Internships

​Most full-time SPPA graduate students complete an internship between their first and second years of study. The Internship Seminar prepares students for their internship search with practical advice on career research, résumé writing, networking skills, and informational interviews. SPPA interns apply the skills and theories learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

An internship will help you:

• Develop personally and professionally
• Gain work experience
• Network with professionals in your field and area of expertise
• Earn academic credit while getting paid

​Interns hold a variety of positions in nonprofit and government institutions.

View examples of internship duties and responsibilities as well as past internship sites, based on a sampling of MPA, M.S., and M.A. student placements within the last five years.

• ​Interns must work at least 450 hours to receive academic credit.
• Students usually work between 37.5 and 40 hours per week for three months during the summer.
• The usual pay range is $12 to $16 per hour; the specific terms of pay are negotiated by the intern and the host organization.

The Internship Seminar is designed to help you find your own internship so that when it comes time to find a permanent position, you will know how to update your résumé, search for a job, and interview successfully. As part of the seminar, you will develop a résumé that will be shared online with approximately 250 individuals and organizations. The Internship Coordinator, Lisa Moreland, is available to help guide you through the steps in your internship search.

MPA Students

Pre-service MPA students (those without substantial prior professional experience) must register for the Internship Seminar (UAPP860) that is offered each fall semester.

The MPA program requires students to complete internships. However, students with significant prior professional experience may request a waiver through the Internship Coordinator. (Significant prior experience generally means two years of full-time professional experience.)

M.A. and Ph.D. Students

M.A. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy students find the internship experience valuable and are encouraged to participate. Ph.D. students may also take advantage of the opportunity.

M.A. and Ph.D. students who wish to complete an internship must register with their program chair and attend a résumé workshop offered by the Internship Coordinator.

The Internship Program administered by the Institute for Public Administration. For more information, contact the Internship Coordinator, Lisa Moreland or visit the IPA's Internship Program website.

​M.S. students in the Disaster Science & Management program take a 1-credit practicum course, DISA857, in the spring semester of the first year of study. This is followed by a 3-credit or not for credit (depending on program of study – with or without thesis) internship over the summer. For more details, review the M.S. program curriculum.