Exploring Opportunities: A Guide to Washington Internship Institute Programs and Smithsonian Internships
The nation's capital, Washington, D.C., offers a wealth of opportunities for students and recent graduates seeking to enhance their academic and professional development. Among these, the Washington Internship Institute (WII) and the Smithsonian Institution stand out, providing unparalleled experiential learning through internships. This article serves as a guide to navigating these opportunities, highlighting various programs and internships available, and offering insights into how to make the most of these experiences.
The Washington Internship Institute (WII): Experiential Learning in the Capital
Founded more than 25 years ago, the Washington Internship Institute (WII) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to foster students' intellectual, personal, and professional development. WII achieves this through individually tailored, quality internships and challenging academic coursework. These experiences take full advantage of the opportunities available in Washington, D.C., and reflect the best practices of experiential learning and liberal education.
Program Overview:
WII programs are open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates of accredited undergraduate colleges or universities in the United States. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required. The institute selects participants from hundreds of applications.
Key Components of the WII Experience:
Internships: Students secure internships within governmental offices, non-governmental organizations, political parties, interest groups, research organizations, or the media.
Academic Coursework: Under the direction of WII faculty and staff, students participate in seminars with governmental officials, lobbyists, and media representatives. Faculty, who are accomplished professionals and credentialed academics, meet with students weekly in the internship seminar and core courses, providing unparalleled access and attention.
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Research Project: Students complete a major research project on a current issue or policy problem.
Partnerships:
Mount St. Mary’s University enables its students in all areas of study to benefit from the rich diversity of the nation’s capital through a partnership with organizations specializing in experiential education. Students intern, live, and learn in Washington, D.C., for a semester and can earn up to 15 credits. Juniors and seniors in any major are eligible, as well as second-semester sophomores with special permission. A minimum 2.50 GPA is required. Students pay regular Mount tuition to the university and receive any scholarships they have already been granted.
Financial Considerations:
It is recommended that interested students discuss finances and credits with a faculty advisor or Washington Internship Institute campus liaison before applying and receiving campus approval. Semester participants from partner institutions like Ursinus College pay their regular tuition, room, and fees, and their financial aid travels with them. Summer participants pay tuition, room, and fees directly to WII and are responsible for their own meals, with Ursinus aid not applicable.
Smithsonian Institution Internships: A Diverse Range of Opportunities
The Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex, offers a wide array of internship programs across its various museums, research centers, and offices. These internships provide invaluable experience and exposure to the inner workings of museums, research, and cultural heritage preservation.
General Information
A Smithsonian internship is a prearranged, structured learning experience that takes place during the fall, spring, or summer semester.
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Internship Opportunities by Department/Museum:
National Museum of Natural History (NMNH):
- Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE): A 10-week summer internship program for undergraduates. The internship is full time, 40 hours per week, starting in early June through early August.
- NMNH Summer High School Internship Program: Supports current high school attendees, ages 15 to 18 (grades 9 - 12), who are interested in learning about what it is like to work at a museum. Internships will be available to work with various departments throughout NMNH, and many interns will be able to explore both science and non-science museum work. The interns will spend some days with their internship supervisors working on their projects, and other days will be dedicated to “enrichment activities,” which are designed to provide well-rounded learning experiences.
- Science Writing Internship: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History seeks a science writing intern interested in developing science communication skills in an active communications and public affairs office.
National Air and Space Museum: The museum’s structured summer internship program provides firsthand experience working in a museum, offering a one-of-a-kind introduction to museum work or a rich opportunity to expand on previous experience. Lasting from early-June through early-August, the 10-week summer program provides unique professional development opportunities and enrichment activities.
National Museum of African American History and Culture: Internships offer undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates' opportunities to work closely with professionals and scholars in the museum field. Interns receive a stipend while they gain practical museum skills and program development experience in a variety of positions.
National Museum of Asian Art: The museum invites applications for its eight-week, paid Summer Undergraduate Internship Program. Applications for Summer 2026 are due by February 13, 2026 (11:59 PM ET).
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum: The Peter A. Krueger Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate students the unique opportunity to develop professional skills and learn about museum practices.
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National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI): Offers internships during the Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer terms at the museum in Washington, D.C.; at the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, MD; and at the museum (George Gustav Heye Center) in New York City. NMAI stewards one of the most extensive collections of Native American cultural heritage in the world - approximately 825,000 items - representing over 12,000 years of history and more than 1,200 Indigenous cultures throughout the Americas.
National Portrait Gallery: Offers formal internships to qualified applicants.
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO): The SAO Summer Intern Program is a 10-week Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship where students take on an astrophysics research project with an SAO or Harvard scientist. Students are expected to work at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics for the full duration of the program. The 2026 summer session is expected to run for ten weeks, starting Sunday, May 31 (move-in day) and ending Sunday, August 9.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC): Provides science-based knowledge to meet the environmental challenges of the 21st century.
Smithsonian Gardens: Provides an array of public garden learning experiences through its internship program thanks to the wide diversity of services and programs it offers at the Smithsonian Institution.
Smithsonian Science Education Center: Interns will work with Smithsonian Science Education Center curriculum developers to assist in the development of nonfiction stories that will be included in Smithsonian Science for the Classroom units. Interns will apply knowledge of science content, information gathered through expert interviews, and independent research, to support the development of high-quality, grade appropriate texts for middle school classroom use.
Smithsonian Associates: Interns are offered unique opportunities to learn about all aspects of educational programming for both adults and children, while contributing extensively to one of the world's great cultural institutions. This internship offers the unique opportunity to immerse in all the Summer children’s’ program offered by Associates.
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC): APAC believes that a great 21st-century museum is more than a building, engaging communities in surprising and innovative ways, transcending boundaries and barriers.
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage: Every year, the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage involves over a hundred interns in our various activities.
Office of Planning, Design, and Construction (OPDC): The primary purpose of the Architectural History and Historic Preservation (AHHP) internship is to provide a practical learning experience in the stewardship of historic cultural facilities. Applicants should have undergraduate and/or graduate level courses related to architecture, architectural history, materials conservation, historic preservation, and historic building trades.
Office of the Registrar: The Office of the Registrar is responsible for the care, tracking, and transport of the permanent collection and objects on loan for exhibitions; creating and maintaining accession files; and the management of the museum’s collections information database, The Museum System (TMS).
Publications Department: The internship will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about editing and museum publishing. The Publications department reviews all written materials the museum produces for the public, including exhibition catalogues and labels.
Office of Advancement: Offers internship opportunities for candidates interested in fundraising and development-oriented careers, providing interns with meaningful professional learning experiences.
Office of Educational Technology: An internship is a unique opportunity to be part of a department working to make digital education resources more accessible and useful to PK12 teachers, students, parents, and anyone looking to discover and explore museum content.
Office of General Counsel (OGC): Legal interns work closely with attorneys whose work covers such diverse topics as tax, employment discrimination, ethics, imports/exports, federal appropriations, intellectual property, and environmental law.
Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education: Awardees are appointed based on a demonstrated interest in the field of education and museum leadership.
Women’s History Internship Program: Offers paid eight-week paid internships that amplify women’s stories to tell a more complete American history, reach a diverse audience, and empower and inspire people from all walks of life. The 2026 Women's History Internship Program will take place from June 8 to August 7, 2026, in Washington, DC. Interns will receive a $1,200 weekly stipend and reimbursement for travel to and from Washington, DC.
STRI General Internship Program: The purpose of the STRI General Internship Program is to provide a place for internship applicants who are generally interested in STRI’s science to pursue a research experience with one of our scientific mentors based on their interests. March 15, 2025.
The Institute for Responsible Citizenship
The Institute for Responsible Citizenship runs academic yearlong programs in five cities throughout the country: Atlanta, Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, and New York. For 20 years, the Institute has supported some of the best and brightest African American male college students in the country. On July 9, 2022, we brought together alumni, scholars, supporters, and friends to celebrate them and reflect on our 20-year history. But the Institute is about more than accomplishments, it's about how we change lives.
Maximizing Your Internship Experience
Whether you choose the Washington Internship Institute or an internship at the Smithsonian Institution, there are several steps you can take to maximize your experience:
Define Your Goals: Before applying, clearly define your academic and professional goals. What skills do you want to develop? What knowledge do you hope to gain?
Research Opportunities: Thoroughly research the available programs and internships to find the best fit for your interests and goals.
Prepare a Strong Application: Craft a compelling application that highlights your skills, experience, and passion for the field.
Network: Take advantage of networking opportunities to connect with professionals in your field.
Seek Mentorship: Find a mentor who can provide guidance and support throughout your internship.
Reflect on Your Experience: Regularly reflect on your experiences and identify areas for growth.
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