National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Offers 2008 Internships in Washington, D.C.
The National Council’s Summer Internship Program combines professional work experiences with a two-month series of seminars conducted throughout the week either over the noon hour or in the late afternoon, early evening hours.
Internships are available with in one of a dozen U.S.-Arab Relations Organizations in Washington, D.C.: National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, Middle East Policy Council, American Mideast Educational, Training, and Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST), American Near East Refuge Aid, Inc.(ANERA), American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Council for the National Interest, American Arab Institute, World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C., among others.
Intern recipients will gain experience from National Council professionals and staff, together with more than two dozen of America’s foremost scholars and most renowned foreign affairs practitioners.
Internship dates are from June 2 – August 8, 2008.
Costs for the program are free of charge apart from a $150 non-refundable program fee. Selected participants, upon successful fulfillment of the program’s academic and internship requirements, will receive a $1,000 fellowship stipend.
Estimated cost for ten-weeks of student housing in Washington, D.C. is $2,000 – $2,500, not including meals and incidentals.
Detailed information will be provided to assist interns in locating low cost student housing at area universities or other student housing facilities.
Interested undergraduate or graduate students should send a letter of interest to the National Council offices by mail or e-mail. This letter should provide basic information about the applicant, interests, previous course work related to politics, economics, foreign policy, and the Middle East, and some indication of the type of internship that would be of interest.
In addition, the National Council asks that applicant submit:
1) A double-spaced essay (no more than 2-pages in length) on the topic: U.S.-Arab Relations: Challenges for American Leaders
2) A résumé or curriculum vitae.
3) Transcripts of all university-level work.
4) Two letters or recommendation, at least one of them from a faculty member who
knows applicants work well.
5) A signed Internship Program Application
(See website for application)
6) $150 non-refundable program fee.
Goals are:
(1) to provide interns with firsthand experience behind-the-scenes of the foreign policy analysis and advocacy process in Washington, D.C.
(2) to provide a strong academic component dealing with U.S. political, economic, and cultural relations with Arabia and the Gulf region; and (3) to introduce participants to career professionals in government, business, journalism, and NGOs as well as to highlight the wide range of career opportunities awaiting those who aspire to work in the area of U.S.-Arab relations.
As complements to the program, interns will also be exposed to D.C. in a less formal manner via films and
cultural events, embassy and museum visits, off-the-record conversations with former diplomats, group dinners, and suggestions for exploring the sights of D.C. This will allow students not only to experience living and working in the city but also encourage them to appreciate all the cultural diversity and all the exciting cultural and educational opportunities – many of them free – available in the Capital area.
Nearly 150 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. These are just a few of the opportunities that alumni
have encountered after this program.
For more information:
(202) 293-6466
Megan@ncusar.org.
www.ncusar.org.