Civic Leadership Fellowship Program
The Civic Leadership Fellowship Program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in an internship paired with coursework that focuses on local government and civic engagement.
Internship
Civic Leadership Fellows intern for at least 20 hours per week with an organization of their choosing based on their academic and professional interests. Procedurally, students apply and are accepted into the fellowship program. After acceptance, students are responsible for securing their own internship but receive support from the Initiative for Civic Leadership staff throughout the search process.
Academics
To structure and enhance a student’s experience during the internship, students are enrolled in at least 12 credit hours of coursework. This includes six credit hours of upper-division political science courses related to the internship and two three-credit-hour courses focusing on local government and civic engagement. This coursework will include seminars on professional development, guest speakers from local government and community organizations, and experiential learning opportunities.
Fellowship
Civic Leadership Fellows will have the opportunity to engage with faculty, students, and community leaders through a series of guest lectures and events. These opportunities allow fellows to build their professional networks and skill sets while completing the program. The program aims to foster community building within each cohort and across cohorts by encouraging active participation from alumni. Civic Leadership Fellows also make and maintain social and professional contacts that can help lead to continued internship opportunities and future employment after graduation.