Summary The U.S. Department of State Student Internship is a paid experience offering U.S. citizen students and veterans a chance to participate in the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Responsibilities The Department of State provides student interns and veterans with educational and professionally substantive opportunities. The purpose of the program is to provide students and veterans with insight into the work of U.S. foreign policy and the U.S. Department of State and its diplomatic facilities around the world. Specific duties and responsibilities vary according to the domestic office or overseas assignment. Former Department of State Interns have written congressionally mandated reports, participated in negotiations, assisted with U.S. citizens services or visa work, helped coordinate international conferences and visits of high-level officials, done economic research, monitored and evaluated media reporting, and identified U.S. experts to speak overseas. Other examples include interns with scientific and technical backgrounds working on issues such as arms control, infectious diseases, and remote sensing. Students and veterans interested in management and administration may use their expertise working on projects involving budgets, human resources, information systems, or general logistical support to posts abroad. Interns may be required to do some routine administrative work. Applicants must identify the semester in which they wish to apply. Interns are required to work 40 hours per week and attend a standard-setting mandatory orientation in Washington D.C. to successfully complete the internship. The program covers reasonable travel expenses to and from the orientation and the internship location. Requirements Conditions of Employment To qualify you must: Be a United States citizen at the time of application. Be at least 18 years old at the time of application. Be able to receive and maintain a Secret security clearance. Have not previously participated in the U.S. Department of State's Student Internship Program, U.S. Foreign Service Internship, or Foreign Service Fellowship Program. Be able to show proof of medical insurance during the time of the internship, including the time of travel to and from the location of the internship and international insurance coverage if placement is overseas. Assume responsibility for covering personal medical and health-related expenses during the internship, including maintaining appropriate health insurance coverage. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet one (1) of the following eligibility criteria. Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application materials that they satisfy at least one of the eligibility pathways outlined below: Option 1 - Current Undergraduate Student Be enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college or community college. Have completed at least 60 credit hours by the start of the internship. Be enrolled at least part-time at the time of application (breaks in enrollment of up to five months are permitted). Be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.2 GPA. Option 2 - Current Graduate Student Be enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited institution. Be enrolled at least part-time at the time of application (breaks in enrollment of up to five months are permitted). Be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.2 GPA. Option 3 - Recent Graduate Have graduated from an accredited undergraduate or graduate program within two years of the internship start date. Have earned a minimum 3.2 GPA. Option 4 - U.S. Military Veteran Be a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. Possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Have served on active duty (for any length of time) within the two years preceding the internship start date. Qualifications Please see the "Requirements" and "How you will be evaluated" sections for a list of qualifications. Education Please see the "Requirements" section. Additional Information IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON SECURITY CLEARANCES: The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) advises that routine SECRET level clearances normally require 120 to 150 days to complete. Investigations may take substantially longer if you have a history of extensive overseas travel, education, residence and/or employment; or if you have dual citizenship, foreign contacts, immediate family, relatives, and/or a spouse or partner who is a citizen of a foreign country. In addition, if DS identifies a security, suitability, or medical issue, your investigation may require additional time to process and review. These issues could include, but are not limited to, a current or past history of drug or alcohol abuse, indications of a mental or emotional health condition, or indications of financial problems. You should consult the Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Information (https://www.state.gov/security-clearances) to review how these considerations could affect your application. Such issues may not necessarily preclude DS from granting you a security clearance, but they will likely lengthen the time required to complete the clearance process. We cannot guarantee that every potential intern will obtain a security clearance before the start of an internship, if at all. Because the timeframe between conditional selection for an internship and entry on duty is relatively short (two to four months), DS may not be able to adjudicate a non-routine case in time for the student to participate in the scheduled internship. In addition, if an applicant has strong foreign ties to a particular country, approval for an internship in that country may not be granted. Therefore, we encourage students to seek internship assignments in countries where they do not have substantial foreign ties. It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all its employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination. Hiring decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, and the needs of the service, without regard to non-merit factors such as race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION - The U.S. Department of State provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Office of Employee Relations, Disability/Reasonable Accommodations Division, at (202) 261-8163 or reasonableaccommodations@state.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. This position is not an appointment. Participants are considered federal employees. Any description of "excepted service" within this vacancy announcement is intended solely for categorization on the USAJOBs website and should not be construed as providing any rights or benefits in accordance with that appointment @type.
