An internship is still one of the best ways to land a full-time job.
Practicum, field placement, internship—no matter what you call it, work-based learning is a critical part of any student’s career preparation. Not only do these experiences introduce students to their chosen careers and help confirm or rule out job choices, they are the surest path to a full-time job. “Employers are more likely to convert interns to new hires than any other kind of positions,” says Saskia Campbell, executive director of University Career Services (UCS) at George Mason University. “That’s their recruitment strategy. That’s their pipeline.” And Campbell says George Mason students are in demand.
Beyond George Mason's job search platform, Handshake, students find internships by leveraging their personal connections and relationships with faculty who have close ties to federal agencies, government contractors, and nonprofit organizations in the Washington, D.C., area.
George Mason University Student Internships
July 29, 2024Livija Kaktaite started her journey at George Mason University in 2018 as an undergraduate global affairs major. This past May, she graduated with her master’s in international security from the Schar School of Policy and Government. During her time as a Patriot, she also played point guard and shooting guard on the women’s basketball team. Now as an alum, she continues to run up the hill—Capitol Hill.
April 5, 2024Practicum, field placement, internship—no matter what you call it, work-based learning is a critical part of any student’s career preparation. Not only do these experiences introduce students to their chosen career and help confirm or rule out job choices, they are the surest path to a full-time job.
March 18, 2024Schar School junior Minh-Dy Pham and senior Kalkidan Zewdu received the Partnership for Public Service Award, recognizing young leaders in federal government.
February 21, 2024Schar School senior Maaz Abbasi juggles full-time studies while working as a teaching assistant and legislative intern.
February 12, 2024The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Northern Virginia Node (CCI NoVa Node) is preparing for the third iteration of its Cybersecurity Traineeship Program, which offers a seven-week course to Virginia residents interested in pivoting into the cybersecurity sector followed by career support from George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College professionals.
January 12, 2024Open to all undergraduate and graduate Mason students, the Scholarship for Unpaid Internships offers a much-needed infusion of funding that can often mean the difference in allowing a student to take on a career advancement opportunity without compromising themselves financially.
November 7, 2023With a wide array of options, accounting students at the Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason University are able to choose the types of experiential learning that will best prepare them for their future careers.
October 18, 2023Collaboration between colleges has led to the creation of a unique autonomous surface water vehicle, collecting samples and reducing manual labor for researchers.-
September 28, 2023An innovative program to fund unpaid federal internships for Schar School students launches. Read more about the Federal Workforce Initiative.
September 15, 2023The Global Education Office's global internship program allows undergraduate and graduate students to learn more about their field and earn course credits with travel, virtual, and hybrid options during the summer, fall, spring, and winter terms.
September 7, 2023Kevynne Dimaano, English major, spent her summer interning with the Library of Congress where she developed a puzzle game based on early 20th century newspaper rebuses.
August 29, 2023George Mason University graduate student Yuhyun Sihn spent the summer studying political polarization through the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.
Handshake is Mason's job search site, where you can find on-campus, part-time, work-study, internships, and full-time jobs related to your major, interests, and skills. Log in with your Mason credentials and get started by completing your profile.
“Employers are more likely to convert interns to new hires than any other kind of positions.”
~ Saskia Campbell, executive director, George Mason University Career Services