Virginia Tech

Academic Programs: MPA Internship

A professional internship is required as partial fulfillment of the Master of Public Administration degree for those students who have less than three years of professionally related experience in public administration. The internship experience provides opportunities for both graduate students and government agencies, non-profits, and approved private sector organizations. Graduate interns can provide policy analysis, program evaluation, or research support in areas as diverse as environmental, health or social policy, budgeting and personnel processes, or the economic revitalization of a community.

There are several forms that are required as part of the internship experience. The forms included on this website are in MS WORD format. If you have problems or questions, contact Stacy Leamer. The first link is the entire guide which contains all of the necessary forms. The forms will are also linked individually for convenience.

1. Complete Internship Guide
2. Internship Cover Sheet
3. Internship Learning Contract
4. Student Internship Evaluation
5. Supervisor's Evaluation
6. Internship Exit Form
7. Completion of Internship Requirements

Internship Opportunities

Federal Internships

• US State Department
• Office of Management and Budget
• White House Internship Program
• General Accounting Office
• National Archives and Records Administration Internship Program
  The National Archives and Records Administration invites undergraduate and graduate level students to submit applications for its voluntary internship program. While the program is available to students regardless of major, these internships offer exceptional opportunities to students in history, American studies, political science, library science, and other related disciplines who wish to gain firsthand experience in archives and history-related work as well as an invaluable reference for future employment.
• NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Oral History Project Summer Intern Program
  The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center announces its 2002 Oral History Project Summer Intern Program. Established by the Center Director in 1996, the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Oral History Project's primary goal is to research and interview individuals who enabled the exciting and challenging space programs of yesterday and today. This program provides temporary summer work only and is limited to undergraduate and graduate students. As an Oral History Program Summer Intern, you will have the unique opportunity to participate in documenting the history of the U.S. human space exploration. You will be responsible for researching biographical information on key contributors to NASA's Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs. Application Deadline: February 28, 2002. Contact information: Bill Larsen, 281.483.4062 or Glen Swanson, 281.483.6924 Email: glen.e.swanson1@jsc.nasa.gov.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Management Internship Program
  The Management Intern Program (MI) offers outstanding HHS employees and Outstanding Scholars (OS) the opportunity to explore different administrative career fields, gain invaluable insight into the NIH, and to attain future administrative, leadership positions.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Internship Opportunities Program
  This program includes internship opportunities in the Administrative, Management, Clerical, and Information Technology (IT) career fields. Many employees at the NIH work in scientific occupations. However, it also takes support staff working in the administrative, management, clerical, and (IT) occupations to carry out the NIH research mission effectively. Sample occupations included in this year's Internship Program are Computer Specialists, Social Science Analysts, Program Analysts, and Office Automation Assistants/Clerks. This program provides students with valuable work experience and the opportunity to support the NIH and the advancement of biomedical research. Students in high school, college and graduate school are invited to apply.
• Presidential Management Intern Program
  The Presidential Management Intern (PMI) Program was established by Executive Order in 1977 to attract to the Federal service outstanding individuals from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have an interest in, and commitment to, a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. By drawing graduate students from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, the PMI Program provides a continuing source of trained men and women to meet the future challenges of public service.
• USAJOBS' Guide to Student Internship Programs with the Federal Government
  The Federal Government is interested in finding people from diverse backgrounds who have the skills needed to meet its future employment needs. While some Federal agencies have developed agency-specific programs, this internship listing is limited to special programs that can be used for hiring in all Federal agencies.