Jump to HeaderJump to Main ContentJump to Footer
Michigan State University
Michigan State University
James Madison College
  • Current Students
  • Future Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Apply
  • Give
  • Visit

James Madison College

  • About
    • About Overview
    • Office of the Dean
    • Why JMC
    • Faculty & Staff Directory
    • History
    • Awards
    • 2030 Strategic Plan
    Group of students standing and smiling outside with their arms around each other's shoulders.

    What is a residential college and what makes JMC unique?

    Learn More
  • |
  • Academics
    • Academics Overview
    • Majors & Minors
    • Advising
    • Degree Checklists
    • Internships
    • Education Abroad
    • Research Opportunities
    • Student Handbook
    JMC student wearing a white blazer posing in front of the Washington Capitol building.

    Want to learn more about JMC's field experience requirement?

    More info
  • |
  • Admissions
    • Admissions Overview
    • Apply Now
    • Visit JMC
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Scholarships
    • Admitted Students
    • Contact
    JMC student posing with a polka dot statue to a dog during a summer study abroad program.

    Hear from current students and recent alums about their experiences at JMC.

    Watch on YouTube
  • |
  • Research
    • Undergraduate Research
    • Faculty Research
    • Madison Academic Research Tutorials
    • Senior Honors Thesis
    • Independent Study
    This image shows a group of student participants of James Madison College's Human Rights Data Science Lab.

    Research Spotlight: Human Rights Data Science Lab

    Learn more about the lab
  • |
  • Resources
    • Student Resources
    • Advising
    • Career Services
    • Writing Center
    • Scholarships
    • Faculty & Staff Resources
    A group of Madison students posing together during the annual Career Exposure program.

    Explore career paths during and after college with JMC's Career Services team.

    Learn more
  • |
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Giving
    • Alumni
    • Join the JMC Alumni Association
    Group of James Madison college graduates clapping and smiling during the college's annual commencement ceremony.

    Your gifts directly support student success at James Madison College.

    Give Now
  • |
  • News & Events
    • Events
    • News
    James Madison College student participating in a classroom discussion while classmates work on laptops during a university lecture.

    Visit James Madison College during Fall Visit Days beginning in September!

    View event info
James Madison College
  • About
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Research
  • Resources
  • Alumni & Giving
  • News & Events

< About

  • About Overview
  • Office of the Dean
  • Why JMC
  • Faculty & Staff Directory
  • History
  • Awards
  • 2030 Strategic Plan
Group of students standing and smiling outside with their arms around each other's shoulders.

What is a residential college and what makes JMC unique?

Learn More

< Academics

  • Academics Overview
  • Majors & Minors
  • Advising
  • Degree Checklists
  • Internships
  • Education Abroad
  • Research Opportunities
  • Student Handbook
JMC student wearing a white blazer posing in front of the Washington Capitol building.

Want to learn more about JMC's field experience requirement?

More info

< Admissions

  • Admissions Overview
  • Apply Now
  • Visit JMC
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Scholarships
  • Admitted Students
  • Contact
JMC student posing with a polka dot statue to a dog during a summer study abroad program.

Hear from current students and recent alums about their experiences at JMC.

Watch on YouTube

< Research

  • Undergraduate Research
  • Faculty Research
  • Madison Academic Research Tutorials
  • Senior Honors Thesis
  • Independent Study
This image shows a group of student participants of James Madison College's Human Rights Data Science Lab.

Research Spotlight: Human Rights Data Science Lab

Learn more about the lab

< Resources

  • Student Resources
  • Advising
  • Career Services
  • Writing Center
  • Scholarships
  • Faculty & Staff Resources
A group of Madison students posing together during the annual Career Exposure program.

Explore career paths during and after college with JMC's Career Services team.

Learn more

< Alumni & Giving

  • Giving
  • Alumni
  • Join the JMC Alumni Association
Group of James Madison college graduates clapping and smiling during the college's annual commencement ceremony.

Your gifts directly support student success at James Madison College.

Give Now

< News & Events

  • Events
  • News
James Madison College student participating in a classroom discussion while classmates work on laptops during a university lecture.

Visit James Madison College during Fall Visit Days beginning in September!

View event info
  • Current Students
  • Future Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Apply
  • Give
  • Visit

Scholarship applications are now open to JMC students enrolled in MC 400 and completing internships in the Fall 2026 Semester. Learn more and submit your application by Sept. 5 via Qualtrics.

Students completing public policy-related internships are also invited to apply to the Gordon and Norma Guyer Public Policy Scholarship by Sept. 8. View application details on our Funding Your Internship page.

James Madison College > Academics > Field Experience >

Internships

Internships

  • Search the Field Experience Database
  • International Internships
  • Funding Your Internship
  • Internship FAQs
  • Field Experience Guide

Internships

About

  • About Overview
  • Office of the Dean
  • Awards
  • 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Faculty & Staff Directory

Academics

  • Academics Overview
  • Majors & Minors
  • Advising
  • Study Abroad
  • Internships
  • Research

Admissions

  • Admissions Overview
  • Apply
  • Contact Admissions
  • Visit James Madison College

Faculty & Staff

  • College & University Committees
  • JMC Zoom Directory
  • Resources & Policies

Alumni & Giving

  • Giving to JMC
  • Alumni
  • Alumni Association

Students

  • Resources
  • Career Services
  • Health & Wellbeing

Contact us

517-353-6750

Address

Case Hall 842 Chestnut Road East Lansing MI 48825

Releases and Statements

Follow Us

  • Visit our Facebook page
  • Visit our Instagram page
  • Visit our LinkedIn page
  • Visit our YouTube page

If you're having accessibility issues, please let us know.

Know More: Campus Safety Information and ResourcesTransparency Reporting: Budget & Salary/Compensation
  • Contact Information|
  • Site Map|
  • Privacy Statement|
  • Site Accessibility|
  • Call MSU: (517) 355-1855|
  • Visit: msu.edu|
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination|

SPARTANS WILL|© Michigan State University|

The internship pathway is the most common way Madison students fulfill their field experience requirement. The internship program connects students with meaningful professional opportunities where they can apply classroom knowledge to real-world public affairs challenges.

Madison internships are designed to place students in decision-making roles or close enough to observe and comment on decision-making processes intelligently.

Career Impact

Many Madison graduates credit their internships with helping to launch their careers. Students regularly:

  • Receive full-time job offers from their internship organizations
  • Build professional networks that open doors for years to come
  • Gain practical skills that complement their academic training
  • Clarify their career interests and post-graduation plans

Where Our Students Intern

JMC's Field Experience Database (MSU login required) includes listings with state and federal agencies, local governments, legislative offices, public interest and advocacy groups, legal aid societies and law firms, courts, social service agencies, businesses, newspapers, labor unions, and voluntary organizations. 

Inclusion of any internship opportunity listed on the Field Experience Database or any JMC website does not constitute MSU’s/JMC's endorsement or support of any candidate, party, or ballot measure.

Location Flexibility: Internships are available throughout the U.S. and internationally, giving students the opportunity to work in Washington D.C., state capitals, major cities or abroad.

Explore the Database
A photo of the Michigan State Capitol building.

Recent JMC Internships

In the video below, JMC students share some of the places they've completed internships in East Lansing, Michigan and across the U.S.

Video Thumbnail

Application Process & Timeline

Planning Ahead: Students should begin exploring internship options during their sophomore and junior years through our Field Experience Database.

Required Meeting: All students must meet with Field Experience Coordinator Lauren Michalak at least two full semesters before their planned internship semester.

Custom Opportunities: With coordinator guidance and approval, students may also pursue internships not listed in our database, provided they meet our standards for substantive professional experience.

Program Requirements

All Madison students pursuing the internship pathway must complete:

  • MC 400 (3-9 credits, pass/no pass) - The internship experience (taken while completing internship)
  • MC 401 (3 credits, pass/no pass) - Academic reflection component (primarily taken after completion of internship/MC 400)

Students spend at least three months (typically one full semester) in an internship role during their junior or senior year.

This photo shows Madeline Chryczyk posing in front of a background of blurred bookshelves in the JMC Library.

Student View: Interning at the Michigan State Capitol

In a recent Student View, Madeline Chryczyk (IR '25) shares her reflections from her time as an intern at the Michigan State Capitol.

Read More

Student View: How global health work redefined my mission

Jasnoor Kaur (SRP and Neuroscience '26) recently had the opportunity to live and work in two of the most intellectually rich cities globally: Paris and Oxford. These experiences help shape her view of empathy and path for the future.

Read Story
JMC student Jasnoor Kaur pictured smiling outside in Oxford, UK, in front of storefront windows.

Ready to start your internship search? 

Contact Field Experience Coordinator Lauren Michalak (or make an appointment via SIS) to explore opportunities and begin planning your professional experience. During the academic year, students can meet with Lauren for drop-in advising on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in 329 South Case Hall.