STUDENT HANDBOOK 2007-2008

Internship Policy

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of the internship requirement is to ensure that all students graduating from our master's program have significant, professional experience that prepares them for careers in the policy/administrative arena.

2. REQUIREMENT

Unless evidence is provided that a student has fulfilled the requirement in some other way (e.g., in an employment setting), our presumption is that the requirement will be fulfilled through an internship undertaken while the student is enrolled in the program.

The internship should normally provide the equivalent of a six month (twenty hours a week) placement in a public or private, non-profit agency; under compelling circumstances the department chair may modify these guidelines for individual PPA students. The internship must be arranged in consultation with the student's primary advisor and formalized in an internship proposal (see Appendix D). The proposal is subject to final approval by the department chair. The student must also 1) register for three units of PPA 295 during the semester in which the internship will be completed (which will often be the semester after the internship commenced) and 2) complete an internship report (for examples see Appendix L]) and any other requirements set forth by the PPA 295 advisor.

3. INTERNSHIP WAIVER

A student with the equivalent of one year of professional experience in a public agency, private/non-profit agency, or private organization closely linked to the public policy making arena may apply for a waiver from the internship requirement using the department's waiver form (see Appendix E). The department chair determines if the waiver should be granted, and may request that the student provide supporting information (e.g., a note from a supervisor about the student's responsibilities).

Following are examples of the type of experience that would qualify for a waiver:

• A position as a legislative committee consultant;
• A position as an analyst or mid-level manager in a state agency; or
• A position as the legislative analyst for a trade organization engaged in lobbying and providing information to lawmakers.

Following are examples of the type of experience that would not qualify for a waiver;

• A clerical position in a state agency; or
• A sales or administrative position in a local firm not involved in the policy making process.
4. QUESTIONS

Students should consult the department chair with questions about the internship requirement or waiver process.