Boren Scholarshi

Boren Scholarships provide American undergraduate 

students with the resources and encouragement 

they need to acquire skills and experiences in areas 

of the world critical to the future security of our 

nation. These scholarships offer up to $20,000 for an 

academic year abroad. 

Boren Fellowshi

Boren Fellowships provide U.S. graduate students 

the opportunity to add an international and language 

component to their graduate education through 

specialization in area study, language study, or 

increased language proficiency. The maximum award 

is $30,000 for up to two years of study. 

“Studying abroad as an NSEP awardee has given me a 

unique perspective on national security and opened my 

eyes to the IC’s need for individuals proficient in the less 

frequently studied languages and cultures.”

The Language Flagsh

The Language Flagship sponsors a network of 

26 undergraduate programs at 22 institutions of 

higher education across the U.S. that strives to 

graduate students of all majors with a professionallevel (Interagency Language Roundtable or ILR 

Level 3) proficiency in one of ten languages including 

Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, 

Russian, Swahili, Turkish and Urdu. The Language 

Flagship combines domestic language study with an 

overseas capstone experience that includes direct 

enrollment at overseas universities and internship 

placements that combine practical use of language 

with the student’s career interests.

Additional information on NSEP programs can be 

found at www.iie.org/nsep.

Students can contribute to the work of the nation 

before they graduate, as most of the IC organizations 

offer summer internship programs and some offer 

internships during the academic year. Some of the 

IC agencies also offer co-operative education 

programs, which are formal programs linking a 

student’s major with relevant work experience. 

Most of the co-op programs are for college-level 

students; however, NSA has a High School Wor

Study Program designed for students enrolled in

Business or Technical Computer classes and who 

plan to participate in a school-sponsored work 

experience program during their senior year. NSA’s 

Vo-Tech Program is designed for students enrolled

in printing/graphic arts or manufacturing classes 

who will be participating in a school-sponsored work 

experience program during their senior year. NSA also 

has a Gifted and Talented Program open to hig

school seniors who have demonstrated an aptitude for 

engineering, math and science and provides paid fulltime employment the summer after their senior year. 

Interns and co-op students engage in substantive, 

meaningful assignments while earning a competitive 

hourly wage and gaining valuable practical experience. 

Competition is particularly keen for these programs, 

with application deadlines six to nine months prior to 

the work period.

Applicants are expected to meet the same employment 

standards as permanent employees, including a 

background investigation for a security clearance. 

Foreign language skills, previous study or residency 

abroad, and military service are beneficial. Some 

agencies require medical examinations in addition to 

a background investigation. Unpaid internships are 

offered by a few agencies. For example, most of the 

internships at the Department of State and at the 

Federal Bureau of Investigation are unpaid.

For additional information on career 

opportunities within the US Intelligenc

Community, please visit www.intelligence.gov

INTELL

“My internship provided me with a sneak peek 

into the Intelligence Community and allowed 

me to preview a career I might not have 

otherwise thought about.”

“I could not have asked for a better internship 

opportunity, a better way to gain hands-on 

experience in the Intelligence Community, 

or a better way to start my career...”

13225490 | ID 11-13

Opportunitie

Programs (NSE

Tempo

O
We invite students who are U.S. citizens to “test 

drive” the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) through 

one of our student programs. We offer a ride like 

you have never experienced before. But you’ll need 

to plan ahead and apply early, have at least a 3.0 

GPA, undergo a background check, drug screening

and a polygraph. This is a great opportunity for 

you to check out the IC and for the IC to determine 

if you are a “fit”.

The IC is composed of 17 agencies. Check out our 

career website at www.intelligence.gov to learn more 

about these agencies. Each has a unique mission 

that you can support while you are still a student. All 

are dedicated to working collaboratively to protect 

our Nation’s security. There are many doors into 

the IC. Here are short descriptions of a number of 

different programs.

Students planning careers in the IC may wish 

to consider applying to colleges or universities 

participating in the C Centers for Acade

Excellence (CAE) programs. The CAE program

establishes long-term partnerships with universities 

through competitively awarded grants. Grantees

develop or enhance their curricula to build skill 

sets needed in the IC, host workshops and 

colloquia on national security or intelligence topics, 

and encourage foreign language proficiency and 

cultural awareness.

To learn more about the IC CAE, visit its website at 

www.dia.mil/cae.

Most IC agencies participate in the Pat Robert

Intelligence Scholars Program (PRISP) to recrui

and train individuals with skills in foreign languages, 

regional and cultural expertise, science, technology, 

engineering, mathematics and other areas critical 

to IC missions. PRISP funding can be used to pay 

hiring incentives, including reimbursement for prior 

educational expenses and hiring bonuses, or to fund 

additional education or training. PRISP recipients are 

required to serve a minimum of a year in the IC for 

each year of a PRISP award. Please consult the web 

site of the individual IC agencies for specifics on that 

agency’s program.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense 

Intelligence Agency (DIA), the National GeospatialIntelligence Agency (NGA) and the Nationa

Security Agency (NSA) provide scholarships for 

undergraduates. These programs are known by 

a variety of names—Undergraduate Training

Program, Stokes Educational Scholarshi

Program or Undergraduate Training Assistan

Program. This program targets high-potential

high school seniors and high-performing college 

sophomores majoring in areas critical to the mission 

of the participating agencies. Selectees receive a 

salary and full benefits, as well as tuition and other 

educational expenses. The service obligation for this 

program is one and one-half times the length of the 

funded educational program. Consult each agency’s 

website for specifics on their program. CIA also 

offers the Graduate Training Program (Gradua

Stokes Program) for students entering their first or

second year of graduate study. The service obligation 

is one and one-half times the length of the funded 

educational program.

The IC agencies that are part of the US Department 

of Defense also participate in specialized scholarship 

programs such as the Information Assuranc

Scholarship Program for students at NSA/DHSdesignated Centers of Academic Excellence in

Information Assurance Education (http://www.nsa.

gov/ia/academic_outreach/nat_cae/index.shmtl) 

and the Science, Mathematics and Research for

Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service 

Program for math, science, engineering, and other

critical technical skills (www.smart.asee.org).

In addition to programs sponsored by IC agencies, 

the National Security Education Program (NSE

sponsors a number of programs for the study of 

critical languages and foreign cultures. All funding 

for these programs requires award recipients to seek 

employment in the Federal Government and serve

for at least one year in the Departments of Defense, 

State, or Homeland Security or in an agency within 

the Intelligence Community or in another federal 

position with national security responsibilities.

“An IC internship is an 

excellent opportunity for 

students...it can provide 

valuable experience and, in 

many cases, lead to an offer 

of permanent employment.”

“My summer internship 

provided me with a challenging 

opportunity to contribute to, 

and better understand, the 

mission of my agency...”

“The IC has room for students with all types of 

backgrounds—it’s not limited to political science 

or government majors. My internship showed me 

how I could apply my background in biology to 

national security.”

Opportuniti