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.
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. Internships are salaried and sometimes 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. Students have secured positions as budget analysts in local government, assistants to city managers, interns in state government, and personnel specialists.