Internships and Careers

Career Fairs

The Center for Career and Experiential Education conducts annual career fairs where students are given the opportunity to network with employers. Information on upcoming career fairs can be found on the CCEE page.

Government Internship Opportunities

State of Rhode Island Government Internships

Students at the University of Rhode Island can apply for internships with the legislature and agencies of the State of Rhode Island. These internships are unpaid, however academic credit can be earned. Apply online through the the State of RI’s Government Internships page.

state of ri government internships

Note: Resume and cover letter are required on the application, but the letter of recommendation is not required on the application. You may provide references later. Students are encouraged to apply early because interviews and placements are done on a rolling basis, so an earlier application will give you a better set of options!

Research state agencies at www.ri.gov before you apply so that you can express your preferences.

Secretary of State for Rhode Island Summer Fellowship Program

The Secretary of State offers a paid fellowship during the summer. The application deadline was April 25 in 2021. In the Spring you will find a description and and link to the application here:
https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/civics-and-education/fellowship/

City of Providence Mayoral Internships and Fellowships

Unpaid internships have been available with the City of Providence in the past.
web-page. The Mayor’s office normally offers a paid summer fellow program. If the programs resume, information about the programs and application processes should be available through the link above.

Internships with the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation

Students at the University of Rhode Island can apply for internships at the Rhode Island and Washington, DC offices of our members in the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Descriptions of the available opportunities and online application links are available at the following websites:

Other Government Internships

Internships with the State of Massachusetts Government

The state of Massachusetts offers many internship opportunities. Check the State of Massachusetts website for more information.

Americorps

Americorp is a federal government program that was created as a means for Americans to serve local communities. You have probably heard of Teach for America, but there are many other programs, including summer opportunities. To learn more and start the application process, visit americorps.gov.

Arranging Credit for Internships and Other Career Planning Assistance at CCEE

Most government internships are unpaid, but you can earn credit – even for an out-of-state summer internship (for in-state tuition). The Center for Career and Experiential Education (CCEE) can help you with this! For more information, check out the CCEE website.

  • The Career Education Specialist for Economics students is Audra Lavoie. She can help you find private sector and government internships, create or edit your resume, and create or edit your cover letters. You can make an appointment with her through Starfish. 
  • Are you eligible for Work Study? If you would like to learn more about using your award to work for a government agency or a nonprofit, contact Amy Albert at aealbert@uri.edu!
    • Questions about the above? Please email Terri Devine at Theresa_Devine@uri.edu. Be sure to sign up to receive emails from the Economics Student Association (ESA) by sending an email to esa@rhodysenate.org.