Legislative Internships FAQs

No. Students from all majors and disciplines are encouraged to apply. Legislative staff trains and supervises interns at all times. Journalism or electronic media experience is preferred for broadcast internships with Arizona Capitol Television.

Approximately 50 interns are selected from Arizona universities to serve in the House, Senate, Governor’s Office, and Supreme Court.

As is the case with any internship, the contacts you make and the experience you gain will make you a stronger candidate for many future positions. Many former interns have succeeded in obtaining positions with state agencies, lobbying groups, law firms, and with other organizations in the private sector. Several former interns are currently on permanent staff with the House of Representatives and the Senate and some have gone to various federal agencies in Washington, D.C. The coordinators of the intern program at the state capitol are former interns.

There are two rounds of interviews in addition to the paper application packet. The first interview is on the Flagstaff campus, and the second is at the state capitol in Phoenix.

The first interview is in mid-October, the second interview is at the end of October or beginning of November. Successful candidates are notified in November.

The interviews are meant to gauge your interest in being a part of the legislative process, along with your ability to work with others in a team environment, take initiative, think critically, and apply high-level verbal and written communication skills. You do not need to have previous knowledge of the legislative process, or be registered with either political party. Students who are engaged in the community, registered to vote, and interested in current events in addition to having strong communication and critical thinking skills will most likely be a good fit for the internship.

Recommendation letters can be written by any academic or professional supervisor. This could include your professor, your advisor, or your supervisor for a volunteer or paid position.

Note: Recommendation letters must be signed and should be on letterhead. You can scan them into your computer in order to add them directly to your application packet. Your references can also send the letters directly to Emily.McCarthy@nau.edu

Recommendation letters can be addressed to the Legislative Internship Selection Committee.

The internship is a full-time job. Interns will generally work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays for the entire spring semester beginning in early January before classes start. Occasionally, interns will have to attend early morning or late night meetings as well. Interns should plan for transportation, childcare, living arrangements, etc. as appropriate. The coordinators prefer that you do not have outside commitments for work or school, but if you will be taking any online classes or completing any additional hours for an employer, you must disclose this during the application process.

Interns earn either 12 upper-division undergraduate credit hours (as XXX466) or 9 graduate credit hours (as XXX566) upon successful completion of the internship. All credits are pass/fail.

Yes. However, all of the internship hours and interviews are conducted in person, with the second interview and the internship itself taking place in Phoenix. The first interview is in Flagstaff.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. International students should contact the Center for International Education to see if they can participate in the internship based on their F-1 or J-1 visa status.

Students are recruited every fall for the spring semester.

If you are scheduled to graduate in December, you would need to do one of two things: extend your graduation date to May instead, or apply to the Graduate College as a Non Degree-Seeking student for the spring semester. You will find out in November whether or not you have been selected. From there, you will work with the Internship Coordinator on the next steps.

The internships go through special billing and the student will not be charged tuition for that semester. It counts as a resource against the student’s financial aid package (if they have one).