Internships

We encourage students to work with the International Internship Program (IIP) at UW-Madison to explore internship possibilities both domestically and while they are abroad. You can view international internships and meet with an IIP advisor via their website.

Internship opportunities allow students to: apply knowledge they have learned in the classroom, develop real world skills, gain valuable experiences, and build a portfolio that supports their post-graduation career path. IS Major students are encouraged to pursue internship opportunities to get a feel for what field may or may not interest them. Internships offer a great opportunity to work in a variety of fields in order to see if a professional job in that field is something they would like to pursue further. Students who gain experience through internships have an easier time approaching the job market because they have had exposure to the real working conditions of their chosen profession.

The IS Major posts internships and career events on our website and Facebook page. There are several programs that help UW-Madison students locate and apply for internships. Three critical resources are the International Internship ProgramSuccessworks, and Handshake.  In addition, IS Majors can also apply to the Wisconsin in Washington, DC program administered through IAP that includes academic coursework and an internship component.

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International Internship Program (IIP)

The International Internship Program (IIP) identifies, cultivates and promotes high-quality internship opportunities that: advance the professional training of UW-Madison undergraduate students; foster global competency; and reinforce academic learning through practical application.

International Opportunities for IS Majors

To view a list of international opportunities for IS majors, click on our International Opportunities for IS Major handout.  The handout includes information about internships, summer programs, memberships, undergraduate and graduate scholarships and fellowships, and post-graduate opportunities.

Wisconsin in Washington, DC Internship Program

The Wisconsin in Washington program offers a unique opportunity that supports students interning in DC during the summer or the semester.  This program is considered “study away” and administered via IAP in the red gym.  The DC program combines an international affairs-focused internship and regular seminars with prominent speakers and distinguished UW-Madison alumni who work in professional, academic, and diplomatic fields related to international affairs.  This program is 12 credits (3 classes that are 4 credits each).  Students who wish to use the credit for the International Studies Major need to enroll in the international track.  Please click here for more information about the program and application process.  Starting in Fall 2017, students can view how the DC program classes fit within their IS Major by following the directions on the procedure for obtaining degree credit for an internship.

Read stories from the recent returned students from D.C.! also hear directly from the Program Director, Bola Olaniyan, on the 1050 Bascom podcast.

The videos below are direct from previous IS Majors! Watch them to learn more about internship experiences with:

-The US State Department in Barcelona, Spain
-Child Family Health International in Quito, Ecuador
-CARITAS for Children in Nkokonjeru, Uganda
-USIT Work and Travel Office in Dublin, Ireland
-The United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Washington, DC.

 

IS Majors and their International Internships