The Texas A&M University Public Policy Internship Program (PPIP) and the Texas A&M University System Public Policy Scholars Program (PPSP) are designed to develop leaders of character dedicated to serving the greater good by providing students with hands-on experience in public policy careers. Students from various schools and majors can participate in public policy internships to discover the role policy plays in every industry. Program staff place students in policy-related internships domestically each semester - from the State Capitol in Austin during the state legislative session to our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C.
The programs offer students invaluable experiences that will shape their career trajectories and energize their academic pursuits, providing a 21st-century education as they witness their degree programs in action within the realm of policymaking.
Related Programs
Program staff also manage a related program that focuses solely on agricultural policy for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students, called the Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy (ANRP) Internship Program.
History
The Texas A&M University Public Policy Internship Program (PPIP) was established in 1999 by Dr. Ray Bowen, then president of Texas A&M University, to respond to society’s increasing interest and participation in public policy issues and programs. Since then, approximately 1300 Aggies have interned in Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, and various European Union locations. Today, the program is part of the Office of the Provost.
In 2024, the Public Policy Internship Program, in partnership with the Bush School of Government & Public Service and the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) Office of Academic Affairs, introduced a new system-wide program, the Public Policy Scholars Program. Through the Public Policy Scholars programs students from across all Texas A&M University System schools are able to participate in full time course work and part-time internships in Washington, DC during the Spring and Fall academic semesters. This expansion marks a significant milestone for policy internship programs and opportunities for students from all across Texas.
Both Capitol Hill and the Texas Legislature are hard-working, fast-paced, and extremely social environments that you won't fully understand without working in them. You will learn a lot, it will be a rewarding experience, and one internship could change the trajectory of your career.