two interns walking down the capitol steps

Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program

Aggies impact policy!

The Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy (ANRP) Internship Program is one of the premier leadership opportunities in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. Through this program, students complete exciting, policy-focused internships in Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, and internationally with the FAO for a semester while earning academic credit.

By incorporating practical work experience in a professional environment, students are able to build on knowledge from previous coursework and prepare for life after graduation. Program participants emerge from their internship semester with knowledge and skills that will distinguish them from their peers. Most importantly, students learn to understand the policy process through hands-on experience, seeing firsthand how a single idea can develop into legislation that impacts their area of interest.

The Policy Internship Programs Office manages the ANRP Internship Program and the Public Policy Internship Program (PPIP), a sister policy program housed in the Office of the Provost and open to students of all majors at Texas A&M University. Program staff also manage the Public Policy Scholars Program (PPSP), a D.C.-based program in partnership with the Bush School of Government and Public Service and the Texas A&M University System Office of Academic Affairs. PPSP allows selected undergraduate students from across the Texas A&M University System to earn course credit while completing a semester-long public policy internship in Washington, D.C., paired with an enhanced academic experience.

35 by 35 Campaign

Honor 35 years of impact by giving $35 and help us reach our $35,000 goal to support the next generation of Aggie leaders.

Learn about the 35 by 35 Campaign

Internship Locations

Picture yourself there! Learn more about placement options and daily life in ANRP’s three internship cities.

Explore our internship locations

Become an ANRP Intern

Interested in becoming an ANRP intern? Learn more about the internship logistics and application requirements.

Learn how to apply

Six interns in maroon and white shirts smiling

Meet the ANRP Interns

Meet the best and brightest students from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as they bring their passion, expertise, and fresh perspectives to Washington, D.C.

Learn about the interns

About the ANRP Internship Program

Three interns talking near the Lincoln Memorial

Vision

To develop leaders of character dedicated to serving the greater good through policy.

Mission

The ANRP Internship Program is an academic service designated to help students obtain a policy-related internship in Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, or internationally with the FAO for course credit. During their internship, students will learn new skills, gain valuable inside knowledge about their professional future, and meet the people who will someday be their co-workers and professional supervisors.

Program Objectives

To provide opportunities for students to understand the policy-making process and how it can be applied, and relates, to agriculture and natural resources.
To enable students to develop personal and professional skills, explore career interests, and form networks.
To provide opportunities for students to evaluate and apply knowledge gained from academic coursework in a professional work environment.
To provide hosting offices with student interns who are interested in learning about agriculture and life sciences through practical work experience.

Learning Outcomes

Apply academic knowledge in a professional setting – The primary goal of an internship is to provide the student with the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to solve real problems in personal and professional settings.
Develop professionally relevant competencies and relationships in a professional setting – The student works together with the site supervisor to specify how the student plans to sharpen and develop new knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to serve effectively in a professional policy related setting. Students will use appropriate strategies and tools to represent, analyze, and integrate information while in the internship to develop reasonable positions. Additionally, relationships with the site supervisor and other professionals add to the student’s professional network.
Gain understanding of and exposure to the public policy process – The student is able to learn through formal training and on-the-job experiences the public policy process. The student is able to experience various aspects of the policy process through interactions with the site supervisor and other employees, as well as through interactions and meetings with customers, clients, and/or constituents.
Observe a diverse professional organizational culture and an understanding of professional etiquette – The student begins to understand the dynamics of an organization’s culture through observing and reflecting on how decisions are made, how work is structured, how power is shared, how colleagues interact, how an organization’s mission/vision are implemented, and to what degree accountability and feedback are present in the organization. This is accomplished in diverse (economic, political, cultural, religious, etc.) contexts. The student also practices proper business etiquette while fulfilling their internship responsibilities.
Clarify career goals and personal aspirations – The internship experience allows the student to put their knowledge and talents to practical use in preparation for a life of leadership and service to the greater good. The student is able to reflect on the internship experience and make connections between what the student understands about his or her giftedness and the needs of the profession the student is exploring through the internship experience.

35 by 35 Campaign

For 35 years, the ANRP Internship Program has launched Aggies into Washington, D.C. , Austin, TX, and abroad equipping students to lead, serve, and shape the future of agriculture and natural resources policy. Now, we’re celebrating this milestone with the 35 by 35 Campaign.

Your support ensures this legacy continues. Every gift, especially your $35 in honor of 35 years, directly enhances student experiences, housing, professional development, and mentorship opportunities. Together, we can keep opening doors for Aggies to make an impact for decades to come.

Give to the 35 by 35 Campaign

Program History

The ANRP Internship Program was established in the spring of 1990 by Dr. Ron Knutson, an agricultural economics professor and then director of the Agriculture and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University. Dr. Knutson was contacted by Congressman Greg Laughlin, who requested an intern with agricultural and natural resource knowledge who could help his office with these issues. From that single request, the ANRP Internship Program was established.

Now in our 36th anniversary, the ANRP Internship Program is proud of its approximately 1,300 alumni from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Since its inception, the program has enabled students to enhance their knowledge and leadership skills outside the classroom. It has proven invaluable in terms of practical work experience and personal growth, as well as its ability to provide career opportunities for hundreds of intern alumni.