Paid Internships
Review each paid summer internship opportunity below by visiting the websites to determine if you could benefit from these types of internships. If you are interested in applying for any of these opportunities, plan early. Begin gathering information and developing your application six to nine months before the application is due. The Office of Workplace Learning offers workshops to assist students in preparing competitive applications. Go to Workshop Dates to register to attend the session(s) that interest you.
Local and Regional Internships
The City of San Antonio Ambassador Internship Program is a summer internship program for currently enrolled college students. Interns are exposed to professional opportunities and innovative career paths through paid internships, Peer-to-Peer networking sessions, and community service projects. Interns work at government entities, non-profit agencies, and private organizations to gain experience in high-demand occupations in an effort to attract San Antonio’s graduating professionals to career opportunities within the local community. This program is limited to the city of San Antonio residents. Applications are due in March. https://www.sanantonio.gov/humanservices/educationservices/ambassadorprogram |
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers interns the opportunity to gain practical experience across our divisions including Law Enforcement, Wildlife, Communications, State Parks, Infrastructure, Coastal Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Executive Office. The TPWD values differences between people who have various backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and cultures. This internship program upholds this value and emphasizes exposing women and minorities to career opportunities and training in natural and cultural resource fields. Applications are due between October and March. |
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Internships
HACU provides a one-application approach to apply for several corporate or federal agency internship opportunities. HACU seeks the best and the brightest to fill their many internship opportunities to develop the next generation of dedicated public servants and business leaders. HACU offers a number of other opportunities for college students looking to develop leadership skills. HACU internships are offered across the country and in the Washington DC area. Students do not have to be Hispanic to apply and be offered an internship. Application is due in February. |
Federal Government Pathways Internships
The Federal Government Pathways internship program is designed to provide college students with paid opportunities to work in a federal agency and explore careers with the federal government. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for the conversion to a permanent job in the civil service. Internship positions from science research, IT, accounting, editing, and administrative support are available with the federal government. These positions are available across the country and will likely require relocating, although occasionally positions are available in the San Antonio area. Applications are due between December and early March. https://www.usajobs.gov/help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/students/ |
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates
The National Science Foundation, a federal government agency, funds research experience opportunities for undergraduate students through its Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) sites throughout the country. An REU site consists of a group of approximately 10 college students who work in the research programs of the university hosting the REU program. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where they work closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Students participating as an REU researcher must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU site may be in the United States or abroad. You can search the close to 700 REU sites, and read descriptions of the type of research they conduct to learn more. Currently, there are no REU sites in San Antonio, although there are about 50 sites in the state of Texas. Application due between December and March. |
Alamo Colleges CIMA
The Alamo Colleges CIMA Project, funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to increase the number of underrepresented students who attain bachelor’s degrees in STEM. All of the five Alamo Colleges participate in the CIMA Project which provides peer and faculty mentorship, tutoring, supplemental instruction, STEM student incubator, and paid undergraduate research opportunities during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Interested students should visit their college CIMA webpage for details on applying for paid research opportunities located in San Antonio. Summer application is due in February. |
After reading about each type of internship and reviewing their website, compare and contrast the internships using the table below.
Local/Regional |
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City of SA Ambassadors |
Texas Parks and Wildlife |
Federal Government |
HACU |
NSF/REU & CIMA |
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Setting |
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City of San Antonio | Administrative or at State Park | Federal Agency | Federal Agency or a National Corp | University Campus |
Location |
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San Antonio | Austin or anywhere in TX | Anywhere in the US | Anywhere in the US | Anywhere in the US, or abroad |
Length |
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8-10 weeks | 8-10 weeks | 8-10 weeks | 8-10 weeks | 8-10 weeks |
Benefit |
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Gain work experience; Could lead to other internships or job offer | Gain work experience; Could lead to other internships or job offer | Could lead to a permanent position with the government | Gain work experience; May lead to other internships or job offer | Builds resume for university application; May lead to other research |
GPA |
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2.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 |
Classification |
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Sophomore | 18 Hours | Any | 24+ Hours | Any |
Majors Sought |
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All | All | All | All | STEM |
Requires Moving |
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No | Yes | Most Likely | Yes | Yes |
Relocation Paid |
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N/A | Some housing at parks | Not Likely | Yes, Some | Yes, Most |
Documents Required |
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Workshops Offered |
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January/February | January | August and January |
August and January |
August and January |
Contact Us
Phone: 210-485-0142 |
Email: |