Washington, DC Summer Internship Program

June 3 – July 26, 2024

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ 2024 Washington, DC Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students an eight-week professional, academic, and career opportunity internship with an organization in the nation’s capital. The program features a demanding mix of professional involvement, intellectual challenge, career exploration, and cross-cultural encounters designed to provide students with a rich and varied experience.

• Professional work experience: Students are placed with one of over a dozen Near East and Arab region-related organizations with offices in Washington, D.C., where they are expected to work 35-40 hours per week under the direct supervision of their host organizations. Internships are unpaid.
• Academic seminars: Students take part in twice-weekly seminar sessions designed to provide them with greater depth of knowledge about the Arab region, to underscore the cultural, economic, and political diversity of Arab states, and to explore the intricacies of Arab-U.S. relations. There will be a particular emphasis, though not exclusively, on Arabia and the Gulf.
• Site visits: Students receive a behind-the-scenes look at many of the central institutions of the federal government, national security policymaking, international diplomacy, and international business.

About the Program

The National Council’s Summer Internship Program offers professional work experiences combined with twice-weekly evening seminars that bring academic specialists and experienced foreign policy practitioners to meet with students in candid off-the-record discussions and dynamic question-and-answer sessions. Its objectives are:

1. to provide a realistic work experience in a Washington, D.C.-based office that will provide pathways for career development;
2. to offer interns exposure to the foreign policy analysis and advocacy processes in the nation’s capital;
3. to incorporate a strong academic component focusing on U.S. political, economic, and cultural relations with Arabia and the Gulf region;
4. to help participants begin the process of career networking by introducing them to working professionals in government, business, journalism, and NGOs; and,
5. to highlight the wide range of career opportunities awaiting those who aspire to work in the field of U.S.-Arab relations, as well as to provide counseling on graduate school and fellowship application processes.

As complements to the program, interns will also be exposed to Washington, D.C., in a less formal manner via films, cultural events, embassy and museum visits, off-the-record conversations with former diplomats, group dinners, and suggestions for exploring the sights and sounds of the nation’s capital. This allows students to not only experience working in the city but also encourages them to appreciate the experience of living in a diverse urban environment, and to take advantage of the exciting cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities available in D.C.

Sponsorship

The program is administered by National Council professionals and staff, together with more than two dozen of America’s foremost scholars and leading foreign affairs practitioners. The programs, activities, and functions represented by the organizations and corporations that provide the professional work experience component of the program are varied. Included among placements in recent years have been educational development and exchange organizations, bimonthly and quarterly publications, humanitarian relief groups, broadcasting networks, area studies centers, international transportation companies, foreign trade associations, peace and justice advocacy groups, and a variety of non-governmental organizations.

Application Fee and Fellowship Stipend

A $25 non-refundable program fee must be submitted with the application. This fee helps to defray the costs of administering the summer internship program and the accompanying seminar presentations.

Summer internship program participants, upon successful fulfillment of the program’s in-person academic seminar, attendance, and other requirements, will receive a $1,000 fellowship stipend.

How to Apply

Interested undergraduate and graduate students, or recent graduates, are asked to submit the following materials online or via mail prior to the application deadline in order to be considered for acceptance into the Summer Internship Program:

1. Writing Sample: Applicants must compose a short paper on the topic “U.S.-Arab Relations: Assessing the successes and failures of American policy toward the GCC region over the last decade.” Papers must be in size 12 Times New Roman font, double-spaced with 1 inch margins, and may be no longer than three pages. Use citations where necessary.
2. Resume: Applicants must submit a copy of their resume/CV. Most students need only one page for a resume, which should be neatly formatted.
3. Official Transcripts: Applicants must submit official transcripts for all university-level work. Candidates may submit an additional letter explaining special circumstances that may have contributed to low (under 2.5) or inconsistent GPA or an excessive number of dropped or failed classes. All transcripts must be official. Official transcripts are those sent directly by the institution, or sealed in a separate envelope by the institution and released to the student. Some institutions facilitate electronic submission of official transcripts. Institutions may take several weeks to process transcript requests, so please plan ahead.
4. Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must submit two (2) sealed letters of recommendation, or have the recommender mail them directly, from faculty members or others who know their academic work well. Letters can be mailed to the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations office or emailed to internshipprogram(at)ncusar.org. Emailed letters of recommendation must come directly from the faculty member’s or other recommender’s institutional email account, or they may be rejected.
5. Application Fee: Applicants must submit payment for the application fee online in the amount of $25.00. This fee must be paid in order for an individual’s application to be considered. Online payment is available at: https://ncusar.org/modelarableague/payment-portal/.
6. An Internship Program Application available at: https://forms.gle/fnyKQ8VH2i2xhY36A.

The (1) Writing Sample and (2) Resume may be submitted online through the Google Form Application. They can also be emailed to internshipprogram(at)ncusar.org.

(3) Official Transcripts and (4) Letters of Recommendation may be mailed to the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations office [National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, Attn: Summer Internship Program, 1730 M St NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC 20036] or emailed to internshipprogram(at)ncusar.org.

Special consideration will be given to applicants who have participated in the National Council’s Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League but this is not a requirement for selection. Supplementary materials such as newspaper articles or writing samples that are not required or requested will not be considered during the review of applications.

Online Internship Program Application:

https://forms.gle/fnyKQ8VH2i2xhY36A

Application Fee Payment Page:

https://ncusar.org/modelarableague/payment-portal/

The FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINE is Saturday, February 17, 2024.

The National Council may review and accept applicants on a rolling basis prior to the final application deadline. All materials must be postmarked by Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, in order to be considered. Materials may arrive separately, such as official transcripts mailed directly by a college or university, or letters of recommendation. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all materials are postmarked by the deadline. Supplementary materials such as published articles, non-academic certificates, or additional writing samples will NOT be considered. Late materials will NOT be considered.

Program Accomplishments

Over 500 students have participated in this program to date. Some have joined the U.S. Foreign Service. Several work as staff to Members of Congress or congressional committees dealing with matters of foreign policy. Many have proceeded to graduate school to obtain their masters degrees or doctorates in international relations with an emphasis on the Arab countries, the Middle East, and the Islamic world. Some have been employed by the National Council and other non-governmental organizations. Still others have become professional foreign affairs journalists or work with influential multinational corporations. These are just a few of the opportunities that program alumni have encountered.

Watch Students Speak About Their Experience In The Program:

Program Leaders

Coordinators: Ms. Delaney Leslie and Ms. Hannah Norton, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Student Programs Coordinators.

Housing

An estimated cost for eight weeks of student housing in Washington, D.C., is $2,000 – $3,000, not including meals and incidentals. Detailed information can be provided to assist interns in locating reasonably priced student housing at area universities, summer sublets, or other student housing facilities. Accepted students must confirm their status with National Council staff prior to making housing arrangements.

Administration

The National Council intends to administer the 2024 Washington, DC Summer Internship Program with as many in-person elements as possible. At the sole discretion of the Council, some aspects of the program could be shifted to online administration. Accepted participants will be notified as soon as information is available regarding the current status of the program.

Participants in the program may be asked to submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination if they receive an invitation to join the program. Due to the nature of some of the lectures and site visits, participants may be required to wear an acceptable face covering when requested by the National Council or others involved in the program. Participants must also agree to follow other public health-related measures that may arise to continue taking part in the program.

Questions?

Contact:

Ms. Delaney Leslie
Email: delaney(at)ncusar.org

Ms. Hannah Norton
Email: hannah(at)ncusar.org

Telephone: +1 202-293-6466