Political Science Internships for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 17 political science internships for high school students. Of these, 17 are free to participate in and 7 offer virtual participation. Examples include Conservation Colorado Internship, Coro Northern California – Exploring Leadership, and Generation Human Rights (GenHR) Student Internship.
- 17
- listed
- 17
- free
- 7
- virtual
- 17
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are political science internships for high school students?
- Political Science Internships for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in political science. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these internships free?
- Yes — 17 of the 17 internships listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 7 of the 17 internships listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are political science internships good for a college application?
- Yes — political science internships are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in political science on college applications.
Related Categories
17 activities found·Browse by category
Conservation Colorado Internship
Internship at Conservation Colorado, the state's largest environmental advocacy organization, for high schoolers and college students with interests spanning political science, sociology, sustainability science, and environmental science. Interns develop persuasive writing and policy-research skills supporting Colorado conservation campaigns.
Coro Northern California – Exploring Leadership
Transformative 6‑week summer civic leadership fellowship in San Francisco with leadership training, an internship placement at a nonprofit, business, or government agency, and a community action project; Fellows receive a stipend and work on real community issues.
Generation Human Rights (GenHR) Student Internship
A remote internship with the nonprofit Generation Human Rights in which high school and university students help develop human rights education curricula, conduct research, and support organizational projects.
GLSEN National Student Council
A paid national leadership program in which LGBTQ+ and allied high school students advise GLSEN on its programs, resources, and school-safety strategy. Members meet regularly, give feedback on GLSEN's work, and lead advocacy projects in their own communities.
Leadership in Civic Engagement – Monterey County Elections High School Summer Internship
Week-long summer internship at the Monterey County Elections Department. Students receive professional training, learn about election administration and civic engagement, and design youth outreach activities.
LegiSchool Civics Virtual Institute (Sacramento State & California State Legislature)
Four-week online summer institute for California high school students exploring state policy issues and the three branches of government. Includes discussions with officials, research on CA policy, and professional skills workshops; students receive a stipend upon completion.
Norman Mineta Bay Area High School Summer Academy (MTC / ABAG)
Paid regional program introducing Bay Area high school students to public sector careers in transportation, planning, and regional policy (e.g., housing, climate). Legally more "public policy / urban governance" than pure civics, but very political science adjacent.
Political Science Internships for High School Students in California – Ladder Internships Guide
Article compiling 15 real political internships in California (e.g., USC Center for the Political Future, state legislative offices, local government programs). Many are exactly the kind of public policy placements you're looking for.
Project Pull – San Francisco Paid Summer Government Internship
Paid summer internship for SF high school and college students in city departments. Many placements relate to public policy, community engagement, city planning, or legislative work.
RJOY Youth Internship Program
A paid restorative-justice internship in Oakland for ages 15-19. Interns learn to facilitate community-building circles and develop leadership, public speaking, and life-planning skills over a 10-week cohort that meets three afternoons a week, including an overnight trip to RJOY's Ubuntu Healing Farm.
SF YouthWorks – Paid City Government Internships
Paid part‑time internships for high school students in San Francisco city departments with job‑readiness workshops, mentoring, and a Youth Leadership Team for returning interns.
SKILLS (School Kids Investigating Language in Life and Society) – UCSB
A social-justice-centered linguistics outreach program run by UC Santa Barbara faculty and graduate students in partnership with Santa Barbara County high schools, where students conduct original linguistic research and language-activism projects in their own communities over a 20-week curriculum.
Speaker of the Assembly – District Office Student Internship Program (California)
Unpaid internship in a California State Assembly district office, performing constituent services, legislative research, event support, and community outreach—excellent direct exposure to state politics.
Turn Up Youth Activism – Remote Internship
Remote civic-engagement internship doing voter registration, advocacy, social-media campaigns, and organizing.
United States Senate Page Program
A highly selective program in which junior-year high schoolers, sponsored and appointed by a U.S. senator, work full-time delivering documents and assisting with Senate floor operations in the Capitol while attending an accredited early-morning school.
USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future High School Summer Internship
A fully virtual USC summer research internship in which competitively selected high schoolers analyze environmental and sustainability legislation, attend speaker sessions, and produce a published policy assignment.
Youth for Human Rights International Essay Competition
An annual international essay competition open to students age 18 and under who study the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and write about "What Are Human Rights?", with standout essays featured on Human Rights Day.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.