Internships
MPA students who currently work in public and nonprofit organizations are not required to complete an internship but can pursue an internship outside their organization. MPA students are strongly suggested to work with mpa@umontana.edu to complete an internship. Students can complete up to 6 credits of internship credit. These count as electives towards the 36 credits required to complete the MPA degree. Students who complete an internship enroll in PUAD 598 and complete a learning agreement with the University’s Office of Experiential Learning and Career Success. The student is also expected to follow expectations in our MPA internship syllabus, in addition to completing projects/work for internship supervisor. Students can pursue an internship after a year of MPA coursework and should have completed at least four (4) out of the six (6) MPA core classes. Per UM policy, one credit is awarded for every 45 hours worked on an internship.
The Department of Public Administration & Policy partners with Experiential Learning and Career Success (ELCS) to provide job assistance, and the office has numerous resources available to you. Please schedule an appointment with an ELCS career advisor for job assistance and more information about resources.
Over 70 DPAP students have been involved in internships. The vast majority agree their skills and abilities have increased due to hands-on learning experiences. A few examples of recent internship placement include:
- Missoula Parks & Recreation Department
- County of Missoula
- 猎奇重口 Ageing Services
- 猎奇重口 Chamber of Commerce
- Women’s Foundation of 猎奇重口
- 猎奇重口 New Leadership
- World Affairs Council
- City of Missoula
- 猎奇重口 University System
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Forest Service
- 猎奇重口 Governor’s Office
- Yosemite National Park
- 猎奇重口 Nonprofit Association
- Western Region Voter Engagement
- Salish Kootenai Tribal Government
Independent Study
Independent studies are for students interested in delving deeper into a research topic or applied project. Independent Study courses are offered in three credit increments. Students can take up to six (6) credits to count towards their 36 credits required for degree completion. Independent studies can be used to complete a larger work project to apply theory to practice to advance skills in the MPA program. However, if a student opts for an internship and independent study only a total of six (6) credits apply towards degree completion. Meet with the MPA Director who oversees independent study projects for assistance.