Congressional Internship Program Preparing Students for Washington, D.C.

“Thank you so much for following through with a dream. Words could never say what you have done for me.” Anthony Snow, CSU Humboldt

The Panetta Institute for Public Policy offers a golden opportunity for university students to get an inside look at the workings of the U.S. Congress and Washington politics.

Each August, the Panetta Institute hosts students who are nominated by the presidents of each of the twenty-three CSU campuses, as well as Santa Clara University and Dominican University of California. Participants go on to live in the Washington, D.C. area from late August through mid-November while working on Capitol Hill.

The Congressional Internship Program begins with an intensive two-week course here at the Panetta Institute, with elected officials, seasoned government staff, policy experts and Panetta Institute professors explaining how the legislative process works and providing synthesized information on the key issues facing the nation. Then each intern is assigned to work for two and a half months in a Capitol Hill office of a member of the California congressional delegation.

“There’s just no substitute for this kind of first-hand experience,” says Institute director Sylvia Panetta, “and we’ve had tremendous cooperation from our members of Congress – both Republicans and Democrats – in working with our students.”

The Institute covers program costs including CSUMB campus services during orientation, air travel and housing in Washington. Each intern also receives a stipend to help cover other expenses. Interns earn up to 20 semester credits.

Please contact us for more information.