Cal-in-Sacramento Fellowship

Students pose outside California State Capitol with text "Cal-in-Sacramento, Preparing California's future leaders for public service""

Applications for the 2024 Cal-in-Sacramento Fellowship program are now closed

Cal-in-Sacramento is one of the University of California’s largest and most prestigious campus-based public service internship programs. For the past five decades, hundreds of Cal students have gone to Sacramento under our auspices to gain first-hand experience in the most dynamic state capital in the country. Many of these students have gone on to careers in politics, government, and public service.

Program Overview

  • Cal-in-Sacramento Fellows enroll in a 3-unit course (PS 110B) during the spring semester.

  • Fellows move to Sacramento in late May and complete an 8-week summer internship in the offices of Senate and Assembly members, the Governor's Office, state agencies, think tanks, or nonprofit organizations.

  • Fellows conduct original research over the summer and produce a research product (research brief, op-ed, blog post, etc.).

  • The program provides Fellows with free shared housing during the 8-week Sacramento residency, as well as a free Sacramento RT Light Rail pass so they can travel to and from work, and a modest stipend for living expenses.

Eligibility

  • Open to all majors and years, including freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors who will graduate in May 2025, as well as transfer students.
  • Students are required to enroll in a 3-unit course (PS 110B) during the spring semester and complete all course requirements as outlined in the syllabus.
  • This is a fully in-person program; 2025 Fellows must be enrolled at UC Berkeley in Spring 2025.

Program Dates

Cal-in-Sacramento is a 7-month Fellowship (January to July). During the spring semester, students receive academic instruction on topics related to California politics and policy, develop their original research proposal, and prepare for and apply to internships. During the summer, Fellows move to Sacramento to complete their summer internship and conduct original research.

Spring 2024Summer 2024
January 2024: PS 110B commences; 1-on-1 resume feedbackMay 27, 2024: Move to Sacramento
February 2024: Apply to internshipsMay 28, 2024: Internships begin
March 15, 2024: Field trip to Sacramento for in-person interviewsJuly 18, 2024: Internships end
April 2024: Secure offers and commit to a summer internship placementJuly 20, 2024: Move out of program housing in Sacramento
April 26, 2024: Research proposal dueJuly 2024: Final research product due

Is this program right for me?

  • Cal-in-Sacramento is designed for Berkeley students who are beginning their public service journey and are seeking additional career preparation through hands-on training and professional experience.

  • Fellows receive highly structured support applying for internships. While Fellows can request to apply for an internship outside the Cal-in-Sacramento network, all internship sites must be negotiated and approved by the program staff, and Fellows are encouraged to work within the existing network.

  • Fellows can intern in any non-partisan public service organization, including both government and non-government/non-profit organizations.