Purpose of the Internship Experience

Internships provide an opportunity for students to link theory with practice and
further serve as a temporary labor pool for those agencies that have committed to
participate in the internship program. The department fulfill its mission of preparing
students for significant professional and managerial positions in the public sector.
Relevant professional development topics and workshops are discussed weekly.

The internship…

1. provides a student with a practical real world experience in the public or

nonprofit sector.

2. enables a student to develop important public administration skills which

cannot be taught in the classroom. These experiences vary from working
on special projects for the interning agency to learning about the human
motivation process in a complex organization.

3. enables a student to compare theoretical ideas learned in the classroom

within the world of work regarding public administration experiences.

4. provides a student with experience in an actual public or nonprofit agency

before entering the job market. Such experience not only increases
students’ job prospects, but also teaches what is expected in terms of
professional behavior.

5. permits a student to apply the technical skills learned in the classroom to

real world public administrative problems.

The MPPA Internship Program allows students an opportunity to understand the

unique environmental conditions associated with a particular level of government, such
as federal, state or local administration and the nonprofit sector.

The Public Administration internship, required of all pre-service students. The

internship provides actual work experience in a public service agency for pre-service
students. It provides the career students with demonstrated academic competence, and a
“hands-on” experience in the public sector.

The MPPA Program requires intern applicants to have completed at least twelve
hours of course work in the program, including the research course, with a least a B
average. Contacts are made by the Internship Coordinator with the federal government,
local government, state government and nonprofit agencies to develop arrangements for
interns to work for them.

Students are required to take six hours of internship. Pre-Service students and
students pursuing the non-thesis option are required to complete an internship. Students
must complete at least two semesters of internship. Intern students receive three hours of
credit for each semester or summer term on an intern assignment. A total of six hours of
credit for the internship experience may be counted toward the degree. Students with
significant professional experience are not required to complete an internship unless they
are pursuing the non-thesis option (see the Internship Manual).

Students enrolled in internships are placed with the understanding that the
sponsoring agency will assist in fostering a continued learning experience for the
Master’s of Public Policy & Administration Program.