As part of the US Intelligence Community, the National Security Agency (NSA) focuses on signals intelligence, which involves the interception of communication signals between people, machines, or both. NSA is the undisputed leader in this field. Our signals intelligence activities are never directed at American citizens. Cybersecurity is our other specialty, which is all about protecting American systems from prying eyes.
What is our mission? The most simple, concise answer is that we are here to SAVE LIVES. We never want another 9/11. That’s our biggest, most important, most vital mission.
Here are a few NSA opportunities for your students to consider:
- Summer Language Program Internship: Spend 12 weeks this summer working as a language analyst at NSA. The summer 2025 program is hiring students with proficiency in Mandarin Chinese, Persian Farsi, and Arabic, but other languages are considered on a case-by-case basis. The application is open September 1st through October 1st. Note: There is only one job ad for all the summer internships. Applications also require one letter of recommendation, so don’t wait until October 1st to apply!
- Cooperative Education Program (Co-Op) for Language: Students in this program will alternate semesters between college and working at NSA as a language analyst. Students can apply for the Co-Op Program starting their second semester Freshman year or during their Sophomore year. Application period is open from September 1st to October 31st and from February 1st to March 31st.
- NSA Codebreaker Challenge: The NSA Codebreaker Challenge provides students with a hands-on opportunity to develop their reverse-engineering / low-level code analysis skills while working on a realistic problem set centered around the NSA's mission. The challenge will open September 16th and run through January 17th, 2025.
- Other permanent positions, like the Language Analysis Development Program (LADP) and the Intelligence Analysis Development Program (IADP) will be posted on an as needed basis on intelligencecareers.gov.
**Please note that all students must be U.S. citizens and able to obtain a Top Secret security clearance. Students are able to apply to any/all programs that interest them.
NSA will also be hosting two virtual Language Analysis Information Sessions that students and faculty are welcome to attend:
- Wednesday, September 18th 2:00pm – 3:30pm EST via Handshake: https://app.joinhandshake.com/events/1607095/share_preview
- Thursday, September 19th 7:30pm-9:00pm EST via MS Teams: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/559e4b76-60f8-42b8-9170-550f453dbc76@d61e9a6f-fc16-4f84-8a3e-6eeff33e136b