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MPA Internship Option

The full-time internship option is designed for those who have little or no public administration experience. Admission is competitive and limited to 12 to 15 students per year. Classes begin with the summer semester, and students are expected to attend full-time.

The typical internship-option student begins course work during the summer session with two courses, then takes four courses during the fall semester and four courses and one workshop credit in the spring semester. This schedule allows students to complete all major course work during one calendar year and to begin the Professional Development Seminars (6 credit hours) and internship during the fall of the second year.

During their first year of study, full-time internship-option students are exposed to a variety of theories and problem-solving techniques in areas such as organizational design and development, management and supervision, policy analysis and evaluation, finance and budgeting, and personnel administration. To enhance the connection between theory and practice, our goal is to provide each intern option student with a part-time internship during the first year.

The academic program enhances exposure to the day-to-day aspects of public administration through its series of practitioner-oriented workshops designed around topics such as analytical decision-making techniques, interpersonal relationships at work, and administrative ethics.

During their second year, internship-option students attend Professional Development Seminars while completing a nine-month, full-time, paid internship. Internships may lead to permanent positions. MPA program staff provide substantial guidance and support for students to find internships suited for their career goals. This has resulted in a placement rate of 100 percent in the past ten years with students placed around the nation. Students have secured positions as budget analysts in local government, assistants to city managers, interns in state government, and personnel specialists.

Our full-time internship plan remains a distinctive feature of the KU experience. During the internship year, students meet three times with faculty for week-long professional development seminars designed to help link theory and practice. During these seminars, interns compare, interpret, and scrutinize their own work experiences. Alumni and other practicing administrators assist interns in their transition from academic life to professional career.

Internship option students are expected to prepare an individual learning piece that is developed and refined throughout their two year academic and internship experiences. Portfolio development is designed to help students answer crucial questions about what they are learning and where they are headed.

The first professional development seminar is held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the International City/County Management Association. The alumni banquet on Tuesday evening of the conference is the largest university-sponsored gathering at the conference.