Leadership and Internships

To qualify, you must have taken a leadership role in creating, organizing and implementing a major event or the equivalent. 

• Serve in a leadership position on a student organization or activity
  • Serve as a class representative, GradGov representative, or a comparable role in a student organization, for two semesters
  • Serve as the organizer of a major MSFS event or series (Winter or Spring Ball, a panel or workshop with outside speakers)
• Demonstrate leadership in a diversity, equity and inclusion committee, religious group or university group
• Organize or manage a service project, travel program or other major activity
• Active participation in a complex, multi-day program with extensive preparation and exercise of leadership skills (with prior approval*)

*Approval may be granted by any member of the leadership team.

To qualify, you must have participated in leadership, management or professional training, service, or travel activities.

• Attend designated leadership-focused speaker events (with prior approval*) 
• Participate in a leadership-focused trip 
• Participate in MSFS-related international travel or service activities
• Participate in MSFS workshops and select Career Center activities (with prior approval*) 

*Approval may be granted by any member of the leadership team.

Internships are available across all sectors. During the school year, you can work with various organizations in the Washington, DC, area. Approximately 50% of our students intern abroad during the summer between the two years of the program, while the rest typically work in the DC area or New York City.

You will generally intern for two or three semesters: the spring of the first year, the summer between and the fall of the second year. Approximately 50% of students intern during the fall semester, 50% during the spring semester, and 95% over the summer.

You can work up to 20 hours per week at an internship during the academic year and full-time (40 hours) during the summer.

Internships vary from organization to organization. It is not unusual for an organization in Washington, DC, to offer only unpaid internships. However, 40–60% of our master’s students who intern are paid.

Once enrolled, you have access to the SFS Graduate Career Center database of internship postings. MSFS staff, faculty, professors and career development staff are also available for one-on-one meetings.

Qualifying students may apply for MSFS grants to help finance finance the cost of unpaid internships. Internships must be 10 weeks, full-time, related to your career or academic interests and unpaid. Grant amounts depend on several factors, including the number of applicants and the funding available. Qualifying students may receive base stipends (typically between $500 and $1000) to help cover living expenses and travel costs when applicable.