They allow students dynamic professional forums in which to apply the analytical and managerial knowledge they acquire in the master's program. In addition to providing a venue for professional learning that complements academic learning, internships afford practical professional experience and valuable networking opportunities that benefit students as they seek to enter full-time employment after graduation. The school's director of career services plays an active role in maintaining and expanding a strong internship placement network. The director serves as the primary career liaison to Evans School alumni and numerous public and nonprofit agencies, many of which hire M.P.A. interns on a regular basis. While such relationships yield a substantial pool of annual internship opportunities, it is ultimately up to each student to locate and secure an internship that is relevant and challenging.
Many students find their own internships by tapping their professional contacts and interests.
The flexibility of the school's academic program enables students and employers to tailor internships to fit individual and agency needs. Before each internship, students work with their supervisors to develop an internship contract that describes the scope of work, the students' professional objectives, and the organization's expectations. The length of employment, hours, amount of pay, and other terms of the internship vary and are negotiated by students and their internship supervisors. The internship must require the student to utilize substantive analytical or managerial knowledge to solve problems at the level of policy development, implementation, or evaluation.