Public Administration Internship Program

Program Goals

The purpose of the internship program is to provide students with work experiences that expose them to government and nonprofit organizations and their operations. It is designed to provide students with an opportunity to apply knowledge, theory, and concepts acquired in the classroom to the world of the practitioner. The goals of the internship are to ease the transition from student to practitioner, while providing students with opportunities to make significant contributions to society as public administrators; enhance student awareness of the professional obligations of public managers; provide students with an opportunity to employ conceptual training, within a professional work environment, using quantitative and analytical skills to solve policy problems; to provide students with opportunities to work for organizations that value diversity; to augment formal, generalized education with specialized competence in one or more areas; to assist students in networking with potential organizations.

Qualifications for Internship

Undergraduate students must be a senior, have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, and have completed the core courses in the Public Administration program. The amount of academic credit awarded is dependent upon the number of hours contracted to work in the employing agency. Undergraduate students may opt for:

Three (3) credit hours for 12-15 hours of internship work per week; OR Six (6) credit hours for 20-24 hours of internship work per week

Eligible graduate students can receive three (3) credit hours total internship credit, for 15-20 hours of internship work per week up to full-time work.

All internships must last at least 15 weeks and a minimum of 180 total hours per three (3) credit hours.

In order to receive internship credit for a position currently held with a non-profit or government agency, the student must: (a) work an additional 12-15 hours in their internship capacity (for 3 credit hours), or 20-24 hours in their internship capacity (for 6 credit hours); and (b) work on a project or in an area of study that is not a part of their usual scope of work. In this instance, the work must be beyond their usual work schedule.

Students must complete the required paperwork for the internship a semester prior to the start of the internship. All paperwork must be completed prior to beginning work, and registered before the end of the add and drop period. The department cannot guarantee that students will get an internship, even if they meet all requirements. The student is responsible for working with the internship coordinator in finding a position. The internship coordinator may not be able to place all students in an internship.

Placement Process

Students desiring an internship placement must submit a resume to the internship coordinator one semester before desired placement. An interview is arranged between the prospective intern and employing agency. The outcome of the interview is communicated to the coordinator (who must authorize or reject placement). The Department recognizes that each student has different needs and professional aspirations. To satisfy the diversity of our students, we attempt to have a variety of assignments from which to select. Students who have arranged internships by their own efforts must seek approval from the internship coordinator prior to beginning work. If this process is not followed, the Department will not provide internship credit.

Students may or may not be paid for the hours devoted to the internship. In most cases, there is little or no compensation for internship positions. Some agencies in the Central Florida area are offering interns hourly wages. This arrangement is between the student and the agency and will not be mediated in any way by the Internship Coordinator. Interns may be placed only in governmental or nonprofit-based organizations. Private sector organizations are not permitted for internship credit.

Resume - Students should provide the internship coordinator with a professional resume that can be submitted to prospective employers. The Career Resource Center will work with students without charge to develop a professional resume. Students MUST list a career objective regarding the type of work interested in pursuing. A statement of "anything in public administration" does not ensure that a resume will be submitted to more prospective employers; rather, it slows the process while we determine what is suitable for the student and the employer. 

Self-Assessment - Students must evaluate what they want in an internship. There are a variety of experiences a student can have; i.e. planning, budgeting, finance, human resource administration, non-profit.   By knowing the student's area(s) of interest, we can find the right fit.

Interview with internship coordinator - The student must meet with the internship coordinator at least once prior to his or her resume being forwarded to an employer.   The meeting will be to dermine what a student is looking for in an intership and searching for positions in which the student will be a good candiate.  The meeting should be heldvery early in the term prior to the time the student wishes to intern.   Waiting until the add/drop period to have this meeting means that it will probably be impossible for the Internship Coordinator to find a suitable internship placement for that term. 

Dress for success - Students should dress professionally for any interview. Even if it is a part-time position, proper attire is required during the interview and participation in the internship.   If the position is informal, follow the lead of others in that environment.   Internship students represent the University of Central Florida and the Department of Public Administration as well as him or herself.   Students receive successful grades when they are a success in the internship!    Students who are interested in full-time employment with that agency, or desire a recommendation from them, must meet their performance standards!

Student Responsibilities

Students are required to complete a Learning Agreement, three Progress Reports, and an academic paper. The paper should include the following: a brief description of the agency and its function; a description of the tasks and duties performed by the student; an analysis of the agency operation/programs that the student experienced as part of the internship; a description and integration of course materials with the internship experience; an evaluation of the internship experience both in terms of course work taken and career goals.

Students are required to complete a Learning Agreement with the employing agency.

There are three (3) Progress Reports to be completed: The first report is due on the 4th week after the beginning of the internship; The second report is due the 8th week; The third report is due on the 12th week.

A brief description of the agency and its function

A description of the tasks and duties performed by the student

An analysis of the agency operation/programs that the student experienced as part of the internship

A description and integration of course materials with the internship experience

An evaluation of the internship experience both in terms of coursework taken and career goals

Students must complete a Post-Internship Questionnaire to be turned in along with the academic paper.

It is the student's responsibility to make sure that the internship coordinator receives all forms and reports on time. Failure to complete any internship paperwork may result in a delay in grades or an incomplete.

Internship Coordinator

The internship coordinator serves as a liaison between the Department of Public Administration, the student and the agency. The Internship Coordinator is Debbie Phillis. You may contact Ms. Phillis at phillis@mail.ucf.edu, 407/823-2687, or HPA I, Room 311 (Tuesday/Thursday/Friday), or through the Public Administration Department, 407/823-0661, HPA II, Room 234 (Monday/Wednesday). Please contact her at any time if you have questions, concerns, or are in need of assistance. Within the liaison role, the internship coordinator's responsibilities include: Contacting various agencies for internship opportunities, facilitating student initiatives in locating internship positions, approval of all internship placements, monitoring the progress of students, addressing problems and/or concerns of the student or agency, and making regular site visits to meet the intern and supervisor, if necessary.

Employing Agency

The agency is expected to provide interns with an atmosphere in which they will develop their professional and personal growth and facilitate the transition from classroom to the professional world. Agency supervision is expected to enhance the integration of the intern within the organization. It is expected that students will perform tasks and duties that are meaningful and substantial, and will contribute in a significant way to the overall agency operation. By no means should a student be used as a clerk or secretary to the exclusion of a meaningful and rewarding learning experience.

Prior to the start of the internship, a Learning Agreement is completed between the employing agency, the student, and the internship coordinator. This document is used to facilitate a thorough understanding of the student's role and duties in the organization.

Prior to the student completing the internship, employing agencies need to complete the Internship Evaluation to assist in assessing the student's performance.

Grading Policy

Students will receive a final grade of Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) upon completion of all internship requirements. A positive attitude, professional demeanor, willingness to learn, and good attendance are very important components of a student's final grade. Active participation is expected at your internship placement, and it will only enhance your opportunity for future employment. If the agency has problems with the student or the student has problems with the agency which cannot be reconciled, the internship coordinator maintains the right to terminate the internship or move the intern to a more suitable placement.