Carnegie Mellon University

MS IRP student Jordyn GilliardMS IRP student Jordyn Gilliard

Dip your toes in the waters of the working world and apply what you've learned with an internship.

The internship provides insight and networking opportunities, and helps students narrow down the fields that they would like to pursue after graduation. Ideally, students can utilize their internship experience to inform their graduate thesis that will be completed in the spring of the final year in the MS IRP.

Industry  Employer Position Location
Consulting Accenture Security Analyst Atlanta, GA
Intelligence   Dataminr  Cyber Risk Domain Expert Seattle, WA
Intelligence   Defense Intelligence Agency Intelligence Officer Washington, DC
Intelligence   Department of Defense Analyst Washington, DC
PhD/Law School Georgetown University Law School Law Student Washington, DC
Intelligence   Maxar, Applied Mission Innovation Intelligence Analyst Washington, DC
Research Middle East Institute Program Associate Washington, DC
Consulting S-RM Consulting International Security Consultant Washington, DC
Education Saga Education Tutoring Fellow Chicago, IL
Government US Senate, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Legislative Correspondent Washington, DC
Law Ross & Hill, PLLC Paralegal New York, NY
Industry  Internship Organization Location
Advocacy Ameriinfo Vets Germantown, MD
Government Attorney General of Baltimore Campaign Baltimore, MD
Law Bonina and Bonina, P.C. New York, NY
Government Bronx District Office of Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) New York, NY
Research CERT, Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University- Cyber Risk and Resilience Intern Pittsburgh, PA
Law Constantinople and Vallone LLC New York, NY
Research Council on Foreign Relations New York, NY
Government Department of Transportation Washington, DC
Research Hudson Institute, Center for Political-Military Analysis Washington, DC
Research Institute for the Study of War Washington, DC
Government Office of Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC 6th District)- Leadership Office (Majority Whip) Washington, DC
Government Office of the Mayor of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA
Government Office of US Senator Paul Strauss (D-DC/Shadow) Washington, DC
Research Pacific Council on International Policy Los Angeles, CA
Research Potomac Institute for Policy Studies:  International Center for Terrorism Studies (ICTS) Arlington, VA
Research RAND Corporation Pittsburgh, PA
Government Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) Washington, DC
Research The Organization for World Peace Pittsburgh, PA
Research University of Pittsburgh Matthew B. Ridgway Center for International Security Studies Pittsburgh, PA

An intern informing change

The truth matters to Jordyn Gilliard. Eventually, she would like to work at the United Nations, using her communications skills to facilitate the spread of factual information.

“There’s so much of, no one believes anything that’s online now,” said Gilliard, a member of the Institute for Politics and Strategy’s Master of Science in International Relations and Politics program. “My goal is to make sure that everything is truthful and accurate.”

In 2021, Gilliard completed the first year of the two-year Master’s program, which seeks to train the next generation of political scientists to examine and understand government institutions and processes in the twenty-first century’s continuously changing global political structure. That summer, she interned at The Borgen Project, an advocacy organization that lobbies the US government to make poverty a priority in its foreign policy agenda.

After majoring in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations at Chatham University, Gilliard planned to take a year off before graduate school, but the pandemic changed her plans. The combination of the subject matter and location attracted her to the International Relations and Politics master’s degree, and she enjoyed her American Politics Graduate Seminar with Dr. Jonathan Cervas.

“We just learned so much of what I didn’t know during undergrad,” she said. “My minor was in Political Science, and even then, I feel like we didn’t go in depth as much as I do now at CMU.”

Gilliard is absorbing the experience at The Borgen Project. She wrote her first article on the impact of the COVID vaccine in Malta. She also lobbies state and local elected officials, calling their offices to advocate for bills that have stalled in the legislature. She is looking forward to her US Grand Strategy course in the fall, as well as the International Organizations and International Law class, but most importantly, she can’t wait to get on campus to participate in person. 

“I really enjoy the program,” she said. “I’m looking forward to meeting everyone soon, hopefully.”

Alumni Perspectives

"The greatest impact that the Master's program had on me was the opportunity to work in-depth with leading researchers in a small class setting. The opportunity to work one-on-one with the faculty in IPS has given me a greater attention to detail that I employ every day in a fast-paced government environment."

Robert Stephens (MS IRP, 2018)
US Department of Defense, Analyst

"My international relations degree at CMU was unmatched in the way that it pushed us to achieve and perform at extremely high levels, and the level of rigor that it required to be successful. We had the opportunity to work with some extremely accomplished and attentive faculty and develop long lasting relationships that I look forward to maintaining throughout my life."

Raaga Kalva (MS IRP, 2019)
Defense Intelligence Agency, Intelligence Officer
Read Raaga's Alumni Spotlight!

"The graduate program was the perfect opportunity to explore a subject matter focus prior to law school. The professors were especially impactful in shaping and inspiring my career goals."

Alex Pasch (MS IRP, 2018)
Georgetown University Law School, Student
Read Alex's Alumni Spotlight!

"I am very excited to see the program expanding and continually becoming better. Being in the MS IRP program allowed me to gain great subject matter information as well as important skills developed by the coursework as well as the thesis process that I continue to use. The new curriculum and expansion have made this already impactful program even more comprehensive and exceptional." 

Kellen Carleton (MS IRP, 2019)
Accenture, Security Analyst
Read Kellen's Alumni Spotlight!

Carnegie Mellon provides current students support and opportunities for finding and securing summer internships. This includes the following resources: 

Career and Professional Development Center

Technology Consulting in the Global Community offers summer internships globally to graduate and undergraduates, minimal technological expertise needed

IPS also provides individualized advising through both the Pittsburgh and DC offices. MS IRP students are encouraged to reach out to the Graduate Program Manager in the fall semester of their first year to discuss internship opportunities and develop a timeline for applications.

In addition, IPS is proud to partner with the following organizations offering summer internships to qualified MS IRP students:

There is funding available to support unpaid or low-paying internships. Students are encouraged to apply to: