The internship in public administration or public policy provides you with experience in and exposure to the complexities of public organizations prior to completion of the MPA degree. The internship offers an opportunity for you to develop professional skills which relate to your academic program.
All candidates for the MPA degree without previous professional experience are required to take PA 711-Internship in Public Administration. Students having significant professional experience can either complete an internship or substitute a policy paper or another graduate course in lieu of the internship. The internship typically is completed in the summer months between the first and second year of the MPA program. It requires a 320-hour commitment, but may be spread over a period of time prior to and beyond the summer months.
Read what some current Masters students did for their internship here.
Examples of internships held by Martin School students from 2006 - 2010 are arranged here by category:
Barren River Area Development District
Bluegrass Area Development District
Corbin Office of Economic Development
Mountain Association for Community Economic Development
Lexington/Fayette Urban County Government - Division of Planning
Lexington Downtown Development Authority
Shoulder to Shoulder Global, Inc.
WorkPlus - Department of Job and Family Systems
Bluegrass PRIDE - Division of Water Quality
Kentucky Environmental & Public Protection Cabinet
Lexington/Fayette Urban County Government - Division of Energy Policy
University of Kentucky - Office of Sustainability
Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning
George Mason School of Law - Critical Infrastructure Protection Program
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
Northern Kentucky University - Institute for Public Leadership and Public Affairs
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
University of Kentucky - Cooperative Extension Service
University of Kentucky - Neighborhood Advisory Council
Government Accountability Office
Hazard Mitigation Project, FEMA
U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin
U.S. Department of Labor - Employment Standards
Franklin County Council on Aging
Lexmark International, Inc.
American Pharmacy Services Corporation
Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Bluegrass Region Mental Health Mental Retardation Board
Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services
Markey Cancer Foundation
Pharmacoeconomics/University of Kentucky
City of Maryland Heights, MO - Office of Finance
City of Vandalia, OH - Office of Finance
Corbin Office of Economic Development
Frankfort/Franklin County Merger Study Commission
Franklin County Council on Aging
Kentucky League of Cities
Kentucky Office of the Governor - Department for Local Government
Lexington/Fayette Urban County Government - Council Office
Lexington/Fayette Urban County Govenrment - Department of Finance
Lexington/Fayette Urban County Government - Division of Energy Policy
Lexington/Fayette Urban County Government - Division of Planning
Lexington/Fayette Urban County Govenrment - Parks and Recreation
Paducah, KY - City Manager's Office
Center for Disability and Special Needs Preparedness
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras
Chrysalis House, Inc.
Community Action Council
Corporation for National and Community Service
Kentucky Arts Council
Kentucky Association for Community Action
Lexington Area Sports Authority
Lexington Community Foundation
Manchester Center - Lexington, KY
Non-Profit Leadership Initiative
Rauner Family YMCA - Chicago, IL
Shoulder to Shoulder, Global Inc.
United Way of the Bluegrass
Council of State Governments
Government Accounting Office
Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
City of Vandalia, OH - Office of Finance
Government Accountability Office
Kentucky Commerce Cabinet
Kentucky Office of the State Budget Director
Lexington/Fayette Urban County Government - Department of Finance
U.S. Office of Management and Budget
Council of State Governments
Kentucky Commerce Cabinet
Kentucky Department of Transportation
Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
Kentucky Office of the State Budget Director
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
University of Kentucky - HAzardous Waste Mitigation Program
Kentucky Department of Transportation
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Kentucky Transportation Center
University of Kentucky - Department of Transportation (Federal Highway Administration)
Internship Opportunities
The National Society for Public Affairs and Administration provides some helpful advice on looking for an internship and has leads on national and regional listings
http://www.naspaa.org/students/careers/service.asp
Similar information for local governments is provided by the International City Managers Association
http://icma.org/en/icma/career_network/job_seekers/interns
Other possible internship contacts and resources are available here.