Internships and Special Hirings
CRS Members of Congress turn to the Congressional Research Service (CRS) for objective, comprehensive research, analysis, and information on issues ranging from impeachment, to international terrorism, to the future of the U.S. social security system. Whatever the issue, whatever the legislative situation, CRS provides the Congress with information and analysis it needs to make informed decisions on behalf of the American people. As a CRS Intern, you will thus have the opportunity to gain experience working alongside notable experts, advising the Congress on virtually all subjects on the congressional agenda.
Student Diversity Internship Program
Each year CRS partners with seven (7) organizations to offer a limited number of paid internship opportunities to outstanding minority students. Below is a description of each:
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBU)–Summer Internship Program
A consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities–including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Tuskegee University and Morgan State University–partner with CRS to offer eight-week paid summer internships to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. Student eligibility and application procedures are developed by each partner school. For more information contact Ms. Tarria Burwell at tburwell@crs.loc.gov.Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)–Summer Internships
APAICS recruits Asian American/Pacific Islander undergraduate students nationwide and places them in eight-week paid summer internships in Washington, D.C. The internship period is early June through the end of July, and APAICS hosts several cultural/developmental events for all of its interns throughout the summer. For more information, please visit the APAICS Website at http://www.apaics.org/internships.html.Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF)–Congressional Fellows Program
CBCF invites students just completing graduate coursework, professionals with a minimum of five years experience pursuing graduate studies, and college faculty members to apply for its nine-month Congressional Fellowship Program. Upon completion of their Fellowships, some CBCF Fellows may choose to serve a three-month (June through August) Fellowship with CRS. For more information, please visit the CBCF Fellowship Program website at http://www.cbcfonline.org/Congressional_Fellows.html.Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)–National Internship Program
HACU recruits undergraduate and graduate students in a wide range of fields/disciplines from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), for the HACU National Internship Program (HNIP). Paid 10- and 12-week internship opportunities are offered for spring, summer, and fall terms. For more information, please visit the HNIP website at http://www.hnip.net/.The Washington Center–Asia Pacific Internship Program
The Washington Center partners with colleges and universities with significant Asian American/Pacific Islander student populations nationwide to recruit outstanding undergraduates for participation in its Asia Pacific Internship Program. Spring/fall internships last 15 weeks; summer internships last 10 weeks. For more information ,please visit http://www.twc.edu/internships/areas/asiapacific.htm.The Washington Center–Native American Leadership Program
The Washington Center partners with colleges and universities with significant Native American student populations nationwide to invite outstanding undergraduates to participate in its Native American Leadership Program. Spring/fall internships last 15 weeks; summer internships last 10 weeks. For more information, please visit
http://www.omhrc.gov/OMH/Tribal%20Colleges/2pgtcu/what_tcu_067.doc.
(Website currently under development.)United Negro College Fund (UNCF)–Institute for International Public Policy (IIPP) Fellowships
For the IIPP Fellowship Program, underrepresented minority sophomore students are recruited from across the nation to apply for participation in a five-year sequence of summer policy institutes, study abroad, intensive language training, internships, and graduate study. IIPP Fellows are invited to request placement in CRS for the internship portion of their Fellowships. For more information, please visit http://www.uncfsp.org/.
CRS accepts a limited number of volunteer interns each year. Although most interns are graduate students, exceptional undergraduate students are also welcome to apply. Volunteer interns assist professional CRS staff in performing research and reference in response to public policy-related issues and questions. Through this work, volunteers have an opportunity to participate in the legislative process and to develop valuable research skills in a public policy setting. Additional information is available from the CRS Volunteer Opportunities page.
In addition to interships CRS offers two special hiring programs to fill permanent positions outside the CRS Merit Selection Process.
Presidential Management Fellows Program
CRS is a participating agency in the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program. Administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the PMF program is designed to attract to federal service outstanding graduate-level students from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have an interest in, and commitment to, a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. Additional information is available from the Presidential Management Fellows Program page.HACU Cooperative Education Program
Through the HACU Cooperative Education Program (HCEP), qualified students who successfully complete 640 hours (120 days) of career-related work at CRS may be converted noncompetitively to permanent-conditional positions for which they qualify within 120 days of completing their academic degree requirements. HACU student internship service counts toward the mandatory 120 days. For more information, contact David Christopher at dchristopher@crs.loc.gov.
Last Update: September 8, 2004