The Practicum Option

Pre-service, full-time students seeking an MPA degree at Ohio University Athens campus may engage in a year-long learning experience that weaves together academic curriculum and real-world public sector service work.  The practicum commences fall quarter with four quarters of enrollment in POLS 690, Public Service Practicum, for a total of 10 credits. 

Service is completed by MPA candidates sequentially and as a cohort. Public sector service learning opportunities are coordinated between the Political Science Department and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University. The synthesis of academic knowledge and practice will serve to enhance the learning experience of MPA candidates and better prepare them for employment upon graduation. 

The GVS MPA Public Service Curriculum strives to build upon classroom academics by linking each quarter’s learning to a public service experience in order to augment pre-service students’ limitations in real-world experience that is often critical in developing sound management skills. MPA candidates may be assigned to either an existing GVS team engaged in ongoing project work or to a short-term project team engaged in time-limited project work.  

If the practicum option is selected, then no more than 5 hours of internship credit may be completed.  Students with 10 practicum hours may apply 5 internship hours as elective credit toward the MPA.  The total number of hours of 595/690 may not exceed 15. 

Internship Option

In addition to the practicum, MPA students may acquire experience as interns with public, non-profit, or private sector organizations in a policy or administrative capacity.  This is done by taking POLS 595, Public Affairs Internship, for a minimum of 5 letter grade credit hours.  The amount of credit received for the internship can range from 5 to 15 hours depending on the time spent on the job, but only a maximum of 10 hours may be counted toward the 70 hour MPA degree requirement. 

Before registering for POLS 595, the student should discuss the kinds of internships available with Internship Director Michael Burton, locate an internship that fits the student’s career objectives as closely as possible, and secure the approval of the internship director.  Students should take the initiative in developing an internship as long as it is approved by the Internship Director.  The internship should only be taken following significant progress toward completion of the MPA degree.  The student is expected to complete an internship paper, which will be evaluated by both the MPA and Internship Director.  This paper will be included in the student’s portfolio.  A description of this paper can be found on the Department’s website. 

Waiving the Internship/Practicum Requirement

The internship/practicum requirement can be waived by the MPA Director if the student has significant prior administrative experience, or is currently on leave from an administrative position.  In those circumstances, the student may take 10 units of additional course work instead of the internship or practicum.  The student may also receive internship credit with the permission of the Internship Director if proper arrangements can be made with the agency for which the student is currently working.  Internship credit will not be given for prior administrative experience.