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Frequently Asked Questions

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If you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to us at EducationalPrograms@CarterCenter.org.

FAQs

+Where is the internship/graduate assistantship located?

Our internships are hosted at the Carter Center headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.  At this time, our programs will be held fully in person. If you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to us at EducationalPrograms@cartercenter.org.

+Do you offer remote or hybrid internships/graduate assistantships?

No. At this time, all sessions will be held fully in person in Atlanta, Georgia. 

+How many hours per week are required for the internship?

Our internships are 20 hours per week. An intern's schedule is arranged with the supervisor and includes regularly scheduled blocks of time during normal business hours (e.g., four days of five hours each, five days of four hours each).

+How long is the internship?

The internship roughly follows an academic calendar. Interns are required to make a commitment of 15 weeks for the fall and spring. During the summer session, interns must make a 10-week commitment within a 13-week window.

+Are the internships compensated?

Yes. Interns will receive a stipend:

Spring: $4,500.00 (15 weeks)
Summer: $3,000.00 (10 weeks)
Fall: $4,500.00 (15 weeks)

+Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to apply?

No, you do not need to be a U.S. citizen to apply. However, you do need to have work authorization to intern in the United States. International students enrolled in U.S.-based colleges or universities are eligible with approval from your host institution. Please email EducationalPrograms@CarterCenter.org to check your eligibility before filling out an application.

+Can The Carter Center help me apply for a work visa?

Unfortunately, we cannot. The Carter Center internship is 20 hours of work per week, and the U.S. State Department requirement for a visa is 40 hours of work per week. For this reason, The Carter Center cannot assist in obtaining a visa.

+The program area for which I am interested in applying is not listed on the application. Is this a mistake?

No. If a program area is not listed as an internship/graduate assistantship preference, it means that program is not accepting interns or graduate assistants for that particular session.

+The application asks for a writing sample/pertinent academic paper 5 pages or less in length. Is it acceptable to submit a portion of a longer paper?

Yes, the writing sample submitted can be a portion of an academic paper that was written previously. If you choose to do so, please include a sentence at the top of the paper indicating that it is a truncated paper.

+When are transcripts due?

All transcripts must be received electronically or postmarked by the application deadline.

+If I have attended more than one university, which transcripts should I send?

We require transcripts from a current university as well as any university from which an applicant has received a degree.

+Will you accept an electronic transcript?

Yes. Most universities now offer secure, official, electronic copies of transcripts. Transcripts submitted in this way should be sent to the attention of Educational Programs at EducationalPrograms@cartercenter.org.

+Who can be a recommender?

A recommender should be a former teacher, professor, advisor, supervisor, or colleague. A recommender should not be a family member.

+When are letters of recommendation due?

Letters of recommendation are due one calendar week after the application deadline.

+My recommender did not receive the email, what happened?

Because the emails sent to recommenders are generated automatically by our online application system, they often get filtered into spam bins. You may wish to advise your recommender to monitor his/her spam box. You also may prompt our online application system to resend the email by logging in to your application and clicking the "resend" button next to your recommender's name.

+When will I be notified concerning the status of my application?

All candidates will be notified concerning the status of their applications no later than six weeks following the deadline.

+May I reapply if unsuccessful?

Yes, you may reapply as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. To reapply, a candidate will need to email Educational Programs at EducationalPrograms@cartercenter.org. Applications will be transferred to the session for the session for which he/she would like to be considered and revisions can be made prior to submitting the application by the deadline. Transcripts and letters of recommendation are held on file for up to one year.

+May I receive academic credit?

Yes. If an applicant's college or university offers academic credit for internships/graduate assistantships, The Carter Center will work with the school to match academic requirements with the requirements of the intern's/graduate assistant’s host program. Upon acceptance, necessary forms from the college or university should be submitted to the intern's/graduate assistant’s program supervisor as well as the Carter Center's Educational Programs office.

+Are there travel opportunities?

All internships and graduate assistantships are based in Atlanta, Georgia. Occasionally, opportunities arise for interns to travel with staff on Center-related trips (e.g., election-monitoring missions, domestic and international conferences, training workshops). Graduate assistants do not typically travel.

+Do you provide housing?

The Carter Center does not provide housing for interns or graduate assistants, but will provide information on available housing in staff and neighborhood resident homes, local apartment complexes, and the like. Educational Programs staff members are available to provide guidance during your adjustment to Atlanta.

+Who is eligible for the internship?

Candidates who have completed at least two years of study, recent graduates (graduated within 24 months of the internship start date), and graduate/professional students are eligible. For example, a qualified candidate within the United States will have a minimum of 60 credit hours earned toward a bachelor's degree at the start of the internship. There is no age limit. Still unsure? Take our Eligibility Quiz!

+ Is there an active alumni network?

Yes, many in our program form lifelong friendships. We also have an active alumni Facebook group for intern and graduate assistant alumni who choose to stay connected!

+Is it possible to work a part-time job while participating in the internship program?

Interns are required to work 20 hours per week. This means that it is possible for interns to work part-time jobs in addition to their internships.

+Who is eligible for the graduate assistantship?

In order to be eligible for an assistantship, applicants must be enrolled in a graduate or doctoral program throughout the duration of the assistantship. At the start of the assistantship, qualified applicants must have completed a minimum of two semesters of their academic coursework in a master's or post-master's level program.

+Are the graduate assistantships compensated?

Yes. Graduate assistants receive a stipend of $15/hour for 20 hours per week.

+How long is the graduate assistantship?

The graduate assistantship lasts anywhere from 9-12 months depending on the need of the program.

+How many hours per week are required for the graduate assistantship?

Graduate assistants are required to work 20 hours per week. A graduate assistant’s schedule is arranged with the supervisor when the session begins and includes regularly scheduled blocks of time during normal business hours. Graduate assistants should be at the Center in blocks of at least four hours.

+How do I contact Educational Programs?

Educational Programs
The Carter Center
453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
EducationalPrograms@cartercenter.org

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Internship Deadlines

Spring 2024
Application deadline: Oct. 16, 2023
Start date: Jan. 16, 2024


Summer 2024
Application deadline: March 1, 2024
Start date: May 21, 2024 (some flexibility allowed)


Fall 2024
Application deadline: June 17, 2024
Start date: Aug. 27, 2024

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