Through internships, students gain valuable experience and skills, develop a professional network, apply classroom learning to real-world situations, and define career interests. Over half of School of Public Affairs interns end up with an offer of employment or internship extension from their internship agency.
Political Science and International Relations students may take 3-9 internship credits, however, only 3 will count toward degree requirements. The other 6 credits may count toward general University electives.
Internship Coordinator: Dr. Linda Butenhoff
Email: ljbutenhoff@stcloudstate.edu
Note: MPA students will work with their faculty advisor to determine practicum requirements.
Interns will work in entry-level professional positions and, prior to starting, have a written learning agreement, outlining work assignments, with the site supervisor and internship director. An ideal internship includes orientation, assigned activities that let you use and develop research, analytical, writing, and public speaking skills. Assignments of varying levels of difficulty and opportunities for public and staff meetings to learn first-hand how decisions are made are ideal.
Students completing an internship need to be at least a junior (60+ credits).
3 credits = 112 hours
6 credits = 224 hours
9 credits = 336 hours
Note: Students must be enrolled in an internship course while actively interning to earn academic internship credit. Internship credit cannot be retroactively applied to a non-credit internship experience.