Professional Development

Internships

Gain practical skills and forge connections with practitioners in the field. We encourage internships for MPA students with less than one year of work experience in public or nonprofit service, or for experienced students looking to apply their coursework in a new area of professional exploration.

We recommend internships for students who want to explore career paths, develop new skills, and build connections with practitioners in the field. Employers value our students because of their professional and academic preparation, and their capacity to apply their academic learning to "real-world" challenges. Students secure their own internships, with the support of SU resources and MPA staff.

Students can apply up to 6 internship credits towards their MPA Elective requirement.

Some examples of past internship sites include:

• City of Seattle, King County
• Sound Transit
• BloodWorks NW
• City of Bellevue
• Enterprise Community Partners

Internship Process

Registration Process

• To start an internship process, you must find an internship placement and secure agreement with one faculty member about supervising your internship. Then, register your internship request through Handshake.
• For additional instructions like step-by-step registration help, please, talk to your academic advisor and your supervising faculty member.  

End of Internship Process

At the end of the internship, submit the final internship reflection paper, as agreed upon between the faculty supervisor and the student, to the faculty member for a CR grade.  

Note: The internship registration process in Handshake requires a brief description of your internship duties, the number of credits you want to earn, your internship site supervisor contact information, and the supervising faculty email information.

Networking within the MPA Student Association

The MPA Student Association (MPASA) is an elected group of MPA students who represent and engage the MPA student body by organizing events for students, planning community projects, and serving as a resource to current and prospective MPA students.

Elections

Each spring quarter, MPA students nominate and elect two Co-Presidents for the upcoming year. MPASA officers occupy their offices from summer through spring of each academic year.

Mentorship

MPA Connections mentorship program prepares MPA students for public service leadership by providing opportunities to gain valuable insight about their field. The program supports ongoing professional formation and student development. The program provides MPA students, alumni, and community members with a chance to become further engaged in SU’s mission and its community through proactive student-mentor relationships and activities.

Abigail Beatty ('14) landed an internship at King County in the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget to research and establish performance measures for the Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) project. Abigail states: "I’m convinced that working with my MPA Connections mentor, Cristina Gonzalez, helped get me here. The mentorship made a huge difference in my career journey; helping me hone my career interests, build my confidence as a professional, and expand my network." Pictured left to right: Cristina Gonzalez, Senior Business and Management Analyst at King County Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget and MPA student, Abigail Beatty.

American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)

Become a member of ASPA, the professional association for public administration. ASPA's mission is to advance the art. science, teaching, and practice of public and nonprofit administration. Membership benefits include publications and opportunities for networking, professional development, and special events. Learn more about the ASPA student membership.

Career Support Services

MPA faculty and staff work together with Seattle University’s Career Engagement Office to provide students with practical career development support, such as job search strategies, resume and cover letter review, and mock interview preparation. The MPA program sponsors professional development seminars, as well as alumni and employer networking nights.