Blog Description

The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at UIC is the University of Illinois System's home for the study of public policy and contemporary urban challenges. We are CUPPA.

In the heart of Chicago, we offer degrees in fields of study that can change your life and change the world. CUPPA students and alumni are uniquely skilled to build and transform sustainable urban neighborhoods and communities and to address the challenges presented in the 21st century. Find our more about our Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees at cuppa.uic.edu.

Follow our student internships and student opportunities below. For post-graduation job postings head to the CUPPA Careers Blog or follow us at @CUPPACareers on Twitter.

Have a job or internship to post? Send an email with the title, location, job description, and contact information to cuppa@uic.edu.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Student Intern, Chicago Department of Planning, Chicago

Title: Student Intern

Type: Temporary
Location: Chicago
Pay: S
tarting Salary: $16.20 per hour

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is responsible for more than 4,100 miles of streets, 413 bridges and viaducts, 368 miles of on-street bikeways, over 300,000 streetlights, 7,400 miles of sidewalks, and 3,000 signalized intersections citywide. Our mission is to keep the city’s surface transportation networks and public way safe and accessible for all users, in a state of good repair, and to be responsive to local and citywide mobility and infrastructure needs.

 

This position will be based out of CDOT's Commissioner’s Office and the Division of Planning and Policy (DPP); the Commissioner sets strategic direction for the Department and DPP is responsible for long range planning and policy development. You will work directly with the Commissioner and other senior staff to perform policy and program analysis, research emerging transportation issues, develop policy priorities, analyze and manage CDOT’s engagement program, and other tasks as directed.


https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobdetail.ftl

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Housing Coordinator VISTA, Evanston IL

Title: Housing Coordinator VISTA

Type: Full-time, on-site
Location: Evanston, IL
Pay:
$1,000 monthly housing stipend in addition to the AmeriCorps Living Allowance

The Housing Coordinator VISTA will serve with the City of Evanston in Evanston, IL from August 2025-2026. The City of Evanston is part of Housing Action Corps, an AmeriCorps VISTA program managed by Housing Action Illinois since 2010. Housing Action Corps members receive custom training, support, and networking opportunities in housing and community development, in addition to the traditional benefits of AmeriCorps VISTA. Learn more: housingactionil.org/americorps. The City of Evanston’s vision is to create the most livable city in America. However, soaring housing costs threaten the vibrancy that makes Evanston such an attractive place to live. Housed in the City’s Community Development Department, the Housing Coordinator VISTA will increase the City’s collaboration with local and regional organizations, improve our communication with community members seeking housing assistance, and accelerate our data-driven approach to addressing the City’s housing needs. By strengthening our anti-displacement strategies and enhancing our production and preservation of affordable housing, this VISTA project will increase the long-term stability of our community members. Our ideal candidate is a self-starter who is collaborative and a relationship-builder. They should be an effective writer and communicator, data savvy, and demonstrate attention to detail. 

 

Lincoln Square Neighborhood Improvement Program Neighborhood Improvement Internship, Chicago

Title:  Lincoln Square Neighborhood Improvement Program Neighborhood Improvement Internship 

Type:  June 2025 – September 2025 (flexible start and end dates) 
Location: Chicago, IL
Pay:  Monthly stipend of $1,296 ($3,888 in total) 


This internship is ideal for urban planning, geography, or public policy students interested in gaining hands-on experience in placemaking, corridor planning, and community engagement within a real-world municipal and nonprofit setting. 


Apply here.

Monday, April 28, 2025

Seasonal Youth Program Assistant, Greater Chicago Food Depository - Chicago, IL

Title: Seasonal Youth Program Assistant
Type: Full-time, on-site
Location: Chicago, IL
Pay: $22/hr

Our Youth Program Assistant (temporary) will provide administrative, technical and outreach support for the summer meals program to help ensure children throughout Cook County have access to nutritious meals while school is not in session.

Apply here.

Intern, Zeta Charter Schools - *REMOTE*

Title: Family Outreach and Enrollment Intern

Type: Part-time 

Location: Remote

Pay: $16.50/hr

Zeta Summer Interns will have a strong work ethic, be extremely dependable, and be able to manage multiple tasks at once in a strategic, organized way. You will work with and learn from a team of mission-driven, high-achieving, passionate colleagues to help Zeta succeed in its mission to build and sustain high-performing schools that forge thriving communities of lifelong learners, problem solvers, and innovators.

 Apply here.

Seasonal Intern (Natural Areas), Chicago Park District - Chicago, IL

Title: Seasonal Intern - Natural Areas
Type: On-site
Location: Chicago, IL
Pay: $22/hr

Under direct supervision, performs ecological monitoring, natural areas assessment, and data collection and entry in support of the operation of an organizational unit on a temporary basis. Performs related duties as required.

Apply here.

Internship - City of Rolling Meadows, IL

Title: Intern

Type: Full- or part-time

Location: City of Rolling Meadows, IL

Pay: $15-20/hour

The City of Rolling Meadows, Illinois is hosting a paid full-time internship this summer for current undergraduate students with an interest in public administration, city management, urban planning, and related fields.

Apply here

Community Service Officer, Winnetka Police Department - Winnetka, IL

Title: Community Service Officer

Type: Part-time

Location: Winnetka, IL

Pay: $29-41/hr

The Winnetka Police Department seeks a part-time Community Service Officer. The Community Service Officer is a uniformed, civilian position that patrols public streets, alleys, parking lots, and parks to enforce Village ordinances and regulations, and performs administrative support for law enforcement functions not requiring the use of sworn officers.  This position enforces state and local parking regulations and animal ordinances, investigates reported animal bites and animal impoundment, directs traffic, and provides courier service for the Department. A significant component of this position is serving as a Crossing Guard to assist school-aged youth in crossing the street at assigned intersections.

Apply here.

Planning Intern - Glen Ellyn, IL

Title: Planning Intern
Type: Full-time, on-site
Location: Glen Ellyn
Pay: $20/hr

The Village of Glen Ellyn is seeking qualified candidates to fill a temporary, seasonal Planning Intern position to assist in the Community Development Department. The Planning Intern supports the daily activities of the Planning Division and works on a variety of projects related to planning, zoning, development, and related matters. The Planning Intern will interact with members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Architectural Appearance Commission, and the Plan Commission through presentations at public meetings. The internship provides opportunities for mentoring and exposure to complex community planning efforts.

Apply here.

Rep. Guzzardi Summer Internship - Chicago, IL

Title: Community Outreach Intern
Type: Part-time (15 hrs/week)
Location: Chicago, IL
Pay: $20/hour

Do you know a high school or college student in the 39th District who is passionate about making a difference in their community, who is interested in local government, policy, and community organizing? 

I’m excited to announce that my office is now accepting applications for a Community Outreach Intern for the summer, from June 9 through August 15. 

Apply here.