The "Best and the Brightest” internship
program is an administrative internship program that partners
small and/or rural governmental jurisdictions in Colorado
with students seeking a Master’s Degree in Political
Science through the University of Colorado Denver’s
Center for NEW DIRECTIONS in Politics and Public Policy. The
program receives financial support and technical assistance
from the Colorado
Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). The 2006-2007
internships will begin in early January 2006.
The Best and the Brightest internship program offers students the unique opportunity
to gain familiarity with and participate in local government
operations in Colorado, and to contribute research on social,
environmental, and economic issues facing small and rural
communities in the American West while working toward completion
of a Master’s Degree
in Political Science with an area of emphasis in politics
and public policy. While the internship experiences differ
greatly, the two-year, full-time position with a local governmental
jurisdiction at the very least exposes each intern to a wide-range
of governmental operations. Interns are compensated for their
work with a salary and benefits packages of up to $30,000
per year (benefits packages vary among the jurisdictions).
Students are responsible for paying their own tuition.
No previous government experience is
required to be eligible for an internship. However,
prospective interns must submit an application packet that
demonstrates their potential to excel in the program, and must
successfully complete the prerequisite course Politics, Public
Policy, and Leadership. The tuition for the prerequisite course
was $775 in spring 2005. However, this is likely to increase
in the fall. Final tuition rates will not be available
until early July or later.
