Each spring, Northern Arizona University students have the opportunity to develop skills and experience the legislative process firsthand while working alongside professionals at the state capitol through the Arizona State Legislative Internship Program.
Interns practice research, writing and public speaking while participating in the democratic process during the legislative session. The program is open to students of all majors, and previous knowledge of the legislative process is not required to apply.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to remind students about this opportunity as the application deadlines for Spring 2019 are quickly approaching.
Interns are selected for positions with the Arizona State Senate, the Arizona State House of Representatives, the Arizona State Governor’s Office and the Arizona State Supreme Court. Selected broadcast interns join the Arizona Capitol Television team.
Those selected for the legislative and broadcast internships work full-time in Phoenix during the legislative session from January through May.
In addition to the experience, interns receive a stipend of $5,000, a tuition or fee waiver and earn 12 hours of undergraduate upper-division credit or 9 hours of graduate credit upon successful completion of the internship.
“In week one, thirteen interns and myself were seated in a white room and given more information than I expected to learn throughout the semester,” said Adrienne Austill, international affairs major and former House of Representatives intern. “I imagined grabbing coffee for higher-ups, making copies and not much else; I could not have been more mistaken. This internship allowed me to gain skills such as public speaking, research, writing, patience and a true understanding of the legislative branch.”
Descriptions of the different positions within each office or agency as well as a link to the application can be found at NAU’s Arizona Legislative Internship’s website.
Application materials for the legislative and broadcast internships must be submitted via Handshake. This includes a completed application, personal statement, unofficial transcript, two signed letters of recommendation and a current resume.
Legislative internship applications are due by 5 p.m. Sept. 26. Broadcast internship applications for Arizona Capitol Television are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 10.