Internship Program Overview
The Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS) Program provides graduate and undergraduate students with guidance towards the successful completion of an internship with agencies active in Emergency Management, Domestic Preparedness, Intelligence, and National Security.
Using our close working relationships with the local, state, and federal agencies, our program coordinators assist in identifying internship opportunities based on student interest and location preferences. These internships may be highly competitive. To maintain our strong relationships with host agencies, EMHS interns are evaluated prior to placement using the highest intellectual and professional standards expected of anyone representing our program and Florida State University.
Those interested in an internship should contact us 1-3 semesters prior to the desired internship. Our Internship Coordinator is Sierra Perna.
Professional Pathways Seminar Series
Participation in our internship programs requires the student’s successful completion of our seminar series, Professional Pathways in Emergency Management. Completion of the series does not guarantee an internship placement, however not enrolling may preclude students from some of our more competitive opportunities.
While much of our professional development instruction is applicable to all fields, EMHS also offers path-specific guidance to ensure students reach their goals. Internship paths are detailed below, including information on when students should enroll and what prerequisites should be completed.
Emergency Management. Students primarily interested in emergency management are placed in internships with the State of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, county emergency management offices, with FEMA or other federal agencies, or even in the private sector. These internships are generally offered every semester. Professional Pathways should be taken one to two semesters prior to interning, and should be preceded by PAD 4391/5397 Foundations in Emergency Management or PAD 4393/5398 Emergency Management Programs, Planning, and Policy.
Intelligence and Homeland Security. Students pursuing the intelligence and homeland security path are placed in internships with local law enforcement homeland security functions, federal intelligence agencies, military combatant commands, local intelligence units, and state preparedness agencies. These internships are offered either every semester or every summer, depending on the organization. Professional Pathways should be taken one to three semesters prior to interning, and should be preceded by PAD 4842/5849 U.S. Intelligence Policy or PAD 4841/5896 U.S. Intelligence Analysis and Communication.
Specific internship opportunities may have different requirements.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Students who intern through the unmanned aircraft systems path are placed in internships with the Florida Division of Emergency Management Air Operations Branch, regional Florida task forces around the state, and private companies. These internships are offered less regularly, but with at least one open every semester. Professional Pathways should be taken one semester prior to interning and should be preceded by PAD 4075/5079 UAS in Emergency Management and PAD 4072/5078 Applications of UAS.
The seminar will meet every Wednesday from 1:20-2:10. This is a 1 credit hour course (information can be found via course look up on my.fsu.edu) and requires instructor permission to enroll. If you are interested please reach out to Sierra Perna.
Disaster Intelligence Analysis Laboratory (DIAL)
Student analysts in DIAL utilise Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques to gather intelligence and produce reports that can be used by stakeholders for decision making purposes. Operating on FSU’s campus in the Bellamy building, the DIAL lab is set up to function as a fusion center with live monitoring of social media networks and other sources of OSINT. This combination of academic research and working with public safety officials offers students exclusive practical experience in the intelligence field. Students who would like to learn more about the opportunity to work in DIAL should contact Sierra Perna, our Student Outreach Coordinator.
If you would like to apply for an internship in DIAL, please complete the form below. A staff member will contact you after reviewing your application.
If the form requires a password, then applications are currently closed. In general, applications are open at the beginning and end of each semester. Follow EMHS on social media for more specific application dates.