About the Federal Fellows Program
Federal Fellows is a year-long program designed to equip University of Maryland undergraduate students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience necessary to become leaders in public service sector.
The program combines a fall seminar course taught by industry experts with professional development workshops, one-on-one resume and interview reviews, and federally-related events throughout the year. The program's mission: to prepare talented, diverse undergraduate students to excel in professional internships and pursue careers of influence and impact, especially in the public service sector.
The center of the program is a fall academic seminar on policy related to a specific theme, for example, homeland security, supported by additional coursework and a spring semester internship experience.
Directed by Dr. Joan Burton, the Federal Fellows Program aims to increase student involvement in and access to opportunities within the public service arena.
The University of Maryland is ideally suited for such a program, given our proximity to the nation’s capital and our faculty and administrators’ connections to global change-makers.
The program launched fall 2008, and currently offers four Federal Fellows tracks: Political Engagement and Advocacy, Energy and Environmental Policy, Public Health Policy and Homeland and National Security Policy.
Basic Components
- A three-credit fall seminar, based in domestic
policy is designed particularly for Federal Fellows participants.
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A spring internship in a foreign embassy office, federal agency,
international organization, or multinational corporation. The
internship credits vary from 3 to 9 credits, as appropriate
for each student. Students are responsible for securing their
internships; that said, much assistance and support will also be provided by the Federal Fellows staff.
- Two additional University of Maryland courses that supplement the seminar and internship by providing greater depth and context to the academic experience. At least one must be completed prior to the internship semester. Appropriate courses are offered across the university: For example, AREC 365, World Hunger; ECON 317, Global Economic Policies; ENES 472, International Business Cultures in Engineering and Technology; FMSC 110S, Families and Global Health; GEOG 130 Developing Countries; GVPT 305, Global Ecopolitics; HIST 142, Looking at America through a Global Lens. Students may count previously taken courses toward this requirement.
Additional Program Components
The program will host a number of additional activities and workshops throughout the academic year. Round table discussions and guest speakers will give students the opportunity to learn from each other and to discuss important international issues. These meetings will also provide opportunities for alumni to share insights and suggestions with students preparing for their internships.
A final academic showcase event at the conclusion of the year will bring students together for presentations of their work and to share their experiences. This event will feature a display of student posters and fliers describing and reflecting on their internship and program experiences . In addition to current and prospective students in the program, instructors, internship supervisors, University of Maryland administrators, and program alumni will be invited to attend.