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RI State Government Internship Program

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About Us

Gain Experience

If you’re interested in a challenging, rewarding experience where you will grow, learn and also contribute in concrete and meaningful ways, the RI State Government Internship Program may be just what you’re looking for!

Internship Placements and Sessions Offered
Working In-Person

Many of our placements are In-Person Placements. The internship will be conducted fully on site. If you prefer an In-Person Placement, please indicate this on your cover letter and we will do our best to match you with an In-Person Placement.

Working Remotely

We have many Remote Placements. This includes placements within our departments of government and agencies and within our Policy Team Based Internship that is conducted by our staff in coordination with the legislative policy office. If you prefer a Remote Placement, please indicate this on your cover letter and we will do our best to match you with a Remote Placement.

Working Hybrid

Some of our placements are open to Hybrid Interns. This means that a portion of your internship will be conducted on site and a portion off site. With these internships, you will coordinate the schedule with your Placement Supervisor. If you prefer a Hybrid Placement, please indicate this on your cover letter and we will do our best to match you with a Hybrid Placement.

Our Sessions Offered

Internships run in the Fall and Spring semesters and during the Summer breaks. Students are connected with internship experiences throughout the state government. This includes the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches as well as state departments of government, municipal agencies and community and non-profit organizations. Students are placed in areas of interest where they work with their placement supervisor on a variety of projects and tasks that enable them to meet educational learning objectives. The Fall and Spring programs run 8-12 weeks, depending on academic requirements and placement needs. The Summer program runs 8 weeks.

**Please note that applications are accepted throughout the year and interviews are completed on a rolling basis. Please submit an application early in order to have greater placement selection.

Interviews are mandatory. We are currently conducting remote group interviews.

Summer 2025 Internship Session

  • Duration: June 02, 2025 – July 25, 2025
  • Deadline to apply: April 11, 2025 *stipend available Summer Session

Fall 2025 Internship Session

  • Duration: September 15, 2025 - December 6, 2025
  • Deadline to apply: July 25, 2025

Spring 2025 Internship Session

  • Duration: February 3, 2025 – April 25, 2025
  • Deadline to apply: December 13, 2024

Why Intern With Us?

Benefits of Interning

Great Learning Experience

Students can expect valuable work experience, have opportunities to gain an inside perspective of the workplace, develop important skills, make lasting connections, complete meaningful projects and come out of the experience with a portfolio of real world experience. Many employers seek employees with experience in the field. An internship provides this valuable experience!
Benefits of Interning

Career Exploration

An internship offers the opportunity to learn in a professional workplace, with current employees and a placement supervisor. You are immersed in a working environment where you can observe and participate in the actual day to day experience and gain a true appreciation of the requirements and job responsibilities.
Benefits of Interning

Skills Development

Internships help you develop and foster concrete, transferable skills. You gain practical skills, leadership skills, communication skills and important soft skills that employers seek out. You are provided with hands on training and feedback. You can utilize the ideas and theories learned in the classroom in a professional environment.
Benefits of Interning

Networking

You will work alongside and learn from professionals within the field and have an opportunity to establish a network of contacts, references and potential mentors. These individuals are able to offer real world advice and can even help to provide direction and career development.
Benefits of Interning

Resume/Portfolio Enhancement/College Credit

Internships provide valuable experience and real world accomplishments to add to your resume. Some internships will provide the opportunity to create projects that you can add to your portfolio of achievements. Other internships may also provide the opportunity to earn college credit.
Benefits of Interning

Industry Insight

Internships provide you with a window into the workplace of your career goals. You will be working on real projects for a state department or organization that will give you an in depth experience not possible in the classroom. You will gain valuable insight and perspective that will benefit you in all your future endeavors.

Are you Eligible?

  • Must Be 18 Years or older
  • Must be currently enrolled in college, graduate or law school
  • Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5
  • The program accepts students who are RI residents attending an accredited in-state or out-of-state institution or a non resident who is attending an RI accredited institution
  • All academic majors are accepted and student experience, academic background and educational goals are taken into consideration for placement
    • *Upon completion of the internship, Placement Supervisors complete an Intern Assessment and all Interns are required to complete a Summary of Experience Essay

Hear From Our Interns

"I have made some wonderful connections and networked in a whole other sector than I previously would have thought. I definitely would recommend this internship to students in the future. Even with the challenges of being remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this internship is more than what I had hoped for. The entire process was very collaborative and we all worked so well together. I really enjoyed working with everyone on my team and I am so grateful for the connections I have made with them and everyone at the program."

Brigid
Roger Williams University

"While we all would have hoped for a more in-person internship, I do agree that this virtual internship was very insightful as well as convenient for college students and an overall amazing experience with all of the staff involved."

Night Jean
Rhode Island College

"My time in RISGP was an eye-opening experience to the process of developing a policy. Before the internship I was not familiar with how policies were developed in the state of Rhode Island nor did I ever think I would be able to propose a policy in front of the House and Senate Policy Office members. However, doing this program allowed me to envision myself in a future where I can make changes which improve the lives of Rhode Islanders. Furthermore, the program showed me the importance of working in a team, as our unique life experiences and skills on a project can be used to develop creative answers for difficult topics such as food insecurity."

Colleen
Providence College

"The experience that I had when participating in the Rhode Island State Government Internship program was an informative and worthwhile one. One important skill that this internship taught me was how to work with people who were hundreds of miles away, and who shared different life experiences from my own. Working not only with a team comprised of people from all parts of the country, but to do so in a virtual setting is a lifelong skill that I developed when participating in this internship."

Genna
University of Rhode Island

"I learned many things during my time as an intern. In addition to the material I learned regarding the legislative process and policy, I also learned a great deal about working in teams. I learned how to collaborate effectively with others; specifically, I learned the importance of compromise and organization."

Nathaniel
University of Rhode Island

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