security clearance, they will lengthen the time required to complete the clearance process. The appropriate security forms needed to complete the application for security clearance will be included with your notification of acceptance. When you receive information to proceed with your security clearance application, please complete, sign, and return all materials by the date indicated.

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Notifications: All applicants are notified on the same day. NOTE: If you would like to be notified when we open the next application cycle, sign up for updates here.

Internship Locations and Opportunities

Department of State Student Internship Program opportunities are offered at the bureau level in Washington D.C. Students can work in one of the many offices which make up the respective geographic or functional bureaus. Embassies and field offices throughout the world, as well as in various bureaus located in Washington, D.C.

Geographic Bureaus

Oversee policies for a given region of the world.

Functional Bureaus

Focus on specific issues and are responsible for policy areas which affect all regions and countries. These bureaus include the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), International Organization Affairs (IO), Political-Military Affairs (PM), and Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES).

Examples of Internship Opportunities

Data Visualization to Political Analysis: There are opportunities for all, from data visualization to political analysis.
MBA Special Advisor Fellowship: The MBA Special Advisor Fellowship seeks to strengthen the Department's strategic management and operations capabilities through leading-edge solutions and academia.
Colin Powell Leadership Program: The Colin Powell Leadership Program recruits highly motivated individuals from a variety of backgrounds who aspire to and possess the potential to become future civil service leaders in the Department.

Benefits of a State Department Internship

Valuable Work Experience: You'll gain valuable work experience that you can apply to virtually every endeavor â whether you work in government or the private sector.
Networking: You'll work with architects, IT professionals, policy experts, and engineers who have various educational and cultural backgrounds, global perspectives, depth of knowledge, and technical skills, along with exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Career Exploration: Just for starters, it would give you a coveted inside look at diplomacy in action, and the range of careers and responsibilities found in the Foreign Service and Civil Service.
Potential for Paid Internships: Internships are paid but may be eligible for course credit. Both programs provide students with opportunities to explore Federal careers while being paid for the work performed.
Real-World Impact: Get to help on real cases, Iâm doing real investigative work in conjunction with the special agents, the task force officers, the professional staff. And itâs been such an amazing opportunity to see the results of my efforts.

Compensation and Benefits

While the government uses at least six different pay scales, the majority of Civil Service employees are paid using the GS (General Schedule) pay scale. The General Service pay scale for Civil Service employees features 15 pay grades, GS-1 (lowest) â GS-15 (highest) with 10 steps within each grade. Employees hired under the Pathways Programs on appointments for 90 days or more are eligible to earn annual and sick leave. Interns hired under the Internship Temporary Experience Program (ITEP) are considered temporary employees and are generally eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program if they are expected to work 130 hours per month or more for at least 90 days, in accordance with 5 CFR 890.102. Those who meet the criteria laid out in these provisions will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees.

Additional Internship Opportunities

Besides the State Department's programs, several other organizations offer internships relevant to foreign policy and international relations:

Organization of American States (OAS): Internship with OAS, which is an international political organization that aims to resolve and prevent conflicts. Requires undergraduates in at least their second year of college, graduate students are also accepted, must have a 3.0 GPA, and Fluency in French, Spanish, or Portuguese required.
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): CSIS interns participate in a variety of activities that support individual programs/departments, including research, writing and project development. Welcomes Undergraduate, Graduate, and recent graduates.
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): CFR interns help citizens better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries. For Graduate or Undergraduate students.
Brookings Institution: Interns may work with Brookingsâs staff in research areas such as Economic Studies, Foreign Policy, Global Economy and Development, Governance Studies, and Metropolitan Policy. For Undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates.
American Enterprise Institute (AEI): AEI is a research-based think tank in Washington DC. For Experienced undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
Hudson Institute: Hudson Institute offers a variety of research internships through which interns work closely with a particular scholar to produce research briefs, memos, and articles. For Undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates with a demonstrated interest in international relations, political science, national security, or related fields.

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